Cook held the rank of Post-captain, but was not attached to any ship. He continued to live at Mile End, where he reviewed his journal of his Second Voyage in readiness for its publication.
The Search for a Vessel and a Commander
Cook has been asked to help the Admiralty find a suitable vessel to accompany Resolution on her next voyage as Adventure had returned to her Whitby owners in 1774 after her voyage round the world. However, Cook would not be part of this voyage to return Omai to Polynesia as, in August 1775, he had been appointed Fourth Captain of Greenwich Hospital, though it is unlikely that Cook ever took up his appointment there. On 2 January,1776, Cook wrote to the Commissioners of the Navy.
I have looked over the Brig Diligence, a Transport at Deptford of 29885/94 Tons Burthen; She was built at Whitby about 14 months ago; she is a very roomy ship, hath a great height betwixt Decks and is in my opinion the properest Vessel to accompany the Resolution of any I have yet seen, and will require the least work to prepare her for the Voyage.
I also looked at the Prescilla, a new Brig built at Shei[l]ds of about two hundred and seventy Tons Burthen; this is also a roomy vessel and hath a sufficient height betwixt decks, tho not so much as the other. The only fault which appears in this vessel is her being too short for her breadth, having 27 feet beam and but 77 feet keel.
The next day, the Deptford Yard wrote to the Navy Board.
In Obedience to your Directions of ye 14th Septr last [i.e. 1775] We pray leave to acquaint you His Majesty’s Sloop ye Resolution is ready to receive men & propose to Undock her by Approaching Spring Tides.
On 4 January, Cook wrote to John Douglas, Canon of Windsor, who was helping him edit his journal.
I have received your obliging favour, and am very sorry it is not in my power to accept of your kind invitation to Windsor. For some time past I have been looking out for a ship to accompany the Resolution on her intended voyage; I expect one will be purchased tomorrow, but then I shall have to attend to the alterations which will be necessary to be made in her. These things have retarded the copying of my Journal... I leave it intirely to you to make such alterations as you see necessary, and even to strike out any part or passage which you may think superfluous. By such time as you come to town, I hope to have the whole ready to put into your hands.
On 9 January, the Navy Board wrote to the Admiralty.
We desire you will please to acquaint the Right Honble the Lords Commissrs of the Admiralty that pursuant to their Lordships Order of the 13th of last month We have purchased the Diligence, 298 Tons to be employed on Service in remote parts, and pray to be favoured with their Lordships directions for fitting her for this Service accordingly, win which we presume it may be necessary to Sheath, and fill her Bottom, and prepare her for carrying the Compliment of Guns and Men... and desire to know by what Name she is to be Registered in the List of the Navy.
The next day, Cook wrote from Mile End to Douglas. “I have received your letter of the 7th and also the Box with its contents. I have not had time to look over the corrections which you have made, but have not the least doubt but they were necessary, and that I shall be perfectly satisfied with them”.
On 11 January, the Admiralty replied to the Navy Board’s letter of two days earlier.
Whereas you have acquainted Us, by your letter of the 9th Instant, that in consequence of Our Directions, you have purchased a Vessel called the Diligence of 290 Tons, to be employed on Service in remote Parts... We do hereby desire & direct you to cause the Said Vessel to be registered on the List of the Royal Navy as a Sloop by the name of the Discovery... with a Compliment of 70 Men including Officers. And you are to cause the said Sloop to be taken into a Dock and have her Bottom sheathed and fitted, and to be fitted in all aspects proper for Service in remote Parts, reporting to Us when she may be ready to receive Men.
Two days later, Thomas Edgar passed his master’s examination and received his Master’s certificate. About a month later, he was appointed master of Discovery. Four days later, Molesworth Phillips, who was serving in the Royal Navy, accepted a commission as second lieutenant in the Royal Marines, on the advice of Joseph Banks. Later in the year he joined Resolution in this capacity.
On 23 January, the Navy Board wrote to the Admiralty.
In obedience to Orders of the Rt Honble the Lords Commissrs of the Admiralty of the 13th Decemr last and 11th instant, we send you a Draught and Plan of the Discovery Brig purchased to be employed in remote parts, and as we propose making her a Ship, have likewise sent the Alterations necessary to make her fit for the Service required which are marked on the said Draught in Yellow Lines, also the Dimensions of Masts & Yards which we think are proper for her, in all which Captain Cook who attended us thereon has been consulted.
The Admiralty was having difficulty finding someone to take command of the two vessels to take Omai home, and then search for the Northwest Passage through or around North America. The Admiralty’s latest attempt had been the 1773 voyage commanded by Constantine Phipps. He was a friend of Joseph Banks, and they had travelled together to Newfoundland in 1766. Now, the Admiralty wanted an attempt to find the Northwest Passage from the Pacific Ocean. The only contemporary account of how Cook became the commander of this attempt is that by Andrew Kippis in his biography of Cook.
For the conduct of an enterprise, the operations of which were intended to be so new, so extensive, and so various, it was evident that great ability, skill, and experience were indispensably necessary. That Captain Cook was of all men the best qualified for carrying it into execution was a matter that could not be called in question. But, however ardently it might be wished that he would take upon him the command of the service, no one (not even his friend and patron Lord Sandwich himself) presumed to solicit him upon the subject... At the same time, nothing could be more natural, than to consult him upon every thing relative to the business; and his advice was particularly requested with regard to the properest person for conducting the voyage. To determine this point, the captain, Sir Hugh Palliser, and Mr. Stephens, were invited to Lord Sandwich’s to dinner. Here, besides taking into consideration what officer should be recommended to his majesty for accomplishing the purposes in view, many things were said concerning the nature of the design. Its grandeur and dignity, the consequences of it to navigation and science, and the completion it would give to the whole system of discoveries, were enlarged upon in the course of the conversation. Captain Cook was so fired with the contemplation and representation of the object, that he started up, and declared, that he himself would undertake the direction of the enterprise... No time was lost by the Earl of Sandwich, in laying the matter before the king; and Captain Cook was appointed to the command of the expedition.
No date is given for the dinner. However, on 25 January, the London Evening Post reported
Captain Cook, in the new voyage which he is going to make (Captain Clarke, the commander of the second ship) is to take Omiah to Otaheite, and from thence to proceed upon the discovery of the North-West Passage to the Northwards of California, Parliament have offered 25,000£ reward, 20,000£ to those who discover the passage, and 5000£ to those who approach within one degree of the Pole ; but there are to be no men of science, such as botanists, designers, to accompany them.
On 10 February, Cook wrote to the Admiralty Secretary while at the Admiralty Office.
Having understood that their Lordships have ordered two ships to be fitted out for the purpose of making further discoveries in the Pacific Ocean, I take the liberty, as their Lordships when they were pleased to appoint me a Captain in Greenwich Hospital were at the same time pleased also to say it should not be in prejudice to any future offer which I might make of my Service, to submit myself to their directions, if they think fit to appoint me to the Command on the said intended Voyage; relying, if they condesend to except this offer, they will, on my return, either restore me to my appointment in the Hospital, or procure for me such other mark of the Royal Favour as their Lordships, upon the review of my past Services, shall think me deserving of.
Preparing the Sloops for the Voyage
On 10 February, Cook wrote in his journal.
I received a Commission to Command His Majestys Sloop the Resolution, went on board hoisted the Pendant and began to enter men, her Complement being the same as on her late Voyage. At the same time the Discovery a Ship of 300 Tons burden just purchased into the Service, was Commissioned and the command given to Captain Clerke who was my second Lieutt in the Resolution last Voyage. These two Ships were at this time both in the Dock at Deptford under the hands of the Shipwrights.
Clerke wrote in his journal.
This day I was commissioned by their Lordships to the Command of his Majestys Sloop Discovery which Sloop I found in the Dry Dock at Deptford; many Carpenters were employed on board her. At 11 hoisted the Pendant. The Shipwrights and various Artificers of the Yard so wholly engross’d the Vessel that we could not act in the least towards her equipment for Sea.
That day, the Admiralty wrote to the Navy Board.
We do hereby desire and direct you to cause His Majestys Sloops the Resolution and Discovery at Deptford, to be sheathed, filled and fitted out for a Voyage to remote Parts, manned with their established Complements according to the Scheme hereunto annexed.
The scheme listed many positions, such as captain, lieutenant, midshipmen, master, boatswain, gunner, surgeon, carpenter, sailmaker, armourer, cook, their mates, and the able men including servants, totalling 112 men for Resolution and 70 for Discovery.
The Admiralty also wrote to Viscount George Townshend, Master-General of the Ordnance.
Having ordered His Majestys Sloop the Resolution to be fitted out at Deptford for foreign Service, We desire your Lordship will cause her established number of Guns to be put on board upon her arrival in Galleons Reach, together with such a proportion of ordnance Stores as may be proper for her on the said Service, the same to be delivered into the charge of her Master Gunner.
A similar letter was sent about Discovery. A third letter was sent about both ships.
His Majestys Sloops the Resolution and Discovery being to proceed on a Voyage to remote Parts where it is apprehended long Musquetoons swivelled may be of use on many occasions, We are to desire your Lordship will cause the former to be supplied with Twelve and the latter with Eight long Musquetoons accordingly.
Also on 10 February, the Admiralty wrote to the Navy Board.
In addition to our order of this date for fitting out the Resolution and Discovery for a Voyage to remote Parts, We do hereby desire and direct you to cause them to be supplied with such additional Quantities of Stores and Provisions proper for them on the Service for which they are intended, as they can conveniently stow.
You are also to cause each of the said Vessels to be supplied with a Camp Forge and Copper oven. And to have their Coppers fitted with Mr Irvings Apparatus for rendering Salt Water fresh, and to furnish them with Lieutenant Orsbridges Machine for rendering stinking Water sweet.
You are likewise to cause the said Sloops to be furnished with the frames of two decked Vessels, one of about Twenty, the other of Seventeen Tons, packed in cases for the purpose of exploring and surveying any Coasts where they may touch, or to be used upon any other emergency.
Charles Irving was a surgeon who had invented a fire hearth. The tin machine developed by Lieutenant Osbridge sweetened water filtered through it. Both devices had been used by Cook during his Second Voyage.
On 13 February, Cook was discharged from his post as one of the governors of Greenwich Hospital.
The next day, the Admiralty wrote separately to Cook and Clerke.
It being our intention, notwithstanding former Orders, that no Servants should be borne on the Books of the Sloop under your command to the end that none but able seaman should go to Sea in her, and that the Officers should instead thereof be paid an Allowance by Bill equals to the Wages of the Number of Servants respectively allow’d them, You are therefore hereby required & directed not to bear any Servants to the Officers but to enter Seamen in their room.
That same day, Cook wrote to the Admiralty. “Please to move my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to order Mr Shuttleworth to be Discharged from His Majestys Ship Surprize into the Resolution under my Command”.
Cook also wrote to Captain John Walker from 6, Mile End, London.
I should have answered your last favour sooner, but waited to know whether I should go to Greenwich Hospital or the South Sea. The latter is now fixed upon. I expect to be ready to sail about the latter end of Apl with my old ship the Resolution, and the Discovery, the ship lately purchased of Mr Herbert. I know not what your opinion may be on this step I have taken. It is certain I have quitted an easy retirement for an active and perhaps dangerous voyage. My present disposition is more favourable to the latter than the former, and I imbark on as fair a prospect as I can wish. If I am fortunate enough to get safe home there’s no doubt but it will be greatly to my advantage. My best respects to all your family, and if any of them comes this way I shall be glad to see them at Mile End, where they will meet with a hearty welcome.
On 21 February, Nevil Maskelyne the Astronomer Royal wrote to the Earl of Sandwich. “I am happy to find by the letter, with which your Lordship has honoured me, that you approve of the Board of Longitude sending out an Astronomer with Captain Cooke”.
A Reminder of the Newfoundland Surveys
On 26 February, Cook wrote to Robert Sayer, chart publisher in Fleet Street, concerning “The North American Pilot”, which was to contain some of his Newfoundland charts.
I am greatly obliged to you for the Perusal of the North American Pilot, for Newfoundland, Labradore, &c. I am much pleased to see a Work, in which I have had some Hand, so likely to prove useful to Navigation. From the Knowledge I have of these Parts (which is not a little,) I shall not hesitate to declare, that as much Faith may be put in the Charts, together with the Sailing Directions, as ought to be put in any Work of the Kind.
On 23 November, 1775, James Cook had been nominated to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. It was not until 29 February, 1776, that the nomination to elect Cook was balloted and the election signified. He was formally admitted on 17 March.
Astronomers Appointed
On 2 March, there was a meeting of the Board of Longitude.
The Earl of Sandwich represented to the Board that he had received a Letter from the Astronomer Royal setting forth the necessity of sending out some proper person to make nautical and astronomical Observations on board the two Sloops... fitting out for the purpose of making further discovery’s in the Southern Hemisphere, under the Command of Capt Cooke [the Board] came to the following resolutions.
That Mr Wm Bayly who was employed on like service on Board the Adventure during her late Voyage to the South Seas, and who is ready as they understand, to be employed again, be appointed to go out in the Discovery, in order to make the said Observations;
That Capt Cooke, assisted by Mr King his Lieut who as they are informed is well Qualified for that purpose, be desired to make similar Observations, whenever other more necessary Services will admit on board the Resolution....
That the Watch made by Mr Kendall (being a copy of Mr Harrisons) which went the last Voyage with Capt Cooke be sent out with him now, and that the Watch last made by the said Mr Kendall for this Board be sent out by Mr Bayly; And the Astronomer Royal was desired to return the last mentioned Watch to Mr Kendall to clean, and to provide a proper Case for it, as well as the other
Preparations for the Voyage and Journal Continue
On 4 March, the Admiralty wrote to the Sick and Hurt Board.
You are hereby required and directed to cause a proper Quantity of the Rob of Oranges & Lemons to be forthwith provided and sent on board His Majesty’s Sloops Resolution & Discovery now fitting out at Deptford for a Voyage to remote Parts, in order that trails may be made of the efficacy of the said Robs in curing the Scurvy, giving their Surgeons such instructions as you shall judge necessary in respect to the administering thereof, and letting Us know upon the return of the said Sloops the Success of the said Trials.
The next day, Cook wrote to the Navy Board.
I understand that the Resolution and Discovery are to be supplyed with the same sort of Sain Nets, as are furnished by the Contractor, which on account of thier smalness, and the badness of the Materials on which they are made, cannot be depended upon as I but too well experienced in the Course of the Endeavours Voyage. On my representing this to your Board, before I sailed on my late voyage, they were pleased to order the Sloops employed therein, to be supply’d with Nets of a superior quality; as I hope you will also do now; sence no one can tell how much we may stand in need of them.
On the following day, Cook wrote to the Admiralty Secretary. “I take the liberty to send you the inclosed account, that if it meets with their Lordships’ approbation, the necessary orders may be given to provide the several Articles therein Mentioned, or such others as they may think more proper”.
In the enclosure is written
An Account of sundry articles necessary to be provided and put on board the Resolution and Discovery, in the proportions therein mentioned, in order to exchange for refreshments with the natives of such unfrequented countries as they may touch at, or to be distributed to them in presents towards obtaining their friendship, &c.
Some of the objects are axes, hatchets, spike nails, saws, small glass and metal buttons, combs, old shirts, red baize, kettles, fish hooks and knives.
On 8 March, Cook wrote about the journal of his Second Voyage to Douglas.
I beg your acceptance of 3 Dozn Pints of Constantia Wine, White & Red, and ½ a Dozn of a different sort, which is pale coloured. I will not answer for them being packed in such a manner as to go safe to Windsor, tho’ I think they will. You will herewith receive five Books more of my Manuscript, having kept the remaining three, as they want some alteration.
Douglas later wrote.
In 1776 & 1777 I prepared Capt Cooke’s Voyage for the Press. I undertook this Task at ye earnest Intreaty of Lord Sandwich, & on Condition of Secrecy. His Majesty acquainted with it. I did a great deal to ye Capt’s Journal to correct its Stile; to new point it; to divide it in to Sentences, & Paragraphs, & Chapters & Books. Tho little appears to be done by me, the Journal if printed as the Captain put it into my Hands, would have been thought too incorrect, & have disgusted the Reader.
On 9 March, Cook wrote again to Douglas.
As I intend to look over my whole Manuscript I shall have an opportunity to make such alterations, as may appear necessary to bring it, either to the present [tense], or past times. If you will be so obligeing as to give me your opinion on this matter. It was first written in the present time, but on find[ing] Dr Hawkesworth had mostly used the past, I set about altering it, but I find many places has escaped me.
The next day, Cook at Deptford wrote in his journal, “The Resolution was hauled out of Dock into the River where we compleated her Rigging and took on board the necessary Stores and Provisions for the Voyage which was as much as we could stow and the best of every kind that could be got”. Clerke wrote in his journal, “we haul’d out of the dry [dock] into the wet Dock”.
The following day, the Victualling Board recorded alongside the heading of “Captain James Cook Resolution Sloop” that “Mr Morrison do cause a Sufficient Quantity of Beef & Pork to be cut into double pieces to fill Six Puncheons of Each for said Sloop, And Six Hogsheads of Each for the Discovery, taking care that same be cured as near the time of Vessels Sailing as may be”.
On 16 March, Cook wrote to the Admiralty Secretary. “Please to move their Lordships to order his Majestys Sloops Resolution and Discovery to be supplyed with some Red Wine in lieu of the same proportion of Spirit, It being necessary to have some on board, in case of any disorder breaking out amongst the Crew, in which it is usefull”.
Two days later, Cook wrote in his Log, “Came on board the Earl of Sandwich. Manned the Ship & Saluted him with 3 Cheers at his coming on board”. Clerke wrote, In the morning Lord Sandwich visited the Dock Yard, and came on board and examined this Vessel”.
On 20 March, the Navy Board wrote to Cook. “In return to your Letter of yesterdays date, we acquaint You that we have ordered the Muster Paper You therein mentioned to be supplied”.
Five days later, David Samwell wrote to his friend Matthew Gregson, an upholsterer in Liverpool. “I am a lucky Dog… a very fair Prospect lies before me, almost a Certainty of being made Surgeon when I come home - a voyage agreeable to my wishes - a better Appointment than I cou’d have expected - for thro’ Mr Crosier’s Recommendation to Captain Cook I am made first mate… The Resolution is a very fine Ship but the Discovery is but a small one”. Samwell had joined Resolution as Surgeon’s second mate on 15 February, and became Surgeon’s first mate on 22 March.
Ian Boreham
Originally published in Cook's Log, page 33, volume 49, number 1 (2026).