Newfoundland : as it was, and as it is in 1877

Front matter

ST. MICHAEL'S COLLEGE

TORONTO, CANADA

LIBRARY

Contents

CHAPTER. pAGE.

I. — FIRST SETTLEMENT AND GENERAL HISTORY, FROM 3497 TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FIRST CIVIL GOVERNOR IN 1728 1

II- — GENERAL HISTORY, FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF THE

Chapter I

FIRST SETTLEMENT AND GENERAL HISTORY. FROM 1497 TO THE APPOINT- MENT OF THE FIRST CIVIL GOVERNOR IN 1728.

OME writers have affirmed that Newfoundland was discovered by the Scandinavians in the year 1001, while others assert that this alledged discovery by the Northmen is not worthy of credence : " The error appears to have been the work of some designing interpolator of the old Icelandic MS. Chronicles." We, therefore, pass over the mists of romance and fable for the facts of history.

The discovery of the West Indies by Columbus in 1492 ; and of Newfoundland by the Cabots, in 1497, is detailed in almost every book written on America. Without then attempting to go over the same ground, we shall proceed at once to state, that John Cabot (or Cabota, his Italian name), a Venetian, and his son, Sebastian, under a commission granted by Henry VII, of England, sailed from Bristol with a fleet of five small vessels, and discovered Newfoundland on the 24th of June, 1497, near Cape Bonavista, and to which they gave the name of Terra Primum Vista, the land first seen (happy sight or view), because this was the place that first met their eyes in looking from the sea. Cabot called Newfoundland as well as the

American continent Baccalaos, that being the name by which the Indians called the cod-fish. The writer found several ancient histories of Newfoundland in the library of Harvard University, United States; by Hackluyt, Whitbourne and others ; but as extracts from these old writers have been given by various modern historians of Newfoundland, it is unnecessary to repeat them here. It is not the writer's intention to give a minute detail of every event connected with the earlier settlement of Newfoundland, but rather to bring before the notice of the reader the most interesting and important circumstances. The best modern histories of Newfoundland have been given by Macgregor, Martin, and Sir Richard Bonnycastle, Anspach, Reeves, Murray, Buckingham, Lyel, Jukes, Cartwright, Chappelle. Carson and Morris have also written on Newfoundland, and more recently the Rev. C. Pedley and McRea. A correct account of the country has been given in the " Edinburgh Cabinet Library." There has also been a very interesting " Catechism of the History of Newfoundland," written by Mr. St John. But the best sketch of Newfoundland I have ever seen is by Bayard Taylor, the great American traveller. Newfoundland lies between the latitudes of 46° 40', and 51°37/ north and between the longitudes 52° 25' and 59° 15' west, and approaches to a triangular form. It is separated from Cape Breton by the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and from Labrador by the Straits of Belle Isle. It therefore affords a northern and southern entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The surface of the island comprises an area of 36,000 square miles, which is nearly as large as England; 7,000 square miles larger than Scotland, and 4,000 square' miles larger than Ireland. It is ."50 miles long, and 200 broad, or 2,800,000 acres, and has a line of coast, including the indentations of the numerous bays, of about 2,000 miles. Newfoundland is nearer to Europe than any of the islands, or any part of America. The distance between S+ John's and the harbour of Valencia, in Ireland, beinoonly 1656 miles, and from Liverpool, England, about 2,000 miles.

In the year 1500, Emmanuel of Portugal commissioned Gasper de Cortereal to discover Baccalaos, which Cabot had three years previously coasted. He accordingly visited the island, gave to Conception Bay the name that it bears, and coasted along the American continent, all of which was then called Baccalaos. It is said that Gasper de Cortereal and his brother Michael perished in a second attempt to visit Baccalaos. In 1502, the Portuguese established the first regular fishery on the shores of Newfoundland, who were subsequently followed by the Biscayans and French. In 1517, the Portuguese, French and Spaniards employed forty sail of vessels in the cod-fishery. In 1534, Jacques Cartier, the celebrated French navigator, visited Newfoundland with two small vessels ; he touched at Cape Bonavista, and then sailed along the coast and entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence. After exploring the Gulf, he returned to France. The next year he discovered Canada, and sailed up the St. Lawrence.

The English began to be aware of the importance of Newfoundland in the twenty-eighth year of Henry VIII.'s reign. So early as 1536, Robert Hore and others sailed from England to colonize Newfoundland and Cape Breton. There were 120 persons. They, however, failed in their design, and returned to England after great privation and suffering. In 1540, Francis the First of France appointed Roberval, Viceroy of all the newly-discovered lands. He accordingly sailed with five ships, having Jacques Cartier as chief commander. An attempt at this time was made to colonize Cape Breton, Saguenay, Terre Neuve, or Newfoundland, and Labrador, but without success. Newfoundland was not yet discovered to be an island. Roberval subsequently sailed with a greater number of ships, but his fate has never been known. In 1540, the English first began to prosecute the Newfoundland fisheries, from the ports of Bristol, Biddeford and

Barnstaple. In 1576, Frobisher is said to have been forced by the ice upon the Newfoundland coast, when some of the Indians came on board his ship. He sent them ashore in a boat with five sailors, but neither the boat nor men were ever seen again. Frobisher seized one of the Indians and took him to England, where he soon afterwards died.

In 1578, England had 50 ships engaged in the fishery ; France and Spain, 150 sail; whilst the Portuguese had 50.

In 1583, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh engaged in an expedition to Newfoundland, having five vessels under their command ; but the " Raleigh," commanded by Sir Walter, after being some time at sea, was obliged to put back to England, in consequence of an infectious disease breaking out among the crew. Sir Humphrey was created viceroy, admiral, and sole judge for six years. Sir Humphrey, with the remaining four ships under his command, arrived at St. John's on the 5th August, 1583, which he took possession of, with all the land within the circumference of 600 miles, in the name of his sovereign, Queen Elizabeth. In August, during the same year, he despatched one of his vessels, the "Swallow," to England with some of his followers who wished to return home, after which Sir Humphrey sailed from St. John's on a voyage of discovery to the westward. During a heavy gale of wind and a thick fog they fell in upon land, probably Sable Island, when the "Delight" went on shore, and out of 116 persons only 14 were saved. A few days after this occurrence, the other two vessels bore away for England. During the passage a heavy storm arose, in which the "Squirrel " (commanded by Sir Humphrey) sunk, together with her crew. The "Golden Hind," the only remaining vessel of the fleet, arrived in England thirteen days after. These vessels were all small, the largest being 120 tons, two of 50 tons each, and the smallest (the one in which

Sir Humphrey was lost) being only 10 tons, and insufficient to weather a heavy gale. Sir Humphrey Gilbert was brother-in-law of Sir Walter Raleigh. Just before the " Squirrel " sank, Sir Humphrey was seen reading on deck.

After the fate of his brother-in-law, Sir Walter Raleigh directed his attention to the American continent, and eventually established a colony in Virginia.

In 1610, John Guy, a Bristol merchant, under the patronage and assistance of the great Sir Francis Bacon, Lord Northampton, and Sir Francis Sanfield, to whom, with forty others, letters patent were granted by James I., giving them all that part of Newfoundland lying between Cape Bonavista and Cape St. Mary's, with the rights of mines and metals, and all the seas and islands within ten miles of the coast ; the fisheries, however, were to be open to all British subjects.

Guy, with his followers, sailed from Bristol in 1610, in three ships, and after a short passage, arrived in Conception Bay, where he established a colony and opened a promising intercourse with the Indians. After remaining two years, Guy and the remainder of the colony returned to England. Captain Richard Whitbourne, of Exmouth, in the County of Devon, published a history of Newfoundland so early as 1622, which was dedicated to James I. Whitbourne was employed in a ship of his own against the Spanish Armada, in 1588. He visited Newfoundland as early as 1578, and in his second voyage to Newfoundland, in 1583, met with Sir Humphrey Gilbert at St. John's, and in his third voyage, in 1585, he saw Sir Bernard Drake, who had been sent to St. John's from England with a fleet by Queen Elizabeth, to assert her sovereignty. Drake seized several Portuguese vessels, with their cargoes on board, which he carried to England.

In 1615, the Court of Admiralty commissioned Whitbourne to impanel juries, and to rectify various abuses and disorders amongst the fishermen. Agreeably to his

NEWFOUNDLAND, AS ITfWAS,

commission, Whitboume arrived in Newfoundland, and opened the first regular court ever held in the island. One hundred and seventy masters of English vessels are said to have submitted their complaints to his jurisdiction. In 1618, Whitbourne was appointed Governor of a small colony which had been sent out by Doctor Vaughan, a Welsh gentleman, in 1616, who it appears had purchased part of Northampton's patent, granted in connection with Guy by James I. Whitbourne finally returned to England in 1622.

In 1623, James I., gave his principal Secretary of State, Sir George Calvert, all the South-east part of the island lying between the Bays of Placentia and Trinity, which he erected into a province, under the name of Avalon, this being the ancient name of Glastonbury, where Christianity was first preached in the British Isles. Sir George a short time after was created Lord Baltimore. He established a colony at Ferryland, where he resided several years, but subsequently removed to England and obtained a grant of land in the State of Maryland, where he founded the City of Baltimore, which still bears his name. For a more detailed account of Lord Baltimore, the reader is referred to the District of Ferryland, in another part of this volume.

In 1626, the French established a colony in Placentia, which led to constant disputes between them and the English settlers. The permission of the French colony was considered a matter of favour on the part of the English Government, to which the French fishermen paid a yearly tribute of five per cent, on the value of the fish taken. This payment was relinquished by Charles II., in 1675.

In 1628 a colony was sent to Newfoundland by Lord Falkland, then Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and in 1630, Sir David Kirk, with a few followers arrived in Newfoundland. About this time 350 families were settled in the various harbours along the coast, and the fisheries were rapidly progressing.

In 1633, Charles I., through the Star Chamber, promulgated certain laws for the better government of Newfoundland. Some of these laws were, that all persons who committed murder, or theft above forty shillings, were to be taken to England for trial ; that no buildings riveted for prosecuting the fishery should be destroyed at the end of the voyage ; that no tavern, or houses of entertainment, should bo set up, and that according to the old and corrupt system, the master of the first fishing vessel arriving at any port should be Admiral of the same during the season. These Admirals were empowered to settle all disputes among the fishermen, and to enforce due attention to certain Acts of Parliament. The power of these men was very great, which they abused by a partial and corrupt administration of the laws. The shipowners and merchants in England engaged in the Newfoundland fisheries, opposed the appointment of any civil permanent Magistrate or of any Governor of the Island. In the Commission granted from 1634 down to 1660, a clause was inserted to the effect, that no master or owner of any ships should send any settlers to Newfoundland. In 1654 there were fifteen different settlements in the island, and about 400 families.

About 1670 Sir Josiah Child, one of the principal merchants in England, connected with the Newfoundland trade, induced the Government to prevent settlement by destroying the entire colony. Sir John Berry was deputed to burn the houses and drive out the settlers ; he, however, strongly remonstrated against this cruel edict and very reluctantly obeyed his orders. Although John Downing, a resident, procured an order from the King in 1676 annulling the order for destroying the houses. &c. ; yet at the same time no vessel was permitted to take emigrants to Newfoundland, and all persons were forbidden to settle. In consequence of the interference of Sir John Berry and others no further severe measures were resorted to. It is said the Hoard of Trade recommended that one

N thousand persons might be permitted to remain in the island to construct boats, stages for drying the fish, &c.

In 1696 all the English settlements in the island were destroyed by a French fleet, excepting Carbonear and Bona vista, which defended themselves. France and England now struggled for the supremacy of Newfoundland till the Peace of Ryswick in Holland, in 1698, which restored to each power all their possessions, as at the commencement of the war. In the meantime, the French strengthened their positions, and encouraged in every possible way an extension of their settlements. • While, on the contrary, England as much as ever discouraged permanent settlement. The French were therefore better prepared to defend themselves than the English.

During the reign of Queen Ann, in 1702, a British squadron arrived in Newfoundland under the command of Sir John Leake, who took possession of the greater part of the island, and captured no less than twenty-nine sail of the French, and returned to England with his prizes before the end of October. Admiral Graydon was sent with a fresh fleet in 1703, but returned to England without entering into any engagement.

In 1705 the French attempted to become sole masters of the island, their garrison at Placentia having been reinforced by an accession of 500 troops from Canada. They made a formidable a.ttack upon the fortified harbour of St. John's in which they were unsuccessful, they, however, spread their devastation as far northward as Bonavista.

In 1706 they were again expelled by the English from their recent conquests and many of their men-of-war and fishing vessels were either captured or destroyed.

In 1708, a French fleet, under the command of St. Ovide, visited and destroyed St. John's, and also every British fishing station, excepting Carbonear, which again defended itself.

England and France were so impressed with the vast importance of the fisheries of Newfoundland, as well as being an extensive nursery for seamen, and occupying a commanding geographical position with respect to the Canadas, that for the eight following years, owing to the wars of Europe, in which England was engaged, Newfoundland presented a constant scene of warfare and depredation, being sometimes in possession of the English and sometimes in possession of the French, until the peace of Utrecht.

The celebrated Treaty of Utrecht was concluded in the Netherlands on the 4th of April, 1713. By this treaty Newfoundland and the adjacent islands were declared to belong in exclusive sovereignty to Great Britain ; liberty, however, was given to the French to catch and dry fish only on that part of the coast lying to the north of Cape Bonavista, and stretching along the western shore as far as Point Biche ; they were not to make any fortifications or erections, except such as were necessary for the fishery — nor were they to remain in the island longer than the time necessary for curing their fish.

Owing to the continual wars with the French, England was not able strictly to enforce her laws against her own subjects with regard to settlement. The population of Newfoundland had therefore increased very considerably during the wars with France.

In 1721, France employed 400 ships in the Newfoundland fisheries. The island was at this time under the nominal administration of the Governor of Nova Scotia. In 1728 it was established a separate colony of Great Britain.

Chapter II

»KNKKAL HIHTOKT, FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FIKST CIVIL UoYKKNoR the representations of Lord Vere Beau- "hfP, clerk, who was then the naval commander on the American station, in 1728, Captain Henry Osborne, of Her Majesty's Ship " Squirrel," was appointed the first civil governor of Newfoundland. He has been represented as a man of distinguished ability. After his retirement from the Government of Newfoundland, he received the thanks of the House of Commons, and a pension of £1200 per annum during his life.

Captain Osborne appointed a sheriff, and likewise authorised the captains of the ships of war, then on the station, to hold surrogate courts for the decision of civil causes. These judges were afterwards denominated floating surrogates. Captain Osborne's instructions, however, stated that he was not to interfere with, and do nothing contrary to the statute of 10 and 11 William III., which conferred such arbitrary power on the fishing admirals. The deputy-governorship of Placentia ever since it was taken from the French, had been a separate command under the government of Nova Scotia, but on the appointment of Governor Osborne, it was placed under his jurisdiction.

Captain Osborne divided the inhabited parts of the island into convenient districts, levied a rate of half a quintal of fish on all boats and boats-rooms, for the building of prisons, stocks, &c. ; he also appointed justices of the peace. The most important settlements of the island at this time were Placentia, St. John's, Carbonear, Bay of

Bulls, St. Mary's, Trepassy, Ferryland, Bay de Verd, Old Peiiican, Trinity Bay, and Bonavista.

The beneficial measures sought to be carried out by Governor Osborne for the better government of Newfoundland were frustrated by the obstinate conduct of the fishing admirals, backed by false representations of the merchants in England.

In 1731, Captain Clinton, of the Royal Navy, was appointed Governor of Newfoundland, who made a report of the state of the island, in which he condemned the proceedings of the fishing admirals.

Who the Governors of Newfoundland were from 1731 to 1737 does not clearly appear.

In 1737, Captain Vanbrugh was Governor. Owing to the great expense and difficulty of taking persons to England for trial, it was now proposed to establish a Court of Oyer and Terminer, for the trial of persons guilty of capital crimes in the island. It is said, however, that the commission was clogged with such restrictions as rendered it useless, until some years afterwards.

In 1740, the Right Hon. Lord George Graham was appointed Governor, who was succeeded in the following year (1741) by the Hon. John Byng, whose squadron made numerous captures of Spanish vessels, Spain being then at war with England. In order to avoid the expense and risk of sending prizes to England for adjudication, a Vice-Admiralty Court was established at St. John's, the first judge of which was William Keen, a merchant, who was appointed naval officer, to collect the returns of the fishery, <foc.

The next Governor was Sir Charles Hardy, captain of H.M.S. "Jersey," who assumed the Government in 1744.

In 1749, Captain (afterwards Lord) Rodney, of H.M.S. " Rainbow," was Governor. In 1750, Captain Francis William Drake was appointed Governor. During his administration, felons were first brought to trial in the island instead of being sent to England. The Court, however, could only sit during the summer months, when the Governor was present.

In 1753, Captain Bonfoy appears as Governor. It was in this year Lord Baltimore revived his claim to the province of Avalon ; but, in consequence of his having neglected to hold possession so long a time, his claim was not allowed.

In 1755, Captain Dorril was appointed Governor, who was succeeded in 1757 by Governor Edwards.

In 1760, Captain Webb assumed the government. During this year an attempt was made by a Mr. Scott and others to open an intercourse with the aborigines, or Red Indians ; but both he and his companions were treacherously murdered.

In 1761, Lord Graves was Governor. So inconsiderable was the naval force on the station in this year that, in order to protect the homeward-bound vessels, a brig was equipped, with guns, at the merchants' expense, and the command was given to Lieut. John Neal. In consequence of the island being left in this unprotected state, it was visited in the following year by a French squadron, which arrived at Bay Bulls on the 24th June, and having landed their troops proceeded overland to St. John's, where they took the garrison, of only sixty-three soldiers, together with the officers and crew of H.M.S. "Grammont," then lying in port. They inflicted every kind of injury on the fishery and trade, and took Carbonear— which had hitherto resisted all aggression — and the village of Trinity. At the time this occurrence took place Governor Graves was in the "Antelope" engaged as a convoy to a large fleet of merchantmen; a sloop, however, was despatched to meet the Governor, who fell in with him on the Grand Bank and communicated an account of the devastations of the French fleet. The Governor, after adopting measures to secure his convoy, sent the sloop to Ferryland with a party of marines to fortify the (Isle aux Bois) Isle of

Boys, and from thence to proceed to Halifax with despatches to Admiral Lord Colville and Sir Jeffrey Amherst, the commanders of the land and sea forces, whilst Governor Graves, in the " Antelope," repaired to Placentia.

He found the forts of Placentia in ruins. Forts Frederick and Castle Hill, however, were immediately repaired.

Immediately Lord Colville was made acquainted with the state of affairs at Newfoundland, he set sail for St. John's. In the mean time Sir Jeffrey Amherst directed his brother, Colonel Amherst, to collect troops from Louisburgh, which he accordingly did, and joined the Admiral off St. John's on the llth September, 1762, with eight hundred Highlanders and some provincial infantry.

The French squadron, under Monsieur de Ternay, the Admiral, was lying within the harbour of St. John's at anchor, and a much superior force to the English.

Previous to the arrival of Lord Colville from Halifax, Robert Carter, Esq., of Ferryland, and Mr. Brooks, of Bay Bulls, had consulted together, and at their own expense coUected a number of bank-fishing or western boats, which they cut down, and metamorphosed into very tolerable rowgalleys. This proceeding met the highest approbation of Lord Colville, who immediately availed himself of the advantages afforded by these boats for coasting along the surf -beaten shores. He manned them with natives, and embarked in each as many of the military as they could convey, with provisions, ammunition, &c., and appointed Mr. Carter commodore, and Mr. Brooks captain of the little squadron, and under cover of the evening shades despatched them to Torbay, where they arrived the ensuing morning. In the mean time a feint was made of landing the body of the troops from Lord Colville's squadron at Quidi Vidi, when a sharp contest ensued. The English fought up the precipice with desperation ; but the numbers of the French, and their superior advantage in situation, prevented the English dislodging them from their position, on Signal Hill. Nevertheless, the seheiiui was complete ; the western-boat military, under command of Colonel Ainherst, effected a march through the forest and swamps from Torbay, without having been observed, until they reached the rising and more clear ground, about one mile from the French position. A rapid stream flowed between the armies, and several skirmishes were fought during the frequent attempts made by the English to cross this stream, which was more than usually over-flown. In one of these conflicts Major McKenzie was severely wounded. The English now advanced upon Signal Hill, the strong position of the French, and in a short time drove the French from their guns. The French, however, still occupied some strong forts in the centre of the town, from which they were driven on the 17th of September, 1762, and surrendered themselves prisoners of war. The French fleet under the command of Admiral de Ternay, took no part in the engagement ; having escaped under concealment of a canopy of a thickly spreading fog put to sea, and the English fleet being driven off to sea in a heavy gale of wind, were unable to pursue them. About twenty men belonging to the English, besides Captain McDonald and Lieutenant Schuyler, of the Royal Dragoons, were killed, and Captain Baillie severely wounded. The French troops are said to have been some of the finest men belonging to their army. In those days Robert Carter, Esq., supported a garrison on a small island called the (Isle aux Bois) Isle of Boys, situated near the entrance of the harbour of Ferry land, and Charles Garland, Esq., a detachment of military on an island, at the entrance of Carbonear. The services of these individuals were highly appreciated by the Government. Their descendants are numerous, and are among the most respectable inhabitants of Newfoundland.

In 1763, on the 10th of February, the treaty of Paris was signed, by which France yielded to Great Britain all pretentious to Nova Scotia, Canada, Cape Breton, and all the North American Colonies, in return for which Great

AM) AS IT IS IN 1877. 1 '">

•

Britain, confirmed the 13th article of the Treaty of Utrecht, which allowed the French to take and cure fish on the Northern and Western coasts of Newfoundland. The French were also permitted to fish in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, within three leagues of the shore, and fifteen from those of the Island of Cape Breton, whilst the small islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon at Newfoundland were ceded in perpetuity to them, on condition of not erecting any forts or fortifications thereon.

About this time the coasts of Labrador, from the River St. John (opposite the Island of Anticosti) to the entrance of Hudson's Straits, was annexed to the Government of Newfoundland. The population at this period was upwards of 13,000, only about one-half of whom were constant residents. The number of vessels employed by the English at this period was about 400 sail, which carried great quantities of fish to Ireland. The quantity of cod fish taken was 386,274 quintals ; G94 tierces of salmon; and 1,598 tons of cod-liver oil, besides furs to the amount of £2,000. In 1764, Captain, afterwards Sir Hugh, Palliser, was appointed to administer the Government of Newfoundland.

Captain Palliser is said to have been one of the most enlightened and active of the Naval Governors of Newfoundland. The rules and regulations which he made, relative to the fishery, were afterwards passed into law. During 1764, the Commissioners of Customs appointed ;i collector and comptroller at Newfoundland, in the place of a naval officer who used to receive the duties from the fishing admirals.

Newfoundland was now regarded as something more than a mere fishing station. In 1765, the navigation laws were extended to her, and she was declared one of His Majesty's " Plantations " or Colonies. These important changes \\viv strongly resisted by the merchants at home, and the adventurers in the fisheries. During Captain

Palliser's administration Labrador was again annexed to Canada. Sir Richard Bonnycastle says : —

" His government was conducted with moderation and humanity, and although he had to deal with a very intractable race, yet, by patiently investigating the abuses which were as rife as ever, he succeeded in effecting much relief for the poor .fishermen, and in carrying through afterwards, by his advice, the Act of George III, statute 15, cap. 31, 1775, commonly called ' Sir Hugh Palliser's Act,' which, while it assisted the British merchant in his ship-fishery, enforced the payment of wages to the fisherman, and provided a heavy penalty, hitherto wanting, to oblige the masters of vessels to secure the return of the seamen to England. This was as ill received as it was kindly meant ; and, in Chief Justice Reeve's day, the merchants complained that such was its rigour towards them that it was with the greatest difficulty they could carry on the fishery. It, however, secured the right of British European subjects to the exclusive privileges of drying fish in Newfoundland, and gave several bounties encouraging the fishery : it controlled the frequently atrocious conduct of the masters of vessels towards their seamen in the payment of wages in articles of supply instead of money ; and gave the fishing sailors a lien or prior claim on the fish and oil for their due payment, empowering the Court of Session and Vice- Admiralty with competent jurisdiction."

Sir Hugh Palliser was a warm friend of the celebrated navigator Captain Cook, under whom he made a survey of the coasts of Newfoundland. The following interesting account of Captain Cook is given by Sir Richard Bonnycastle : —

" Cook, the immortal navigator, first entered the navy as a volunteer, in the " Eagle " ot 60 guns, to which Captain Palliser was soon afterwards appointed, in October, 1755. By his interest, and that of Cook's friends, as well as his own merits, he obtained a master's warrant, on the 10th May, 1759, or only four years after entering the navy as a common sailor. Palliser was his steady friend, and Cook joining the fleetfor Quebec in the " Mercury/' was employed in reconnoitering by Admiral Saunders, at the Captain's recommendation, as well as in making a chart of the St. Lawrence, which to this day is the best, although it is said that Cook had never before used a pencil, and knew nothing of drawing. On the 22nd September, 1759, he was appointed by Lord Colville, as before mentioned, master of the " Northumberland," his flag-ship ; and being at Halifax during the winter, he applied himself to read Euclid and to the study of astronomy, and all the other branches of science useful to a seaman. He went with the Admiral, in September, 1762, in the expedition to recapture Newfoundland from the French, and having shewn great activity and diligence in surveying Placentia harbour and fortifications, Captain Graves, then Governor of Newfoundland, was struck with his sagacity, formed a friendship for him, and employed him wherever the expedition went, in noticing the coast and navigation of the seas there. In 1762, Cook went to England, but returned with his patron, Captain Graves, who, as Governor, obtained with difficulty, an order for the establishment of a naval survey of Newfoundland, and got Cook appointed to carry it on.