The Life of Captain James Cook, the CircumnavigatorKitson, Arthur
History
The Life of Captain James Cook, the Circumnavigator
Kitson, Arthur
Cook, James, 1728-1779; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Geographers -- Great Britain -- Biography
On 9th July the marines, who had been carefully selected, embarked under
the command of Lieutenant Molesworth Phillips, and the following day
officers and men were paid up to 30th June, and petty officers and seamen
received in addition two months' advance.
THE RESOLUTION SAILS.
The Resolution sailed on 12th July, the crew looking on it as a lucky
day, being the anniversary of the day they had sailed on the last voyage;
but as Clerke had not yet arrived, the Discovery remained behind. Putting
in to Teneriffe, Cook purchased a supply of wine, which he did not think
as good as that of Madeira, but remarks that the best Teneriffe wine was
"12 pounds a pipe, whereas the best Madeira is seldom under 27 pounds."
Here they met "Captain Baurdat" (the Chevalier de Borda), who was making
observations in order to time two watch machines, and were afforded an
opportunity of comparing them with their own. Looking into Port Praya in
hopes to find the Discovery they crossed the line on 1st September in
longitude 27 degrees 38 minutes West, and sighted the Cape of Good Hope
on 17th October, anchoring in Table Bay the next day. The ship was found
to be very leaky in her upper works, as the great heat had opened up her
seams which had been badly caulked at first. "Hardly a man that could lie
dry in his bed; the officers in the gun-room were all driven out of their
cabin by the water that came in through the sides." The sails were
damaged, some being quite ruined before they could be dried.
The reception accorded by the Dutch was all that could be desired, and
all the resources of the place were at Cook's disposal. Letters were sent
to England and one invalid, Cook wishing afterwards that he had sent one
or two more, but he had at the time hopes of their complete recovery. On
31st October they were unable to communicate with the shore owing to a
heavy south-easterly gale which did not blow itself out for three days,
and the Resolution was the only ship in the bay that rode through it
without dragging her anchors. On the 10th November the Discovery arrived,
having left Plymouth on 1st August. She sighted land above twenty-five
leagues north of Table Bay, but had been blown off the coast in the
storm.
It may be noted here that the French, Spanish, and United States
Governments issued instructions to their naval officers that Captain Cook
and his ships were to be treated with every respect, and as belonging to
a neutral and allied power. An honour to Cook, and also to the nations
who conferred it on him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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