CAPTAIN COOK RELICS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 59, 2 December 1933, Page 18

CAPTAIN COOK RELICS

A Yorkshire Souvenir

A recent addition to the few relics of the late Captain James Cook, on view at the Queensland Museum, is a copy of a painting of the H.M.S. Discovery, which has been presented by Mr. L. H. Pike, Acting Agent-General for Queensland in London. The director of the museum (Mr. 11. A. Longman) has also just received a copy of the souvenir programme which was prepared for the bi-centen-ary celebrations in the Cleveland district in Yorkshire. The souvenir gives a very concise and reliable biography of Captain Cook and also has some fine pictures of the many memorials which have been erected to his memory. One of the most striking is known as the Easby Obelisk. It. is built on the summit of Easby Moor in Yorkshire, and is a bold landmark which can be seen for at least 20 miles. The inscription reads: “Erected to the memory of the celebrated circumnavigator, Captain James Cook, F.R.S., a man in nautical skill scarcely inferior to any, and in zeal, prudence, and indefatigable exert>ion superior to most. Regardless of danger, he opened up intercourse with the inhabitants of Society Islands and other portions of the Southern Hemisphere. He was born at Marton in this neighbourhood on October 27, 1728, and was massacred at Owyhee on January .14, 1779, to the unspeakable grief of h!s countrymen. While the sciences in general, and navigation in particular, shall be cultivated among men, while

the spirit of enterprise, commerce, and philanthropy shall animate the sons of Britain, while it shall be deemed the high honour of a Christian nation to spread the enjoyments of civilised life and the higher blessings of the Christian faith among pagan and savage tribes —so long will the name of Captain Cook stand enrolled among the most celebrated and most admired benefactors of the human race.” The foundation-stone was laid on July 12. 1827, being the anniversary of the day on which Captain Cook commenced his last voyage, and the memorial was finished on October 27, 1827, being Captain Cook’s birthday, and wanting only one year to complete the centenary. In the museum is also a copy of an extract, from the marriage register of the parish of St. Peter and St. Paul, Stainton-in-Oleveland, Yorkshire. There is also a copy of the marriage certificate which reads: “James Cook of ye parish of St. Paul. Shadwell, in ye county of Middlesex, bachelor, and Elizabeth Batts, of ye parish of Barking, in ye county of Essex, spinster, were married in this church on ye Archbishop of Canterbury’s license this twenty-first day of December, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-two, by George Downing, vicar of Little Waking, Essex. ’Tliis marriage was solemnised between us, James Cook, Elizabeth Cook, late Batts, in the presence of John Richardson, Sarah Brown, and William Everest.”