Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- c1760 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 volume containing 20 leaves
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born in Marton, Cleveland, 1728; became an apprentice to shipowners in Whitby; became master of his own ship, HMS Northumberland, 1759; the following winter, while laid up in Halifax, studied mathematics and attained a sound knowledge of astronomical navigation; went on to become an eminent circumnavigator and made many geographical discoveries, including establishing knowledge of the Southern Pacific; kept a crew at sea without serious losses from sickness and death, which was unusual at that time; killed by natives of Hawaii, 1779.
From c1750 Masters of HM Ships were required by the Admiralty to keep Remark Books of details of coasts and ports they visited. James Cook followed this practice when serving in HMS Pembroke and HMS Northumberland on the North American Station from 1758 to 1762.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0103 MS ANGL 7 c1760 Collection (fonds) 1 volume containing 20 leaves Cook , James , 1728-1779 , explorer
Born in Marton, Cleveland, 1728; became an apprentice to shipowners in Whitby; became master of his own ship, HMS Northumberland, 1759; the following winter, while laid up in Halifax, studied mathematics and attained a sound knowledge of astronomical navigation; went on to become an eminent circumnavigator and made many geographical discoveries, including establishing knowledge of the Southern Pacific; kept a crew at sea without serious losses from sickness and death, which was unusual at that time; killed by natives of Hawaii, 1779.
From c1750 Masters of HM Ships were required by the Admiralty to keep Remark Books of details of coasts and ports they visited. James Cook followed this practice when serving in HMS Pembroke and HMS Northumberland on the North American Station from 1758 to 1762.
Unknown.
Manuscript, c1760, entitled 'Directions for sailing from the harbour of Halifax to Quebec, by James Cook, Master of His Majesty's Ship Northumberland'. The text is written in Cook's hand throughout. Pasted into the manuscript are a table showing latitude and longitude of capes etc (f 17r) and a list of names, mostly of native chiefs encountered in the Pacific on Cook's first and second voyages (f 18r).
Open.
Normal copyright restrictions apply.
English
Paper manuscript bound in gold stamped brown calf. One hand throughout. 26.5cm.
Dorothy K Coveney, A Descriptive Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of University College London (London, 1935).
British Library, Manuscript Collections, holds log books, journal, drawings, charts, maps, letters and papers, summarised on the National Register of Archives. The National Maritime Museum, Manuscripts Section, holds drafts of a narrative of Cook's second voyage, 1772-1775 (Ref: REC/20). The Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Whitby, holds letters. The National Library of Ireland, Dublin, holds a journal, 1772-1775. The National Library of New Zealand, Alexander Turnbull Library, holds a log book, 1755-1756 (Ref: qMS 537-39). The National Library of Australia holds a journal, letterbook, notebook and papers, 1768-1778 (Ref: MSS 1-6, 108). The National Archives of Canada, Ottawa, holds directions for sailing from the island of Scaterie to Quebec, 1760 (Ref: MG 18, M). Peabody and Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, USA, holds correspondence, 1766-1776 (6 items). The Huntington Library, San Marino, California, holds a fragment of journal relating to the discovery of Botany Bay, 1770 (Ref: HM 965). Other Remark Books of James Cook, or fragments, or other papers of Cook survive at the Hydrographic Department, Ministry of Defence, Taunton, and at Harvard University, Houghton Library.
Andrew David, 'James Cook's Manuscript Sailing Directions in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the St Lawrence River' (typescript, 1979) at University College London Special Collections discusses manuscripts relating to Cook, including the one at University College London.
Sources: Andrew David, 'James Cook's Manuscript Sailing Directions in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the St Lawrence River' (typescript, 1979); National Register of Archives. Description revised by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. 1999, revised Jul 2001 Armed forces Canada Coastal zones Cook , James , 1728-1779 , Captain RN , Explorer Exploration Geographical exploration Geography Geomorphology Halifax (Canada) HMS Northumberland International relations Land forms Military organizations Navigation North America Nova Scotia Organizations Quebec State security Topography Travel
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Unknown.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Manuscript, c1760, entitled 'Directions for sailing from the harbour of Halifax to Quebec, by James Cook, Master of His Majesty's Ship Northumberland'. The text is written in Cook's hand throughout. Pasted into the manuscript are a table showing latitude and longitude of capes etc (f 17r) and a list of names, mostly of native chiefs encountered in the Pacific on Cook's first and second voyages (f 18r).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open.
Conditions governing reproduction
Normal copyright restrictions apply.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Dorothy K Coveney, A Descriptive Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of University College London (London, 1935).
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
British Library, Manuscript Collections, holds log books, journal, drawings, charts, maps, letters and papers, summarised on the National Register of Archives. The National Maritime Museum, Manuscripts Section, holds drafts of a narrative of Cook's second voyage, 1772-1775 (Ref: REC/20). The Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Whitby, holds letters. The National Library of Ireland, Dublin, holds a journal, 1772-1775. The National Library of New Zealand, Alexander Turnbull Library, holds a log book, 1755-1756 (Ref: qMS 537-39). The National Library of Australia holds a journal, letterbook, notebook and papers, 1768-1778 (Ref: MSS 1-6, 108). The National Archives of Canada, Ottawa, holds directions for sailing from the island of Scaterie to Quebec, 1760 (Ref: MG 18, M). Peabody and Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, USA, holds correspondence, 1766-1776 (6 items). The Huntington Library, San Marino, California, holds a fragment of journal relating to the discovery of Botany Bay, 1770 (Ref: HM 965). Other Remark Books of James Cook, or fragments, or other papers of Cook survive at the Hydrographic Department, Ministry of Defence, Taunton, and at Harvard University, Houghton Library.
Publication note
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Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English