In 1765, James Cook, in the brig Grenville, surveyed the coast of Burin Peninsula and Fortune Bay in southern Newfoundland. The governor of the island, Hugh Palliser, had instructed Cook to survey in this region in response to heightened French activity.
On 22 July, Grenville had struck a rock as they entered Long Harbour near the head of Fortune Bay. Cook managed to get the brig off the rock and had undertaken temporary repairs. However, by late September, the brig needed more repairs and Cook put her ashore in Ship Cove (present day St. Albans) near the head of Bay d’Espoir. After two weeks work all repairs had been completed and Grenville departed on 9 October.
Wintery conditions meant the surveying season was over for another year. Cook headed for St. John’s, where his arrival and departure were noted by the Niger.
21October. Anchored here his Majesty’s Brig, Grenville.
05 November. Sailed for England, with Guernsey, Pearl, Spy and Brigg Grenville.
Palliser was still concerned about French activity, and arranged for two of his ships to winter over in Newfoundland waters along the south coast.
Cook sighted the Scilly Isles on 28 October and, two days later, Grenville anchored at Spithead for Cook to report to Palliser.
30 November. 10am Anchored at Spithead. Found here the Guernsey and the Aquilon.
Cook then continued round to the River Thames where, after a short stopover at Woolwich, he moored the ship at Deptford Dockyard on the south bank of the river, downstream from the centre of London.
16 December. At 3pm made fast along side of ship off Deptford yard.
Having safely brought Grenville back to Britain, Cook quickly returned to his family in Mile End. Once again, he began drawing up the charts, the sailing directions and other reports from, this time, his surveying the Burin Peninsula, Fortune Bay and Bay d'Espoir. One manuscript chart survives from 1765 in the National Archives at Kew. It is MS C58 covering from Burin Peninsula to Jervis Har-bour. Cook submitted this chart in 1766 when it was published. Another manuscript chart, entitled A Chart of the Sea-Coast of Newfoundland between St. Laurence and Point-May. Survey’d by Order of Hugh Palliser Esq Commodore &c. &c., by James Cook, is now in the collection of Archives Canada.
Palliser mentioned Cook in his reports to the Admiralty.
Mr. Cook, the Surveyor, having been Employ’d under my Directions upon the Coasts where I have been Employ’d in His Majesty’s Ship Guernsey, I beg leave to refer the Board to his Drafts and Remarks, & as the several Services I have had under my care have not allow’d me time to make such Surveys and Remarks myself, I desire you will be Pleas’d to move their Lordships to Signifie to the Navy Board that they have no Objection to their Paying my Wages.1
Two of Grenville’s company were discharged in-to sick quarters at Portsmouth (Charles Roberts and William Walsh); five men were discharged (Rich-ard Barrow, George Green, Ruben Herbet, Thomas Lock and James Willoughby); three men ran (Thomas Hart, James Mathews and Walter Price); and nine would return to Newfoundland in 1766.
There were no new family additions waiting for Cook when he returned home, which was now at 7 Assembly Row, Mile End Old Town.
References
- Hugh Palliser to Admiralty (Stephens). 14 December 1765. ADM 1/2300. The National Archives (TNA).
Originally published in Cook's Log, page 10, volume 38, number 4 (2015).