James Cook could hardly have chosen a better vessel for his expedition to the south sea, than this previous coal-barge, the ex Earl of Pembroke. He served serveral years on this kind of ships and knew their qualities: not the most beautiful, rather slow sailors but very spacious for their lenght and above all things, very solid and reliable. For those days, his expedition passed off without problems on the ship worth mentioning. Image size: 260 x 360 mm