Task sources Archives - Page 5 of 120

Extracts from the newspaper ‘The Times’ containing Sir Robert Peel’s letter to the Electors of Tamworth, July 1847. Catalogue ref: PRO 30/12/23/8.

[From the papers of Edward Law, 1^st Earl of Ellenborough]

This newspaper extract relates to Robert Peel’s address to the electors of his constituency of Tamworth, Staffordshire, after his resignation as Prime Minister in 1846. He remained the MP for Tamworth until his death in 1850.

Anti-Corn Law petitions from the Ouseburn district upon Tyne, Newcastle, 5 October 1841. Catalogue ref: HO 44/52/60

This petition from the people of Ouseburn in North England is addressed to Queen Victoria and described the effects of the Corn Laws on their area.

Printed broadside sheet entitled: ‘Corn Laws: one of the Causes of Public Distress’, 1830. Catalogue ref: HO 44/20/23

This printed broadside sheet describes the aims of the Corn Laws and the effects on the British public.

Statue of Captain James Cook, The Mall, 1914

This statue on The Mall, London, was created by Thomas Brock and was proposed by Joseph Carruthers, the former prime minister of New South Wales in Australia.

The inscription reads:

‘Captain James Cook, RN FRS, born 1728, died 1772.

Circumnavigator of the globe, explorer of the pacific ocean, he laid the foundations of the British Empire in Australia and New Zealand, chartered the shores of Newfoundland and traversed the ocean gates of Canada, both east and west.

Unveiled by H. R. H. Prince Arthur of Connaught on behalf of the British Empire League, 7th July 1914.’

Death of Captain Cook by John Cleverly the Younger, 1784

The original version of this painting was discovered in 2004. You can see it here. How does the original change the image of Captain Cook? Why do you think it was changed?

John Cleverly created his artworks based on his brother James’ sketches, as James Cleverly was a crew member on the voyage.

Extract from The Death of James Cook, 1789. The National Library of Australia.

This play was performed in Covent Garden just ten years after Cook’s death, and was an English version of a 1788 French pantomime by Jean-François Arnould-Mussot. It became very popular in London and toured throughout Britain.

The play focuses on a young Hawaiian couple, Pareea and Emai, and the Hawaiian villain Koah. Captain Cook intervenes against Koah on behalf of the couple and then protects King Kalaniʻōpuʻu from Koah and his warriors. Cook is killed by Koah and is mourned by everyone on the island.

You can read the script in its entirely on the National Library of Australia’s website.