23 CAPTAIN COOK 



a large number of wholly inefficient sailors, and 

 ships' captains did not fail to pick out those who 

 had some knowledge of seamanship. 



When James Cook enlisted as a common sailor 

 in the Eagle, a ship of the line of sixty guns, his 

 superior, Captain Hamer, and then, a few 

 months later, Captain Hugh Palliser, who suc- 

 ceeded him, were quick to notice the sharp 

 knowledge of his business and the absolute sense 

 of duty which were exhibited by the late mate 

 of the Friendship. 



Thus it came about that James Cook attained 

 without delay the rank of mate/ It was in this 

 capacity that he took part in several cruises and 

 a few engagements in the Channel, among which 

 was the capture of the French vessel Due d'Aqui- 

 taine. 



One day Captain Palliser received a letter 

 from Mr. Osbaldiston, member for the Borough 

 of Scarborough, in which the latter said that 

 "several of his neighbours had begged him to 



^ Cook's appointment as "mate" and subsequently "mas- 

 ter" may require a word of explanation. At this time His 

 Majesty's ships carried, in addition to the Captain and 

 Lieutenants, a Master, or Sailing Master, and one or more 

 Mates, who were frequently drawn, as in Cook's case, from 

 the Merchant Service. Their function was primarily navi- 

 gation, seamanship and pilotage, as apart from that of fight- 

 ing, controlled by the Captain and Lieutenants. This sys- 

 tem was a survival from the days when no fighting ships as 

 such existed, a navy being improvised in time of war by 

 placing fighting men on merchant ships. — Translator s note. 



