,jgj. which is one o f the charadteriftics of my countrymen, -nor
n o v em b e r . ^ a forgetfulnefs o f the bonds of hofpitality j butv to its
real caufe, the weakiiefs of human feature, dpefating on two
conflicting paffiöns, the hope o f immediate delivery, and
the dfead o f perpetual detention; the agitated mind faw
no alternative, and in its perturbation threw down the barrier
of every nicer fbfitiment.
After thé delperafe refelution juft recorded to have been
takenj it is with particular fatisfadtion that I refume my pen,
and have it in my power to inform the reader, that this
frenzy of the Engli/h, fuggefted by anxiety and defpair, was-
but of ftiort duration; the cool refledtions o f the night
weakened theirapprebenfions, by convincing them fo Mly
Of the force ó f thé Captadn’S- arguments, that with the
Thurfday 6 . morning, their wonted good-will towards the natives t & -
turned, infomuch, that after brcakfaft he found no difficulty
in getting the pinnace manned to go to Pelew With
all the iron and tools they could Spare, haVing hra^e the
King fueh a promifc, whenever their veffel fhould be completed.
Mr. Sharp and Mr. M. W ilson went down in the-
boat, with orders to inform the King, that the Englijfo would
be ready to fail in fix or feven days; that the remainder of
the tools, and the mufquets which he wifhed to have, fhonld
be given him, hut that they could not he parted with till
fuch time as the veflèl was launched; thefe gentlemen, had
alfb orders to fay, that the ‘Englfyh wifhed to fee the King
and
and his Chiefi hefpre thek departure, that they might make
them thefe psifonali ia^now}e(%m«!nfó, and affiire them, that
whgn they returned to their own cenatry, they would publicly
declare the kind ifervices^and prote&ion they had received
from them.- ’ This was conveyed in the form of a
letter, which Mr. Siiarp wasdiredtedto read to the King in
Ifegaifls, who were to explain it to
hii^^aMC^g:itiiixi^ate^.:'fi6t^:.flte Captain.
While -Mr. :Sharp1 and Mr. M. Wilson, together with
’Tqm(R^®#:Ö^inte»pceKr, weresnecei^gtfe above instructions,
M-adjan I lawchmd, one of the feamen, came into
tf*é tent for feme tools that he wanted, and hearing the Captain
explaining his letter to T om- 'Rose, defired him alfo to
f^ll the King, that when his döuntrymea went away, he intended
to ftay behind, and remain with him at Pelew ; Captain
W ilson defired him not to fend any fetch idle meffage,
and to go:about his bufinefs, and forbad T om Rose to deliver
it; upon which Blanchard very fer-ioufly defired it
■ might be delivered, alluring the Captain, that it was his fettled
determination to remain at P elew, i f the King would
permit him. Finding he had taken up fu d l a ftrange refo-
lution, the Captain endeavoured all in his power to diffuade
him from it, fetting before him the many difficulties and disadvantages
he would have to' combat, when his -friends and
•companions were gone, particularly as he -had <no trade, like
that of a carpenter or a fmith, by which he might make
F f himfelf
i$3- ■
fOVEMBEIt.