9th to 13th July 1771

More or less everything available to me has now been posted on this site, however, I will be leaving it for research purposes for the forseeable future. Comments on individual entries are, of course, still very welcome. I will seek to answer questions within a day or so.

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

9th. Fore and middle parts a Gentle breeze, and thick, Foggy

weather; remainder, a fresh Breeze and Cloudy. A swell from the

North-North-West all day. Wind South Westerly; course North 21 degrees

East; distance 100 miles; latitude 48 degrees 19 minutes North, longitude

8 degrees 1 minute West per Account, 8 degrees 7 minutes per Observation.

10th. Pleasant breezes and Clear weather. At 6 o'Clock in the

Morning sounded, and Struck ground in 60 fathoms Shells and Stones, by

which I judged we were the length of Scilly Isles. At Noon we saw land

from the Mast Head, bearing North, which we judged to be about the Land's

End. Soundings 54 fathoms, Coarse, Grey Sand. Wind Westerly; course North

44 degrees East; distance 97 miles; latitude 49 degrees 29 minutes North,

longitude 6 degrees 18 minutes West.

11th. Steady fresh breezes and clear weather. At 2 in the P.M.

saw the Lizardland, and at 6 o'clock the lighthouse bore North-West,

distant 5 Leagues, we being at this time, by my reckoning, in the

Longitude of 5 degrees 30 minutes West; soon after 2 Ships under their

Topsails between us and the land, which we took for Men of War. At 7

o'clock in the morning the Start Point bore North-West by North, distant

3 Leagues, and at Noon we reckon'd ourselves about 5 Leagues short of

Portland. This Forenoon a small cutter built vessel came under our Stern,

and inquir'd after the India Fleet, which, they said, they were cruizing

for and had not seen.

12th. Winds at South-West, a fresh Gale, with which we run

briskly up Channel. At 1/2 past 3 p.m. passed the Bill of Portland, and

at 7 Peverell Point; at 6 a.m. passed Beachy head at the distance of 4 or

5 miles; at 10 Dungeness, at the distance of 2 miles, and at Noon we were

abreast of Dover.

13th. At 3 o'clock in the P.M. anchor'd in the Downs, and soon

after I landed in order to repair to London.

(Signed) JAMs COOK.

7th and 8th July 1771

[North Atlantic]

7th. Gentle breezes and Clear weather. In the Evening found the Variation by the Amplitude to be 22 degrees 30 minutes West. At 9 A.M. Spoke a Brig from Liverpool bound to Porto, and some time after another from London, bound to the Granades. She had been 3 days from Scilly, and reckoned herself in the Longitude of about 10 minutes West, which was about 40 minutes to the Westward of what we found ourselves to-day by Observation. We learnt from this Vessel that no account had been received in England from us, and that Wagers were held that we were lost. It seems highly improbable that the Letters sent by the Dutch Ships from Batavia should not come to hand, as it is now 5 months since these Ships sail'd from the Cape of Good Hope. Wind North-North-East and North-West; course North 50 degrees East; distance 49 miles; latitude 46 degrees 16 minutes North, longitude 9 degrees 39 minutes West per Account, 9 degrees 29 minutes per Observation.

8th. Little wind and hazey weather. Swell from the Northward. Wind North-North-West to South-West; course North 46 degrees 45 minutes East; distance 43 miles; latitude 46 degrees 45 minutes North, longitude 8 degrees 54 minutes West.

5th and 6th July 1771

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

5th. Little wind and Cloudy. At 1 P.M. spoke a Dutch Galliot bound to Riga. At 5 Tack't, and stood to the Westward till 8 a.m., then to the Eastward. Wind North-East; course North 50 degrees East; distance 8 miles; latitude 45 degrees 34 minutes North, longitude 10 degrees 32 minutes West per Log, 9 degrees 18 minutes per Observation.

6th. Gentle breezes and Cloudy. At 1 p.m. sent a Boat on board a Brig belonging to Boston, last from Gibraltar, and bound to Falmouth. Wind North-North-East; course North 72 degrees 30 minutes East; distance 37 miles; latitude 44 degrees 45 minutes North, longitude 9 degrees 42 minutes West per Log, 8 degrees 28 minutes per Observation.

3rd and 4th July 1771

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

3rd. Little wind and pleasant weather. At 9 A.M. found the Ship by Observation of the Sun and Moon 1 degree 14 minutes East of Account. Six Sail in Sight. Wind North and North-West; course North 56 degrees East; distance 54 miles; latitude 45 degrees 24 minutes North, longitude 11 degrees 59 minutes West per Log, 10 degrees 45 minutes per Observation.

4th. Gentle breezes and Cloudy weather. Variation per Azimuth and Amplitude in the Evening 21 degrees 25 1/2 West, and in the Morning 20 degrees 10 minutes West. Wind West, North, and North-East; course South 85 degrees East; distance 55 miles; latitude 45 degrees 29 minutes North, longitude 10 degrees 44 minutes West per Log, 9 degrees 27 minutes per Observation.

1st and 2nd July 1771

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

1st.  Ditto weather. In the Night passed 2 Sail Standing to the South-West. Wind Ditto; course North 77 degrees 15 minutes East; distance 90 miles; latitude 44 degrees 54 minutes North, longitude 13 degrees 59 minutes West.

2nd.  Little wind and Cloudy, hazey weather. One Sail in Sight to the North-East. Wind Ditto; course East; distance 42 miles; latitude 45 degrees 54 minutes North, longitude 13 degrees 2 minutes West.

Joseph Banks Journal

1st.  My Bitch Lady was found dead in my Cabbin laying upon a stool on which she generaly slept. She had been remarkably well for some days; in the night she shreikd out very loud so that we who slept in the great Cabbin heard her, but becoming quiet immediately no one regarded it. Whatever disease was the cause of her death it was the most sudden that ever came under my Observation. Many Shearwaters were seen about the ship.

25th to 30th June 1771

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

25th. First part and remainder a fresh breeze and Cloudy. Wind

North-East to North-North-East; course South 85 degrees East; distance 58

miles; latitude 40 degrees 39 minutes North, longitude 23 degrees 33

minutes West.

26th. First part, breezes; remainder, little wind. Wind North

by East; course North 86 degrees 45 minutes East; distance 72 miles;

latitude 40 degrees 43 minutes North, longitude 21 degrees 58 minutes

West.

27th. Moderate breezes and Cloudy weather. Wind Westerly;

course North 54 minutes East; distance 54 miles; latitude 41 degrees 14

minutes North, longitude 20 degrees 59 minutes West.

28th. Fresh breezes, with Showers of Rain. Wind West to

North-North-West; course North 38 degrees East; distance 123 miles;

latitude 42 degrees 55 minutes North, longitude 19 degrees 18 minutes

West.

29th. First part, little wind; remainder, Fresh Gales and

Squally, with Showers of Rain. Wind South-West to West and North-East;

course North 59 degrees 15 minutes East; distance 86 miles; latitude 43

degrees 39 minutes North, longitude 17 degrees 36 minutes West.

30th. Gentle breezes and fair weather. Variation in the Evening

18 degrees 30 minutes West, and in the Morning 19 degrees 30 minutes.

Wind Northerly; course North 50 degrees 45 minutes East; distance 87

miles; latitude 44 degrees 34 minutes North, longitude 16 degrees 2

minutes West.

23rd and 24th June 1771

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

23rd. Fresh Gales and Squally, attended with Showers of rain. In the Evening all the Fleet were to Windward of us, and in the Morning not one was to be seen. Wind North-East by North to East-North-East; course South 69 1/2 degrees East; distance 80 miles; latitude 40 degrees 43 minutes North, longitude 26 degrees 13 minutes West.

24th. First part, moderate breezes; remainder, Squally. At Noon Tack'd. Wind North-East to East-South-East; course South 82 degrees East; distance 64 miles; latitude 40 degrees 34 minutes North, longitude 24 degrees 49 minutes West.

21st & 22nd June 1771

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

21st. Fresh Gales and Cloudy. In the P.M. saw a Sail astern standing to the South-East, and at 11 o'Clock A.M. saw from the Mast head 13 Sail of Stout Ships, which we took to be the East India Fleet. Wind Northerly; course East by North; distance 128 miles; latitude 40 degrees 33 minutes North, longitude 30 degrees 20 minutes West.

22nd. Fresh Gales, with Squalls, attended with rain. In the Evening had 14 Sail in sight, 13 upon our lee Quarter, and a Snow upon our lee Bow. In the Night split both Topgallant Sails so much that they were obliged to be unbent to repair. In the Morning the Carpenter reported the Maintopmast to be Sprung in the Cap, which we supposed hapned in the P.M., when both the Weather Backstays broke. Our Rigging and Sails are now so bad that something or another is giving way every day. At Noon had 13 Sail in sight, which we are well assured are the India Fleet, and are all now upon our Weather Quarter. Wind North to North-East; course North 81 degrees East; distance 114 miles; latitude 41 degrees 11 minutes, longitude 27 degrees 52 minutes West.

Joseph Banks Journal

21st.  About noon we discoverd a fleet of 13 sail of large ships on our weather quarter; these we doubted not were our consorts the India fleet. One Shearwater was seen.

22nd.  The Fleet held so much better a wind than us that the[y] fairly went out of sight to windward of us, who indeed had split both our Topgallant sails in a squall.

19th and 20th June 1771

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

19th.  Fresh Gales and Cloudy. At 2 p.m. found by observation the same Error in our Longitude as Yesterday, which I have now corrected. The Longitude of this day is that resulting from Observation. At 10 A.M. saw a Sail a head, which we soon came up with, and sent a Boat on board. She was a Schooner from Rhoad Island out upon the Whale fishery. From her we learnt that all was peace in Europe, and that the America Disputes were made up; to confirm this the Master said that the Coat on his back was made in old England. Soon after leaving this Vessel we spoke another from Boston, and saw a third, all out on the same account. Wind South to South-West; course North 73 degrees East; distance 127 miles; latitude 40 degrees 9 minutes North, longitude 36 degrees 44 minutes West.

20th.  Fresh Gales and Cloudy, with some Showers of rain. At day light in the Morning saw a Sail ahead standing to the East. A Swell from the North-North-West. Wind South-West, North-West, North; course North 80 1/2 degrees East; distance 121 miles; latitude 40 degrees 29 minutes  North, longitude 33 degrees 10 minutes West.

Joseph Banks Journal

20th.  Saw a large ship ahead which on our lowering our foretopsail hoisted a flag at her maintopmast head; she soon however made sail and left us.

17th and 18th June 1771

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

17th. Steady, Gentle Gales and pleasant weather. Variation in the Evening 9 degrees West. Wind South-South-East; course North 68 degrees East; distance 104 miles; latitude 38 degrees 57 minutes North, longitude 38 degrees 36 minutes West.

18th. Little wind, and clear weather. At 2 p.m. found the Ship to be by Observation 1 degree 22 minutes to the Westward of Account carried on from the last Observation; in the Evening the Variation was 14 degrees 15 minutes West, and in the Morning 14 degrees 24 minutes. WindSouth; course North 66 degrees East; distance 82 miles; latitude 39 degrees 52 minutes North, longitude 36 degrees 59 minutes West.

Joseph Banks Journal

18th.  Saw 3 New En[g]land Schooners cruising for whales. Sent a boat on board one who told us that he had yesterday spoke an outward bound Englishman, who told him that all was peace in Europe, and that the Spanyards had agreed to pay the Manilla ransom with interest in one year and a million of Dollars for damages done at Falklands Islands. The vessel had by their own account been out 5 weeks and caught nothing; they had chasd a whale 60 Leagues into Fyall harbour into which they could not follow it as the Portugese suffer no Whaler to go into any of their Ports in the Western Islands. They had they said no meat on board but livd upon what they could catch; they sold us readily 4 large Albacores saying that they could catch more. As for American news King George they said had behavd very ill for some time but they had brought him to terms at last.

15th and 16th June 1771

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

15th.  Ditto Weather at Daylight. In the Morning saw a Sloop to Windward standing to the Eastward, which we run out of sight by Noon. Wind South-East; course North-East 1/2 East; distance 119 miles; latitude 37 degrees 2 minutes North, longitude 41 degrees 54 minutes West.

16th.  A Steady breeze and pleasant weather, with some rain in the Night. At daylight in the Morning saw a Sail a head, which we came up and spoke with a little after 10 o'clock. She proved a Portoguee Ship from Rio de Janeiro, bound to Lisbon. Wind Ditto; course North-East 1/2 East; distance 119 miles; latitude 38 degrees 18 minutes North, longitude 40 degrees 38 minutes West.

13th and 14th June 1771

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

13th. Little wind and pleasant weather. Found the Variation by the Amplitude in the Evening to be 8 degrees 23 minutes; in the Morning 8 degrees 15 minutes, and by Azimuth soon after 8 degrees 14 minutes West. Wind Ditto; Course North by East 1/2 East; distance 77 miles; latitude 34 degrees 14 minutes North, longitude 44 degrees 25 minutes West.

14th. A Gentle Gale, and pleasant weather. In the A.M. saw 2 Turtle laying a Sleep upon the water. Wind East-South-East; course North 18 degrees East; distance 99 miles; latitude 35 degrees 48 minutes North, longitude 43 degrees 48 minutes West.

11th and 12th June 1771

[With India Fleet, Homeward Bound]

11th. Ditto weather. A Smooth Sea. Wind North-East by East;

course North 18 minutes West; distance 67 miles; latitude 32 degrees 16

North, longitude 45 degrees 14 minutes West.

12th. Light breezes and clear weather. Variation by the

Amplitude in the Evening 7 degrees 0 minutes West, and by Azimuth in the

Morning 6 degrees 55 minutes West. Exercised Great Guns and Small Arms.

Wind East by South; course North-North-East; distance 48 miles; latitude 
33 degrees 8 minutes North, longitude 44 degrees 53 minutes West.

Joseph Banks Journal

11th.  Rather more weed than lately. Quite calm so that I went out in the boat and took up many individuals of all the species mentiond before but nothing new.

12th.  Water as smooth as in a harbour: were we in an unknown sea we should build much on the probability of some Land in the neighbourhood. Some Porpoises and Skipjacks were seen but very little weed.