CAPTAIN COOK'S JOURNAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18335, 27 February 1923, Page 6

CAPTAIN COOK'S JOURNAL.

The interest of many New Zealanders has been aroused in the Cook manuscripts to be sold in London on March 21. They include, among others, Cook's original diary of 740 pages kept during his first voyage to the South Seas, from May 27, 1768, to June 11, 1771', one leaf only, dealing with Tahiti, being missing; contemporary copies of Cook's correspondence with the authorities controlling his voyages, these comprising, the Admiralty's secret instructions; the log-book of i H.M.S. Endeavour from May 26, i 1768, to October 5, 1770; and, the ] log-book of H.M.S. Dolphin from ; August 21, 1766, to October 16, 1767, on the voyage to the . South Seas under Captain Wallis. The first of these, in Cook's own handwriting, . contains 'some variations from all : the printed journals, and is extremely valuable. J Estimated in terms of money, it may be considered worth anything from £5000 to £10,000; it contains, as noted, , 740 pages, and a single page of a. journal of Cook's has realised £450. ' The chief librarian of the Sydney , Public Library has been sent to London to secure the journal, if . possible, for the Mitchell Library in Sydney. " There are reasons why 1 it would find a fitting place in New ! Zealand. There is much valuable Cook material in the Dominion the • deep interest of the late Mr. Alexander Turnbull secured for this country several original manuscripts, : both log-books and letters, beside 1 many editions of narratives of 1 Cook's voyages and valuable atlases ! and drawings. These, owing to the j generosity of Mr. Turnbull, are now the property of the Dominion and 1 make a noteworthy section in the ' Turnbull Library of Wellington. • Mr. J. C. Andersen, who is in i charge of that library, has urged 1 that an effort should be made to ' secure these Cook manuscripts, soon J to be sold, for New Zealand. It i may not be practicable. If, how- '• ever, they 'cannot be., got for New Zealand, the hope may be held that j they will be secured for Sydney. , •1 ( k