From The National Maritime Museum: [TC Note] A letter from George Davis, Merchant of Newfoundland & Poole, to Capt James Cook 14 March 1764. (Capt Cook was at this time employed as Hydrographer on the Newfoundland coast and working closely with Lord Egmont concerning The French Shore Question. Cook's Newfoundland charts and manuscripts are available at The Hydrographic Department, Taunton,). Cook had a brass telescopic quadrant made for him by John Bird, West Country trader to Fogo and Labrador. Poole 14 March 1764 Sir, When I last had the pleasure to see you I promised at my arrival here to make inquiry and inform you when Twillingate and Fogo was settled by the English, I did not get here till the 10th having taken a Tour in my way home and made it my business to find Mr. Thos. Fizzard (Tizzard?) who was the first person that ever drove a nail at Twillingate or settled there of an Englishman which was in the year 1732 he tells me that Fogo was settled 3 or 4 years sooner and that he have known that part of Newfoundland for 40 years and that he never knew a French boat or ship to the southward of Cape John which is 14 leagues NNW from Twillingate and the nearest place that he ever knew a French boat kept was at a harbour two leagues North of Cape John called Sruse - Bonavista was settled as early as any part of the land and never any Frenchman yet sighted there - Mrs, Fizzard was born at Bonavista whose uncle Mr. John Walcome was the first man child born there who was 80 years old when he d!yed and has been dead upwards of 30 years - in Queen Anns Warr when the French had Placentia in the winter season a party of French came over land but was beat off by the Inhabitants of Bonavista - I think this is sufficient proof that the French have not occupied any part of the Land from Cape Bonavista to Cape John for 40 years past - I wrote Mr. Anth Merry to the same purpose of the above the 10th and desired him to relate the whole to you if you called, and if you have any further inquiry to make relative to the land or else if you please to lay you(r) commands and they shall intelligently be answered being one who has the good of his Country at heart. Sr. Your most Humbl Sert. Geo Davis To Mr. James Cook
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