12 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



dangerous, and was then particularly so to the English, 

 who were strangers in that quarter. The admiral, there- 

 fore, who had conceived a very favourable opinion of Mr. 

 Cook's abilities, appointed him to survey the river below 

 Quebec, which he also executed with the same diligence 

 and ability that he had displayed on the former 

 occasions. 



This chart of the river, when completed, was published 

 with soundings and sailing directions ; and so great was 

 the accuracy observed, that it superseded all other surveys 

 of the period. 



After the conquest of Canada, so glorious to every person 

 who had a share in it, Mr. Cook was appointed master of 

 the Northumberland, under Lord Colvill, on the 2nd of 

 September, 1759. In this ship his lordship continued the 

 following winter as commodore at Halifax ; and Cook's 

 conduct, in his new station, did not fail, as on former 

 occasions, to gain him the friendship and esteem of his 

 commander. 



Sensible that he was now on the road to promotion, he 

 showed a laudable desire to qualify himself to adorn his 

 profession, by devoting his leisure hours to the study of 

 such branches of knowledge as would be serviceable to him 

 in after life. At Halifax he first read Euclid's Elements, 

 and studied astronomy. The books he was able to procure 

 were few indeed ; but application and perseverance supplied 

 many deficiencies, and enabled him to make a progress, 

 which a man of less genius could not attain under much 

 superior advantages. 



He received a commission on the 1st of April, 1760, and 

 daily advanced in the career of glory. In September, 1762, 

 he assisted at the re-capture of Newfoundland, after which 

 the English fleet remained some time at Placentia, in order 

 to put that place into a better state of defence. During 

 this period Mr. Cook had another opportunity of displaying 

 his diligence, and manifesting his zeal in the service of his 

 country ; he surveyed the harbour and heights of that 

 place, and, by this means, attracted the notice of Captain, 

 afterwards Admiral, Graves, who was at that time governor 

 of Newfoundland. Captain Graves having entered into 

 conversation with him, found him possessed of such intelli- 

 gence and judgment, that he conceived a very favourable 

 opinion of his general abilities, and particularly of his 

 nautical skill ; and in cultivating a longer acquaintance 

 with him, he was still more prepossessed in his favour. 



Endowed with a vigorous and active mind, and stimu- 

 lated, perhaps, by the success that had attended his past 

 labours, and the hopes of future promotion, Cook continued 



