Note 2 — Chapter III · TRANSACTIONS AT OTAHEITE, AND THE SOCIETY ISLANDS; AND PROSECUTION OF THE VOYAGE TO THE COAST OF NORTH AMERICA. (continued 2)

Footnote 2:

(return)

We cannot suffer this action to be passed over, without expressing indignation at the cruelty and injustice that marked it. Not even the fair reputation of Cook for meekness and humanity ought to deter any one from affixing the proper term to such conduct. He had no right to award so severe a treatment, even though he had authority to take cognizance of the man's former and general character, which, however, it is impossible, on any satisfactory principle, to demonstrate. It was both the duty and the interest of Captain Cook to conform to the established maxims and decisions of the people whom he visited, which, whatever their own practice had been, would have proved amply severe, as we have already had occasion to observe; but no superiority of power on his part, could warrant the introduction of unrecognized, and to these islanders it is probable, quite unheard-of modes of punishment. A suspicion, some persons may think a very unfair one, lurks in the mind of the writer, that the captain had rather

forgotten himself

during this voyage, and that presuming, in some degree, on his established fame and consequence, be exercised a greater latitude of power than his original caution and sense of responsibility would have permitted him to hazard, at an earlier period of his career. Such undoubtedly is human nature, and it can by no means be interpreted as an unjust aspersion, that Cook was not exempted from its common infirmities. Captain King, as we shall afterwards find, makes a remark on his acquired confidence with respect to the savages, in the latter part of his professional life, which, though in the most delicate manner imaginable, seems very readily to fall in with the suspicion now stated. As might have been expected, the over severe, and, at all events, imprudently managed punishment, failed to operate beneficially on the poor wretch that was subjected to it Perhaps it will be discovered to hold universally, that wherever the appearance of revenge characterizes an act of retributive justice, a feeling of the same principle hardens the breast of the culprit, besides influencing the speculative judgments of those who witness it But it were foolish to expect, that either one or other will avow the existence of so dangerous a motive. The only excuse that offers itself in. behalf of Captain Cook's conduct on this occasion, is stated in what he immediately mentions of the anarchy existing in this island. But even that is only a palliation in part, and does not reach to the full amount of the case. Let the reader judge.—E.