222 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



Captain Cook was immediately invested with the 

 command.* 



This preliminary step settled, the exact plan of the under- 

 taking was next taken into serious consideration. All 

 former navigators round the globe, had returned by the 

 Cape of Good Hope ; but to Captain Cook was assigned the 

 arduous task of attempting the same thing by reaching the 

 high northern latitudes between Asia and America ; and, 

 it appears that this plan was adopted in consequence of 

 his own suggestions. His instructions were, to proceed to 

 the Pacific Ocean, and through that cluster of islands he had 

 before visited within the southern tropic, and thence, if 

 practicable, to make his way into the Atlantic, along the 

 northern coast of America, in whatever latitude it migh<, 

 be found to lie ; for nothing whatever was known at that 

 time respecting it. 



To give every stimulus to the prosecution of this great 

 design, motives of interest were superadded to the obliga- 

 tions of duty. An act of parliament, which passed in 1745, 

 offering a reward of 20,000 to such as should discover a 

 passage through Hudson's Bay, was enlarged and ex- 

 plained ; and it was now enacted, that if any ship belonging 

 to his majesty, or his subjects, should find and sail through 

 any passage by sea, between the Atlantic and Pacific 

 Oceans, in any direction or parallel of the northern hemi- 

 sphere, to the northward of the 52nd deg. of northern 

 latitude, the sum of 20,000 was to reward such discovery. 



The vessels destined for this service were the Resolution 

 and the Discovery. The command of the former was given 

 to Captain Cook, and that of the latter to Captain Clerke, 



* The following letter, dated at the Admiralty, 10th Feb., 1776, 

 formally offers his services : 



Admiralty Office, Wth February, 1776. 



SIB, Having understood that their Lordships have ordered two 

 ships to be fitted out for the purpose of making further discoveries in 

 the Pacific Ocean, I take the liberty, as their Lordships, when they 

 were pleased to appoint me a captain in Greenwich Hospital, were at 

 the same time pleased also to say, it should not be in prejudice to any 

 further offer which I might make of my service, to submit myself 

 to their directions, if they think fit to appoint me to the command 

 on the said intended voyage ; relying, if they condescend to accept 

 this offer, they will on my return, either restore me to my appoint- 

 ment in the Hospital, or procure for me such other mark of the 

 royal favour as their Lordships, upon the review of my last services, 

 shall think me deserving of. I am, sir, your most humble servant, 



JAMES COOK. 



To George Jackson, Esq. 



{Admiralty Records.) 



