IN THE KING'S SERVICE 29 



At the end of the autumn Cook returned to 

 England. His stay there was short, for his chief 

 patron, Captain Hugh Palliser, appointed Com- 

 modore and Governor of Newfoundland and 

 Labrador, was unwilling to leave for his new 

 post without taking with him his old hand on 

 board the Eagle, of whom he had made a friend. 

 James Cook therefore embarked at the begin- 

 ning of 1764 with the title of Naval Engineer 

 for Newfoundland and Labrador. He contin- 

 ued the work which he had begun the previous 

 year, and with perfect accuracy compiled the 

 chart of the coasts of Newfoundland. He even 

 explored the interior of the island, discovering 

 several lakes. 



In 1766, an eclipse of the sun taking place, 

 Cook wrote a monograph on the subject which 

 was communicated to the Royal Society of Lon- 

 don by the learned Dr. Bevis, who gave full 

 credit to the mathematical and astronomical 

 knowledge of the surveyor of Newfoundland. 



For three years Cook performed his duties 

 with his customary zeal and skill. Each winter 

 he returned to England and the fair Elizabeth, 

 who had presented him with three children. 



In the autumn of 1767, having finished his 

 work, he returned to enjoy a few months' rest in 

 his house in Mile End Road. His reputation 



