4 6 AVOYAGETO 



'779. of thofe who were prefent have imagined, that the marine! 

 and boat-men had fired without his orders, and that he was 

 defirous of preventing any further bloodmed, it is not im- 

 probable, that his humanity, on this occafion, proved fatal, 

 to him. For it was remarked, that whilft he faced the na- 

 tives, none of them had offered him any violence, but that 

 having turned about, to give his orders to the boats, he was 

 ftabbed in the back, and fell with his face into the water. 

 On feeing him fall, the iflanders fet up a great fliout, and 

 his body was immediately dragged on more, and fur- 

 rounded by the enemy, who matching the dagger out of 

 each other's hands, mewed a favage eagernefs to have a 

 lhare in his deftruction. 



Thus fell our great and excellent Commander ! After a 

 life of fo much diftinguifhed and fuccefsful enterprize, his 

 death, as far as regards himfelf, cannot be reckoned pre- 

 mature; fince he lived to finilh the great work for which he 

 feems to have been defigned ; and was rather removed from 

 the enjoyment, than cut off from the acquifition, of glory. 

 How fmcerely his lofs was felt and lamented, by thofe who 

 had fo long found their general fecurity in his fkill and con- 

 duct, and every confolation, under their hardships, in his 

 tendernefs and humanity, it is neither neceiTary nor poflible 

 for me to defcribe ; much lefs mall I attempt to paint the x 

 horror with which we were ftruck, and the univerfal dejec- 

 tion and difmay, which followed fo dreadful and unex- 

 pected a calamity. The reader will not be difpleafed to turn 

 from fo fad a fcene, to the contemplation of his character 

 and virtues, whilft I am paying my laft tribute to the me- 

 mory of a dear and honoured friend, in a lhort hiftory of 

 his life, and public fervices. 



Captain 



