IV.'

CAPTAIN COOK.

THE life of Captain James Cook affords an instance of the value of good sense, a strong will, and a firm purpose to do what is right, and to work out the duty which lies before us in the best way. His thoughts were not so much bent upon making money, which is too often meant by "getting on in the world," but in being useful in doing his best to please others and to serve his country. He therefore made the most of every chance that fell in his way. These chances came to him as they do to most other people, and he never lost a chance. Having strong powers of mind, he was also able to improve each piece of what is called "good fortune;" and so he got on from step to step until he not only raised himself in life, but has so clearly set his mark upon the world, that his name has long lived after him, and will live still.

James Cook was born in a Yorkshire village, in 1728. His father was a poor farm-servant, living in a cottage built chiefly of mud, but both he and his wife were honest; and he proved so worthy of trust, as to be made a bailiff over a large farm. James, who was then eight years old, had before been taught to read, but was now sent to a better school, where he soon learned to write and cast accounts, at a time when these things were thought more of than they

now are.

When it became time to earn a living for himself, James was sent by his father to learn the trade of a grocer at a small town on the coast; but he had always longed to be a sailor, and the sight of the sea, so far from putting such notions out of his head, only made him set his heart more than ever on dabbling with ropes and tar. His master, being a kind man, would not stand in his way, but let him go, so that he was left free to follow the bent of his mind. This might be called a piece of good luck, for the lad had always done his duty, and many men, when they have found a good useful boy, and have taken the trouble to teach him what is wanted to be done, would not be willing to part with him for what they may think a mere whim. But it may be often seen that good conduct begets kindness in others.

James now went on board a vessel in the coal trade, bound himself and served his time to the owners, and when his time was out, instead of looking for change, he worked on until he was made mate of a ship. During all these years he seemed ever bent on picking up knowledge rather than seeking pleasure, so that he was thought more of by his masters than by his comrades, who, no doubt, like the bulk of mankind, were more careless than those who raise themselves above their fellows.

When war broke out with France, James Cook, now an able seaman, with plenty of sound knowledge in his head, came forward to fight for his country, without being pressed into the service. He went on board a man-of-war, and soon became marked out by the Captain and others in command, and in four years he was raised to the quarter-deck as master in the navy, being then 31 years old. Not long after, he sailed in a ship to North America, on the coast of which there are very many shoals and rocks. A survey of the coast was wanted to preserve the vessels from running on these shoals, and the Captain, who knew that he could trust Mr Cook to make it, put the work into his hands. This he did in a large

boat at night, because it was

only in the dark that

he could keep clear of the French ships. As it was he had one night a very narrow escape from being

taken, and only just got away in time to save the lives of his party. Owing to his great skill and care in this work, all our ships were kept in safety, and maps were made by him, pointing out the proper tracks for sailing in those regions, which were sent to London and printed for public use.

Mr Cook passed some years in the same station, though not always in the same ship; and when he was not busy on matters of duty, he used his spare time in study, adding to his former stock of knowledge in all ways likely to prove of service to him. He also made it a rule to practise a kind and gentle tone towards those with whom he was brought in contact. This is the best way of forming what are called good manners, to which many persons owe so much of their success.

Besides making surveys and maps of the coasts and islands on the station, Mr Cook turned his night-watches to account by taking notes of the many changes in the heavens. The stars and planets, moving in the most perfect order, afford the clearest guides to the sailor in shaping his course at night, and Mr Cook, by sending home his notes on these subjects, was brought to the notice of many learned men who knew the value of such things.

In the year 1769, there was a transit of Venus, that is to say, the planet passed between the earth

and the sun, so as to appear to travel across the face of the sun. It was known that this would happen in the month of June, but it could not be seen in the northern part of the world. So the King, George the Third, yielded to a request that some careful person should be sent out to the South Seas to observe this transit, and write an account of it.

Mr Cook, then about 34 years of age, was at home at the time; he was the very best man for the purpose; and so the command was given to him. Much pleased with the prospect, he was quickly ready for sea, in a ship of 370 tons, called The Endeavour, having been first raised to the rank of Lieutenant, or acting Captain, in the navy. Besides the crew, some men of science went with him, and they sailed from Plymouth on the 26th August, 1768, for the island of Tahiti, in the South Seas. The ship touched at the island of Madeira on the 18th September, and put into Rio Janeiro in South America, on the 13th November. Here the ruler of the place, knowing nothing of matters in the skies, could not make out the object of this foreign ship of war coming into his port; and though Captain Cook got what he wanted in the way of victuals and water, he had some trouble to get away, and when he did sail they were fired at from the guns of the fort at Santa Cruz, at the mouth of the harbour, on the pretence that no pass