CAPTAIN COOK

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 71, 20 September 1930, Page 9

CAPTAIN COOK

VOYAGE TO ANTIPODES

NAMING OF THE SHIPS '

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, Bth August.

.Through the courtesy of Mi\ Horace Tildes (Wellington), New Zealanders now have the opportunity of reading a transcription of the photostat of a letter by Captain Cook, written at the beginning of 1772, and addressed to Captain William Hammond. So far as Mr Tildes is awaro, it is a new and unknown letter, and there are only a few known to have been written by Cook relative to his voyages of discov-

cry. . ' . While at Gibraltar, during his journey to England last April, Mr. Hides happened to meet Mrl.R. Lionel Foster, of Folkestone, who, strangely enough, was engaged on tho same inquiry as himself -namely, concerning the old East Indiaman, Java, built about 1880, and still serviceable as a coal hnlk m Gibraltar Bay. Mr. Fildes and Mr. Foster journeyed together to England, and shortly afterwards the latter was good enough to give tho former photostats of tho Cook letter.

Captain Cook, ait tlio time of writing, was busily employed preparing for his second voyage—"A voyage towards the South Pole and Round the World, 1772-1775." The two ships left Plymouth on 13th July, 1772, tho Resolution commanded by Cook, and the Adventure by Captain Tobias Furneaux. The letter, which is faithfully transcribed, gives Cook '3 peculiar spelling of certain words, conveys that he was a horseman, and that he was of the impression his second ship would be named "Adventurer," and not "Adventure." The Admiralty changed the names "Drako" and "Raleigh," in that the shins were on an exploring expedition, and could not, therefore, have names borne, or to be borne, by warships, and so gave them names appropriate to mission of voyage. Captain William Hammond was a shipowner at Hull, and it is stated the Admiralty purchased the two ships from him, THE LETTBR. AYTON, 3rd Janry, 1772. Dear Sirl I am sorry to acquaint you that it is now out of my power to meet you at Whitby, nor will it be convenient to return by way of Hull as I had resolved upon but throe days ago. Mrs. Cook being but a bad traveller I was prevailed upon to lay that rout aside on account of the reported badness of the roads and therefore took horse on Tuesday morn.g and road over to Whitby and returned yesterday. Your friends at that place expect to see you every day. I have only myself to blame for not having the, pleasure of meeting you there. I am informed by letter from Lieut. Cooper that the Admiralty have altered the names of the ships from Drake to Resolution and Raleigh to Adventurer which in my opinion are much properer than the former. I set out for London tomorrow morning, shall only stop a day or two at York. lam with great regard Doar Sir 1 Your most obliged humble ' servant ! Jams Cook. ;■ To Cantain. Wra Hammond 3 HIIH