I779-, As the feafon was now fo far advanced, I was fe a r fu l Ifft
AugttfF. . _ _ _
l—-v— any delay or hindrance mould arife, on our parts, to Captain
Gore’s farther views o f difcovery, and therefore gave orders
that no more fheathing fhould be ripped off, than was abfo-
lu te ly neceflary for repairing the damages fuftained b y the
ice. This I did, be in g apprehenfive o f their meeting w ith
more decayed planks, which, I judged, had much better
remain in that ftate, than be filled up with green birch,
upon a fuppofition that fuch was to be had. A ll hands were,
at prefent, bufily employed in feparate duties, that eve ry
thing might be in readinefs fo r fea, againft the time our
carpenters fhould have finiihed their work. We fet apart
four men to haul the feine fo r falmon, which were c au gh t
in great abundance, and found to be o f an excellent quality.
After fupplying the immediate wants o f both ihips, we
falted down near a hogfhead a day. T he invalids, who*
were four ¿n number, were employed in gathe ring greens,
and in cooking for the parties on ihore. O u r powder was
alfo landed, in order to be dried; and the fea-horfe blubber,
with which both ihips, in our paflage to the North (as has
been before related), had ilored themfelves, was now boiled
down, for oil, which was become a neceflary article, our
candles ha vin g long fince been expended. T h e cooper was
fu lly engaged in his department: and in this manner were
both ihips companies employed in their feveral occupa-
Sa tu rd a y 28 . tions, till Saturday afternoon, w h ich was given up to all
our men, except the carpenters, for the purpofe o f waih-
in g their linen, and ge ttin g their clothes in fome little
order, that they might make a decent appearance on Sunday.
Su n d a y 29. In the afternoon o f that day, we paid the laft offices to
Captain Clerke. T h e officers and men o f both ihips walked
in
in proceflion to the g ra v e , whilft the ihips fired minute-
g u n s ; and the fervice being ended, the marines fired three 1— .— *
vollies. He was interred under a tree, which ftands on
rifing ground, in the v a lley to the North fide o f the harbour,
where the hofpital and ftore houfes a re fitu ated ; Captain
Gore having judg ed this fituation moil-agreeable to the laft
wiih es o f the deceafed, fo r the reafons above-mentioned;
and the Prieft o f Paratounca ha vin g pointed out a fpot for
his grave, which, he faid, would be as near as he could
guefs, in the centre o f the n ew church. T h is reverend
Paftor walked in the proceflion, along with the gentleman
w ho read the fervice; and all the Ruffians in the garrifon
were affembled, and attended w ith g rea t refpeft and fo-
lemnity.
On-the 30th, the different parties returned to their refpec- Monday 30.
tive employments, as mentioned in the courfe o f thepreced- ^ temi,er.
in g w e e k ; and on the ad o f September, the carpenters Thurfdayz.-
ha vin g fhifted the rotten and damaged planks, and repaired
and caulked the iheathing o f the larboard bow, proceeded
to rip o f f the iheafhing that had been injured by the
ice, from the ftarboard fide. Here, again, they difcovered
fo u r feet o f a plank, in the third ftrake under the wale, ib
ihaken, as to make it neceflary to be replaced. T his was
accordingly done, and the iheathing repaired on the 3d. Friday 3.
In the afternoon o f the fame day, w e g o t on board fome bal-
laft, un hun g the rudder, and fent it on ihore, the lead o f the
pintles being found entirely worn away, and a great part o f
the iheathing rubbed off. As the carpenters o f the Refolu-
tion were not .yet wanted, w e got this fet to rights the next
day, but finding the rudder out o f all proportion heavy, even Saturday 4.
heavier than that o f the Refolution, w e let' it remain on
ihore, in order to dry and lighten.
V o l . III. P P * T h e