Narrative of the Voyages Round the World, Performed by Captain James Cook | Page 5

the front of the French
fortified camp at Montmorency and Beauport, in order to enable the
admiral to place ships against the enemy's batteries, and to cover our
army on a general attack, which the heroic Wolfe intended to make on
the camp. Captain Palliser, in consequence of his acquaintance with Mr.
Cook's sagacity and resolution, recommended him to the service; and
he performed it in the most complete manner. In this business he was
employed during the night-time, for several nights together. At length
he was discovered by the enemy, who collected a great number of
Indians and canoes, in a wood near the waterside, which were launched
in the night, for the purpose of surrounding him, and cutting him off.
On this occasion, he had a very narrow escape. He was obliged to run
for it, and pushed on shore on the island of Orleans, near the guard of
the English hospital. Some of the Indians entered at the stern of the
boat, as Mr. Cook leaped out at the bow; and the boat, which was a
barge belonging to one of the ships of war, was carried away in triumph.
However, he furnished the admiral with as correct and complete a
draught of the channel and soundings as could have been made after
our countrymen were in possession of Quebec. Sir Hugh Palliser had
good reason to believe, that before this time Mr. Cook had scarcely
ever used a pencil, and that he knew nothing of drawing. But such was
his capacity, that he speedily made himself master of every object to
which he applied his attention.
Another important service was performed by Mr. Cook while the fleet
continued in the river of St. Lawrence. The navigation of that river is
exceedingly difficult and hazardous. It was particularly so to the
English, who were then in a great measure strangers to this part of
North America, and who had no chart, on the correctness of which they
could depend. It was therefore ordered by the admiral, that Mr. Cook
should be employed to survey those parts of the river, below Quebec,

which navigators had experienced to be attended with peculiar
difficulty and danger; and he executed the business with the same
diligence and skill of which he had already afforded so happy a
specimen. When he had finished the undertaking, his chart of the river
St. Lawrence was published, with soundings, and directions for sailing
in that river. Of the accuracy and utility of this chart, it is sufficient to
say, that it hath never since been found necessary to publish any other.
One, which has appeared in France, is only a copy of our author's, on a
reduced scale.
After the expedition at Quebec, Mr. Cook, by warrant from Lord
Colvill, was appointed, on the 22d of September, 1759, master of the
Northumberland man of war, the ship in which his lordship staid, in the
following winter, as commodore, with the command of a squadron at
Halifax. In this station, Mr. Cook's behaviour did not fail to gain him
the esteem and friendship of his commander. During the leisure, which
the season of winter afforded him, he employed his time in the
acquisition of such knowledge as eminently qualified him for future
service. It was at Halifax that he first read Euclid, and applied himself
to the study of astronomy and other branches of science. The books of
which he had the assistance were few in number: but his industry
enabled him to supply many defects, and to make a progress far
superior to what could be expected from the advantages he enjoyed.
While Mr. Cook was master of the Northumberland under Lord Colvill,
that ship came to Newfoundland in September, 1762, to assist in the
recapture of the island from the French, by the forces under the
command of Lieutenant-colonel Amherst. When the island was
recovered, the English fleet staid some days at Placentia, in order to put
it in a more complete state of defence. During this time Mr. Cook
manifested a diligence in surveying the harbour and heights of the place,
which arrested the notice of Captain (now Admiral) Graves,
commander of the Antelope, and governor of Newfoundland. The
governor was hence induced to ask Cook a variety of questions, from
the answers to which he was led to entertain a very favourable opinion
of his abilities. This opinion was increased, the more he saw of Mr.
Cook's conduct; who, wherever they went, continued to display the

most unremitting attention to every object that related to the knowledge
of the coast, and was calculated to facilitate the practice of navigation.
The esteem which Captain Graves had conceived for him was
confirmed by the testimonies to his character, that were given by all the
officers under