PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 281 



prisoner. Lieutenant Belcher, in concluding his ac- chap. 

 count of this disastrous affair, speaks in high terms of ^'^' 

 cornmendatian of the conduct of Mr. (now Lieutenant) sept. 

 Rendall, William Aldridge, and George Shields, sea- ^^^'^^ 

 men, and of Thomas Hazlehurst, marine ; and it is 

 with much pleasure I embrace the opportunity of giv- 

 ing publicity to their meritorious behaviour. 



I must exonerate Lieutenant Belcher from any 

 blame that may attach to him as commander of the 

 vessel ; for though her loss was evidently occasioned 

 by her being too close in shore, and by too few a num- 

 ber of persons being left on board, yet it is to be ob- 

 served, that she was only a boat ; that the crew were 

 upon the beach in readiness to assist her ; and that had 

 it been a case of ordinary nature, they would no doubt 

 have succeeded in their object. In place of this, how- 

 ever, the wind changed suddenly, and the sea rose so 

 fast that there was no possibility of effecting what, 

 under general circumstances, would have been perfectly 

 practicable : the water, besides, was two feet lower than 

 usual. The strenuous exertions of Lieutenant Belcher 

 to save the crew, and his resolute conduct toward the 

 natives, after he was thrown amongst them unprovided 

 with arms, a brace of pistols excepted, show him to be 

 an officer both of humanity and courage. 



After the loss of our favourite boat, parties were re- 

 peatedly sent to the wreck, in the hope of being able 

 to raise her, or to procure what they could from her 

 cabin and holds ; but she was completely wrecked and 

 filled with sand, and a few days afterwards went to 

 pieces. Mr. Belcher was a great loser by this unfor- 

 tunate accident, as he was well provided with instru- 

 ments, books, papers, &c., and had some expensive 

 fowling-pieces and pistols, all of which were lost or 



