returned to Leith, and on 17th September Cook was superseded by John
Nichols; in fact, his time on board was so short that his signature is
not appended to any of the rolls.

In April 1757 Mr. Bissett, who was Master of the Eagle when Cook was
Master's mate, and who therefore would have a better chance than any one
else to measure his subordinate's character and capabilities, was
appointed Master of H.M.S. Pembroke, a new ship, and superintended her
fitting for sea. On 26th October he found himself transferred to the
Stirling Castle, and it is only reasonable to suppose that, having formed
a high opinion of Cook's work, and knowing of his ambition to rise in the
service, he would give information of the opportunity and, as far as he
could, push forward his friend's interests. At any rate, the Muster Rolls
show that in less than six weeks from leaving the Solebay, Cook was
established on board the Pembroke as Master, under a warrant bearing date
18th October 1757, and entered upon his duties on 27th October, the
twenty-ninth anniversary of his birth; and from that date to his
discharge into the Northumberland he signed the usual documents. At the
time of his joining, the ship was fitting and victualling for sea at
Portsmouth, and on 8th November she sailed for the Bay of Biscay, under
the command of Captain Simcoe, returning to Plymouth on 9th February
1758.

LOUISBERG.

The British Government had decided on making a determined effort to wrest
the Colony of New France from the hands of the French, and one of the few
steps was to attempt the capture of the port of Louisburg, at the
entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence; a place which the enemy were said
to have rendered almost impregnable at an expenditure of some million and