1779* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 257 



ceeded, as has been already mentioned, to the chief 

 command. 



It would be doing his memory extreme injustice 

 not to say, that during the short time the expedition 

 was under his direction, he was most zealous and 

 anxious for its success. His health, about the time 

 the principal command devolved upon him, began to 

 decline very rapidly, and was every way unequal to 

 encounter the rigours of a high northern climate. 

 But the vigour and activity of his mind had in no 

 shape suffered by the decay of his body: and though 

 he knew, that by delaying his return to a warmer 

 climate, he was giving up the only chance that re- 

 mained for his recovery, yet, careful and jealous to 

 the last degree that a regard to his own situation 

 should never bias his judgment to the prejudice of 

 the service, he persevered in the search of a passage 

 till it was the opinion of every officer in both ships 

 that it was impracticable, and that any farther at- 

 tempts would not only be fruitless but dangerous* 



vol. vi r. 



