But some weeks later, Banks informed him that his appointment had been cancelled, as the Board of Longitude objected to his theology.
Priestley's otherwise gentle nature was roused.

"What I am, and what they are, in respect of religion," he wrote to Banks, in December, 1771, "might easily have been known before the thing was proposed to me at all.

Besides, I thought that this had been a business of philosophy, and not of divinity.

If, however, this be the case, I shall hold the Board of Longitude in extreme contempt." Captain Cook was appointed to the command of the Resolution, and Captain Wallis to the command of the Adventure, in November, 1771.
They proceeded to equip the ships; and amongst the other instruments taken on board Captain Cook's ship, were two timekeepers, one made by Mr.Larcum Kendal, on Mr.Harrison's principles, and the other by Mr.
John Arnold, on his own.

The expedition left Deptford in April, 1772; and shortly afterwards sailed for the South Seas.