It is doubtful if this triangulation could have been carried out by Cook during his passage up and then down the river, the only time he had in 1759, but if it were, it argues much greater knowledge of nautical surveying than he is generally supposed to have had at the time.

During the winters that the Northumberland stayed in Halifax Harbour, Cook employed his spare time in improving his knowledge of all subjects that were likely to be of service to him in his profession.  He read Euclid for the first time, and entered upon a study of higher mathematics, especially devoting himself to astronomy.  King in his sketch of Cook’s life, says, on the authority of the man himself, that these studies were carried on “without any other assistance than what a few books and his own industry afforded him.”

At the opening of the season, Lord Colville dispersed his squadron to those stations where their services appeared most necessary, and remained with his ship at Halifax, as it was considered inadvisable to leave such an important naval post open to attack from the French or the Spaniards.  He had been advised by despatches, dated 26th December 1761, that war had been declared with the latter nation.  During this period of waiting the words “nothing remarkable” are in constant use in Captain Adams’s (the second Captain of the Northumberland) Journal.  Cook utilised this time to make a thorough survey of Halifax Harbour, the notes of which are now in the United Service Museum, Whitehall.

At length the period of inaction was ended.  Captain Charles Douglas, H.M.S.  Syren, who was cruising off Cape Race, received information that a squadron of four French ships of the line, having some 1500 picked troops on board, had made a descent on Newfoundland, and had captured St. John’s, the capital, which had been most shamefully neglected, and its garrison reduced to 63 men.  The Grammont, 22-gun sloop, was unfortunately in harbour at the time, and was also taken.  Douglas at once pressed two English merchant vessels into the service, and putting a petty officer in command of one, the William, and his Master in the other, the Bonetta, despatched them to cruise in search of Captain Graves, the reappointed Governor of Newfoundland, who was daily expected from England.  The Bonetta soon fell in with the Antelope, Graves’s ship, and she immediately joined Douglas, and then proceeded to strengthen the Isle of Boys as far as time would allow.  Then going to Placentia, a place of as much importance as St. John’s, and more capable of defence, they set about making preparations to beat off any attack, leaving a garrison of 99 men and as many marines as could be spared.  Graves then despatched Douglas with the remainder of the Syren’s marines to take possession of Ferryland, and sent the ship herself off with letters to Lord Colville, but the William having missed the Antelope, made her way to Halifax with the news of what had occurred.