At the beginning of 1766, the brig Grenville was moored at Deptford, and remained there, idle, until the end of February, when preparations were made to move the vessel into the dock for repairs, and possible modifications.  However, no modifications were necessary this year, so entries in the log were all concerned with the weather, and the mustering of the crew by the Clerk of the Cheque (an officer just below the rank of lieutenant).

Cook, meanwhile, was living at home in Mile End Old Town with his family.  Young James was now two years old, and Nathaniel was one.  Cook, was occupied drawing up the charts from the Newfoundland survey of 1765.  Palliser wrote to the Admiralty:

Mr. Cook, appointed by the Right Hon’ble my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to survey the sea-coasts of Newfoundland under my direction, having finish’d his chart of that part of the south coast of Newfoundland adjacent to the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelow, including the said islands, upon a large scale of one inch to a mile, you will herewith receive the said chart, which be pleas’d to lay before the Right Hon’ble my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.  He having also the last year deliver’d in to the Board his survey of the north part of Newfoundland upon the same scale, and having now prepar’d a chart of that part with the opposite part of the coast of Labradore, including the island and streights of Bell [Belle] Isle, likewise another of the above-mention’d survey of part of the south coast of Newfoundland, both upon a proper scale to be usefull to the trade and navigation of His Majesty’s subjects, as a publication thereof, I am of opinion, will be a great encouragement to new adventurers on the fisherys upon these coasts, be pleas’d to move their Lordships to permit Mr. Cook to publish the same.¹

The letter was endorsed, “Their Lordships are pleased to comply with the request, By permitting Mr. Cook to publish them”.  Cook, therefore, submitted copies of his manuscript charts for publication.  J. Larken engraved the charts, and they were printed and sold, together with sailing directions, by Mount and Page of Tower Hill, London. 

The first chart was entitled, A Chart of the Straights of Belleisle with part of the coast of Newfoundland and Labradore, from actual surveys Taken by Order of Commodore Pallisser, Governor of Newfoundland, Labradore, &ca.² 

The second chart was, A Chart of Part of the South Coast of Newfoundland, including the islands St. Peters and Miquelon, from an actual survey Taken by order of Commodore Pallisser, Governor of Newfoundland, Labradore, &c.³  This chart was printed, and sold, by Thomas Jefferys and Andrew Dury, as well as by Mount and Page. 

Both charts appeared later in 1766 and were published by Cook, so remained his property.

Two sets of sailing directions prepared by Cook were also printed.  Both were printed for the author, James Cook, and sold by Mount and Page.

• Directions for Navigating on part of the North East Side of Newfoundland, and in the Streights of Bell-Isle, with a Chart thereof, and a particular account of the Bays, Harbours, Rocks, Land-Marks, Depths of Water, Latitudes, Bearings and Distances from Place to Place, the Setting and Flowing of the Tides, etc. Founded on actual survey, taken by order of Commodore Pallisser, Governor of Newfoundland, Labradore, etc.
• Directions for Navigating on part of the South Coast of Newfoundland with a Chart thereof, including the Islands of St. Peter’s and Miquelon, and a particular account of the Bays, Harbours, Rocks, Land-Marks, Depths of Water, Latitudes, Bearings and Distances from Place to Place, the Setting of the Currents, and Flowing of Tides, etc. From an actual survey, taken by order of Commodore Pallisser, Governor of Newfoundland, Labradore, etc. 

In 1766, nine men were returning for another year with Cook in Newfoundland in Grenville.  William Parker (again as second-in-command), Francis Gathman (now as a midshipman), Thomas Smith (still as carpenter’s mate), John Cunningham, Peter Flower, James Griffiths, William Lamb (an AB from Cook’s home village of Great Ayton), Nathaniel Lungley, and John Charlton.  Eight new men joined at Deptford:  Michael Brown, James Command, John Dunn, William Gilliard, Stephen Lyon, Timothy Rarden, Robert Turner, and John Willoughby.  Zachariah Stringer and John Williams later joined at Woolwich.

Grenville was moved into the dock at Deptford on 2 March, 1766, and remained there while undergoing repairs until 22 March, when she was returned to moorings nearby.  All the while, repairs and maintenance were being carried out on timbers, sails and rigging. 

At the end of the month, stores began to be taken on board in readiness for sailing.  Cook, anticipating longer stretches onshore in the coming season, asked to be issued a tent, “to serve as a covering to them in the night and in bad weather”.⁴ 

John Robson

References

1. The National Archives (TNA).  Adm. 1/470. Hugh Palliser to Admiralty (Stephens).  3 Febru-ary, 1766.
2. British Library (BL).  Add. MS 17693A. 
3. BL.  Add. MS 17693B. 
4. TNA.  Adm. 2/236.  Admiralty to Navy Board 17 March, 1766. 

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 14, volume 39 number 1 (2016).