440400
- TitleJames Cook - Papers, 1768-1773, together with associated papers, ca.1775, 1830, 1901
- Creator
- Call numberSafe 1/83
- Level of descriptionfonds
- Date
1768-1775, 1830, 1901 - Type of material
- Reference code440400
- Issue CopyDigitised
- Physical Description0.02 metres of textual material (1 volume)
- ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
In 1768 the Royal Society petitioned King George III to mount an expedition to observe the Transit of Venus, due to take place on 3 June 1769. James Cook was promoted to Lieutenant and appointed to command HM Bark Endeavour. Charles Green, an astronomer and former assistant to the Astronomer Royal, was appointed an observer. Joseph Banks and his company of scientists were among the 94 people on the voyage. The ship left England on 26 August 1768. At Rio de Janeiro the Viceroy of Brazil refused to allow anyone except Cook to go ashore. The ship rounded Cape Horn and arrived at Matavai Bay, Tahiti, on 13 April 1769. The main observations of the transit were made on 3 June. After leaving Tahiti on 13 July, Cook explored the islands near Tahiti then sailed south and west, arriving at the east coast of New Zealand where he anchored in a bay which he named Poverty Bay. Cook circumnavigated New Zealand then sailed north west to land at Botany Bay on the east coast of New Holland. While continuing its voyage up the coast the Endeavour struck the Great Barrier Reef on 11 June 1770. Basic repairs were made, and the ship sailed on to Batavia for repairs and supplies. The Endeavour arrived back in England on 13 July 1771. The following year Cook set out again in HMS Resolution, circumnavigating the globe and exploring New Zealand, the Pacific and Antarctica, before returning to England on 31 July 1775.
Isaac Smith (1752-1831) was Elizabeth Cook's cousin. He served with Cook on Endeavour and Resolution and eventually attained the rank of Rear-Admiral. He was reputedly the first person to go ashore at Botany Bay in 1770. He lived for many years with Mrs Cook at Merton Abbey, Surrey, and at Clapham. Edward Hawke Locker (1777-1849), commissioner of Greenwich Hospital, wrote a memoir of Cook in his book 'Memoirs of Celebrated Naval Commanders', published in 1832. - Scope and Content30 Nov. 1768; Autograph letter from James Cook, Rio de Janeiro, to the Commissioners for Victualling, stating that he has drawn on them for the purchase of provisions. Unsigned and incomplete draft (1 page).
30 Nov. 1768; Autograph letter from James Cook, Rio de Janeiro, to Phillip Stephens, Secretary of the Admiralty, reporting on difficulties in dealing with the Viceroy of Brazil. Unsigned draft (19 pages). A transcription of this letter can be found in Historical Records of NSW vol.1 part 1, pp 316-322.
Apr.? 1769; 'Rules to be observed by every Person belonging to His Majestys Bark Endeavour for the better establishing a regular and uniform trade for Provisions etc with the Inhabitants of Georges Island and to prevent frauds and desputes as well on the one side as on the other'. Unsigned and undated draft (5 pages) in Cook's hand. Probably written soon after the Endeavour arrived at Georges Island [Tahiti] on 13 April 1769.
3 June 1769; Draft, in Cook's hand, of his observations of the Transit of Venus, comprising observations, diagrams and calculations by Cook together with printed tables for computing longitude (6 pages). A fair copy of part of these observations is located at Safe 1/66.
9-11 Oct.; 24 Oct.-5 Nov.; 26-27 Nov. 1769; Feb. 1901; Draft journal and notes, in Cook's hand, describing events in the Cook Islands and New Zealand. Includes account of Cook's naming of Poverty Bay, New Zealand (12 pages). Together with a newscutting of a letter to the editor of the Poverty Bay Herald from Edward E. Morris of the University of Melbourne, 20 Feb. 1901, referring to this document as a source for the naming of Poverty Bay. The newscutting, from the Poverty Bay Herald, 26 Feb. 1901, is pasted to a sheet stamped 'Australian Museum curator 11 Mar. 1901'. A transcription of this document can be found in 'The Journals of Captain James Cook on his voyages of discovery', edited by J.C. Beaglehole, vol.1 pp 534-541.
16 Oct. 1770; Autograph letter, written in the third person, from James Cook, Endeavour in Batavia Road, to the Governor of Batavia, seeking to draw money for supplies and for repairs to Endeavour. Unsigned draft (1 page).
23 Oct. 1770; Autograph letter, from James Cook, Onrust near Batavia, to Phillip Stephens, Secretary of the Admiralty. Unsigned draft (5 pages). Cook reports on observations of the Transit of Venus, exploration near Tahiti, circumnavigation of New Zealand, discovery of the east coast of New Holland and his voyage to Batavia in the damaged Endeavour. He states that he is forwarding a copy of his journal and some charts. A transcription of this letter can be found in Historical Records of NSW vol.1 part 1, pp.331-334.
23 Oct. 1770; Autograph letter, signed, from James Cook, Endeavour Bark, Batavia, to the President and Council of the Royal Society, reporting on preparations made for observing the Transit of Venus and advising that the results are being sent by astronomer Charles Green. Draft (1 page).
Oct. 1773; Fragment, in Cook's hand, from the journal of his second voyage describing Amsterdam Island (Tongatabu) (8 pages). This journal fragment is an estray from Cook's journal in the British Museum, Add. MSS. 27888.
ca. 1775; Song poem, composed by Thomas Perry, celebrating the voyage of the 'brave Resolution'. A broadsheet poem, without a title, undated: 'It is now my brave boys we are clear of the Ice...'. A manuscript copy in the Dixson Library (MS.F1, pp.71-72) has a note: 'This Song was composed by Thomas Perry a Seaman on board the Resolution whilst returning from the second voyage of discovery by Captain James Cook'.
8 Oct. 1830; Autograph letter, signed, from Rear-Admiral Isaac Smith to Edward Hawke Locker, advising that Mrs Cook has no further papers in her husband's handwriting, that she dislikes the portrait of Cook because it makes him look severe, and that she considered him 'a most affectionate Husband and a good Father to his children whom he dearly loved'. Draft (2 pages). - Finding AidsRead the transcription here: acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2013/D14822/a5531.htm
- General note
All of the documents are accompanied by manuscript transcriptions.
The documents were lent to the Government Printer to be used for Historical Records of NSW, from 1893 to 1900. The transcriptions may have been made during this period.
Described in the Manuscript Index Catalogue as: Cook documents from the Australian Museum.
The documents (with the exception of the observations of the Transit of Venus) are listed in 'Bibliography of Captain James Cook' edited by M.K. Beddie, 2nd ed 1970.
Further information about the provenance of the documents can be found in papers regarding Cook relics from the Australian Museum, held at A 3935 and A 3936/1.
Photocopy - CY Safe 1/83 (open access): xerox copy made from microfilm.
Microfilm available at CY 157, frames 493 - 615 (Safe 1/83)
Digital order no:Album ID : 976728 - Creator/Author/Artist
- Name
- SubjectAstronomy--Observations.
Astronomy--Tahiti.
Cook, Elizabeth, 1742-1835.
Cook, James, 1728-1779--Travel.
Explorers--Great Britain.
Oceania--Discovery and exploration.
Pacific Area--Discovery and exploration.
Venus (Planet)--Transit--1769.
Voyages and travels--18th century.
Voyages around the world.
Cook, James, 1728-1779--Relics.
Maps of the Pacific. - Place
- Exhibited in
Queen Mary 2 display - Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line
Maps of the Pacific - State Library of New South Wales (August 2021 - April 2022). Applies to: Draft, in Cook's hand, of his observations of the Transit of Venus, comprising observations, diagrams and calculations by Cook together with printed tables for computing longitude, 3 June 1769 - Open Rosetta viewer
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