Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/162

 64 THE FLEET AT SEA. A spy. 1787 being accorded the same honours as himself. He had not August forgotten that Phillip had served for some time in the Portugnese navy during the war with Spain, and as the Englishman could speak the Portuguese language freely, their intercourse was free from the usual difficulties experi- cook at Rio. enced by foreigners. The reception met with at Eio forms a striking contrast with the treatment to which Captain Cook was subjected during his stay in the same port, in November, 1768. No person on board his ship was allowed to land, except himself, and he was attended by an officer wherever he went — ^a distinction he would gladly have dis- pensed with.* The letters written at Rio say very little about the hos- pitalities shown by the Viceroy, but they give very minute details about matters connected with the fleet and the people on board. The first letter to Lord Sydney was a short one : — Having sailed from Teneriffe the 10th of June, I anchored off this harbour the 5th of this month, of which I had the honor of informing your lordship by a ship that past us, and the 6th, in the evening, anchored in the harbour with the tender, store-ships, and transports. I inclose returns of the detachment and of the convicts, who, as well as the officers and seamen belonging to the ships, continue very healthy. In my letter to Mr. Nepean I have mentioned particulars re- specting the provisions, spirits, <Src., procured here, and I have the Portusrueso honor of assuring your lordship that every little assistance we ^^**^* have wanted in this port has been most readily granted by the Vice-King, and to whom I feel myself under particular obliga- tions for the attention he has shown to me and the officers under my command. Fresh The convicts have been very plentifully supplied with fresh proviaions. pj-Qyisions, and that at a small expense, 3|d. a head per day, all orders to attend me wherever I went ; of this I desired an explanation, and was told that it was meant as a compliment ; I earnestly desired to be excused from accepting such an honour, out the good Viceroy would by no means suffer it to be dispensed with." — Hawkesworth, voL ii, p. 20. Arrival at Rio. Returns. Digitized by Google
 * '' As soon as I took leave of his Excellency, I found an oflScer who haci