The distinguished sailor who first charted the shores of British
Columbia and gave his name to its great port is little known, and the carefully-written Vancouver : A Life, 1757- 1798, by Mr. George Godwin (Allan, 15s.), thus deserves a welcome. Vancouver, a native of King's Lynn, sailed with Cook on his second and third voyages, and served under Rodney in his memorable campaign in the West Indies. Early in 1791 he was sent with two small ships to take over Nootka Sound from the Spaniards and to survey the coast northwards. This voyage, which took nearly five years, is fully described from Vancouver's own journals which he compiled for the Admiralty after his return. Mr. Godwin defends Vancouver successfully against the charges of harsh- ness which have been brought against him. He seems, indeed, to have been very considerate in his dealings both with his men and with the natives. He had repeatedly to punish the eccentric young Thomas Pitt, afterwards Lord Camelford, who was a junior officer in his ship, but the scapegrace doubtless deserved it. Vancouver died young, worn out by the hard- ships of his long voyages, but he has a permanent place in the history of discovery. Mr. Godwin gives a full appendix of documents and reproduces Vancouver's chart.
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