26 CAPTAIN COOK 



All the commanders warmly congratulated 

 this young sailor, who had displayed such re- 

 markable abilities on all the missions with which 

 he had been entrusted. At the end of September 

 of this same year, 1759, James Cook was ap- 

 pointed master to the Northumberland, a first- 

 rater, commanded by Captain Lord Colville, 

 Commodore of a squadron on the American sta- 

 tion. They wintered in this port, and Cook, 

 whose ambition was growing, proceeded to ac- 

 quire the knowledge which would enable him 

 one day to wear the uniform of a lieutenant or 

 captain. The master acted as had the little 

 Whitby cabin-boy. He studied with avidity. 

 But his attention was no longer concentrated 

 upon elementary treatises on arithmetic or geog- 

 raphy. During the long winter evenings he 

 pored over Euclid and learned astronomical 

 works. 



In 1762 the Northumberland was ordered to 

 Newfoundland, in order to assist General Am- 

 herst to capture this island from the French, 

 who, in face of the superior strength of the 

 British forces, were soon to yield possession to 

 England. The British fleet then lay for some 

 time in Placentia Bay, in order to fortify the 

 harbour. Cook was entrusted with the duty of 

 drawing the plan of the harbour and the heights 

 commanding it. This he did with his usual skill, 



