Magra, Good for Nothing...Or the Apocryphal Relation of Cook’s First Voyage

According to Captain Cook, midshipman James Magra was “good for nothing”, but Magra did at least one good thing: he published an apocryphal relation of Cook’s first voyage. Translated into French in 1776, it’s a confusing—and delightful—book.

Sequel for a Philosopher

When French people hear about Supplément au Voyage de Bougainville (or The Sequel of Bougainville’s Voyage), they think about Denis Diderot. Following the success of the relation of Bougainville’s circumnavigation, Diderot wrote a now famous tale entitled Supplément au Voyage de Bougainville. It’s an early reflection on ‘colonization’. Yet, there’s a book by the same title that has nothing to do with Diderot, or Bougainville. It came out in 1777, and bears the sub-title of Journal of a World Travel by MM. Banks and Solander—wait! Are they the same Banks and Solander who went along Cook during his first voyage? Yes they are. But this isn’t their book either, but the apocryphal relation* of the same voyage written by midshipman James Magra. Yet another gem in Cook’s galaxy!

French Cuisine

We’re focusing here on the French translation. We owe it to the South Sea specialist Fréville, and it was published by Saillant & Nyon in Paris (1777)**. The latter are actually responsible for the confusion with Bougainville’s voyage. Hordern House Rare Book, in New South Wales, currently has a copy of this book for sale. They write: “This is one of two probably simultaneous issues, this one having the "Supplément" title-page; in this form the publishers intended the book to complement the octavo edition of Bougainville's voyage.” Saillant & Nyon had printed the first in-4° edition of Bougainville’s travel in 1771, and they tried to capitalize on a name that was familiar to the French public. The readers, they thought, would buy Magra’s volume to complete the Boungainville’s series. And it worked as Sabin writes: “Frequently bound up as a third volume of Bougainville’s Voyages”—a tricky book from the start.

Poor Magra

James Magra (later known as Matra) didn’t exactly shine during his voyage. The Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB) reads: “In May 1770, when midway up the coast of New South Wales, suspecting that Magra was implicated in the drunken cropping of his clerk's ears, Cook suspended the midshipman from duty, noting that he was 'one of those gentlemen, frequently found on board Kings Ships, that can very well be spared, or to speake(sic) more planer good for nothing'.” He yet became close to Joseph Banks “and their friendship lasted until his death,” the ADB adds.

His concise relation is well written, and it contains every ingredient that makes a Cook travel fascinating: perilous navigation, skirmishes with warlike Natives, romantic meetings with their women, powder, sweat and natural discoveries. This book, Hordern notes, is also “the first French book on the east coast of Australia.” It came without engraving, and the publishers send the disappointed readers to Bougainville’s book once more: “The map of the course of the Endeavour isn’t necessary here (...). Those who wish might consult the map joined to Boungainville’s Travel Around the World—he more or less followed the same route. ” The binder of our copy knew better, who added the folding plate of Cook’s death in “Howy-Héé in 1779” taken from Rickman’s apocryphal relation of Cook’s third voyage—it was engraved by Bénard and is completely irrelevant here.

French material

This French edition also came with “some material that did not appear in the original London edition, including a 'Lettre de M. de Commerson', the famed naturalist from Bougainville's circumnavigation, who remained behind at Mauritius to continue his research” (Hordern). It’s an extremely lively letter that perfectly illustrates the bubbling mind of an 18^th century naturalist. You’ll also find a knowledgeable letter about the Northwest Passage. At the end of the day, this book resembles its author. Confusing, but displaying a good level of education—Magra later became a consul at Tenerife, Constantinople and Tangiers, Morocco; truly interesting—Magra remained active in the field of natural history all his life, sending specimens to Banks from Morocco; slightly embarrassing—Banks did “his best efforts to distance himself from Magra's work (including having the false dedication in the London edition removed),” Hordern states; but endearing—he and Banks did remain friends, just like this book will definitely remain in your collection if it ever enters it. Like author, like book.

T. Ehrengardt