10 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



he served to the full satisfaction of his employers. His 

 first voyage was on board the ship Freelove, of about 

 450 tons burden, chiefly employed in the coal trade from 

 Newcastle to London. 



In May, 1748, he was ordered home to assist in rigging 

 and fitting for sea, a fine new ship, named the Three 

 Brothers, of 600 tons. This was designed to improve him 

 in his profession, and to qualify him for a better berth, 

 when his apprenticeship should expire. After two coal 

 voyages in this vessel, she was taken into the service of 

 government, and sent as a transport to Middleburgh, 

 to convey some troops to Dublin. , These being landed 

 at their destination, another regiment was taken on board, 

 and brought to Liverpool. Thence the ship proceeded 

 to Deptford, where she was paid oil in April, 1749. The 

 remaining part of the season, Cook served on board her 

 in the Norway trade. 



Being honourably released from his engagements, he 

 next entered on board a ship employed in the Baltic trade, 

 and during the two following years performed several 

 voyages of no great importance. In 1752, his old master 

 promoted him to be mate of one of his ships, called the 

 Friendship, in which capacity he acted for some time, 

 with so much credit to himself and satisfaction to his 

 owners, that it is said he was offered the place of captain. 

 This, however, he declined, and fortunate indeed was it 

 for his country that he did so. 



In the spring of 1755, hostilities commenced between 

 Great Britain and France ; press-warrants were issued, 

 and Cook, whose ship was then in the river Thames, 

 afraid of being pressed, resolved, if possible, to conceal 

 himself ; but afterwards, reflecting on the difficulty of 

 this course, he adopted the resolution of entering as a 

 volunteer in the Royal Navy, " having a mind," as he 

 expressed himself, " to try his fortune in that way." 



In pursuance of this design, he repaired to a house of 

 rendezvous at Wapping, and entered on board the Eagle, a 

 sixty gun ship, at that time commanded by Captain Hamer. 

 To this ship, Captain, afterwards Sir Hugh Palliser, being 

 appointed in October following, Cook's diligence and atten- 

 tion to the duties of his profession did not escape the notice 

 of that intelligent commander, and he met with every en- 

 couragement compatible with his humble station. 



Cook's merit having been blazoned among his connections 

 and friends in his native country, some of them generously 

 interested themselves in his behalf, and procured a letter of 

 recommendation to his captain from Mr. Osbaldeston, 

 member of parliament for Scarborough, in which it was 



