.

III.
Account of Captain Cook during the period between his first and second Voyage.
The manner in which Lieutenant Cook had performed his circumnavigation of the globe justly entitled him to the protection of government and the favour of his sovereign.

Accordingly, he was promoted to be a commander in his majesty's navy, by commission bearing date on the 29th of August, 1771.

Mr.Cook, on this occasion, from a certain consciousness of his own merit, wished to have been appointed a post captain.

But the Earl of Sandwich, who was now at the head of the Admiralty board, though he had the greatest regard for our navigator, could not concede to his request, because a compliance with it would have been inconsistent with the order of the naval service.