charts previously existed, but explored also the interior of Newfoundland, more fully than had ever been done; discovering large inland lakes, and other unknown features of the island. Among other discoveries, he is said to have found copious mines of coal in Newfoundland, so close to the shore, that the coals might be thrown directly from the works into the vessels.
In these undertakings Mr. Cook was occupied for four or five successive years, in each of which he appears to have returned to spend the winter at home, resuming his station again whenever the advance of spring would permit him. The last year in which he went out as Marine Surveyor of Newfoundland, was 1767. But the main object of his appointment was completed in 1766, in which year he delivered his charts of the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador at the Admiralty office; and, on the proposal of Sir Hugh Palliser, was allowed to publish them for the service and encouragement of navigation. These charts bear the same character for accuracy, as his chart of the St. Lawrence.
In the summer of 1766, Cook had an opportunity of observing an eclipse of the sun, near Cape Ray, on the Newfoundland coast. The result of his observations was communicated to the Royal Society by Dr. J. Bevis, who calls him "an able mathematician;" and who also communicated the result of an exact observation of the same eclipse, taken at Oxford by the Rev. Mr. Hornsby, with a computation of the difference of longitude of the two places of observation, by Mr. Geo. Witchell. The entire paper is inserted in the fifty-seventh volume of the Philosophical Transactions.
