THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 225 



rain Gierke acquainted him, that he would take the liberty '779« 

 offending by him fome papers relating to our voyage, to ^ — v -— j 

 be delivered to our AmbaiTador at the Ruffian court. Our 

 fixft intentions were to fend only a fmall journal of our pro- 

 ceedings ; but afterward, Captain Gierke being perfuaded 

 that the whole account of our difcoveries might fafely be 

 trufled to a perfon who had given fuch finking proofs both 

 of his public and private virtues; and confidering that we 

 had a very hazardous part of the voyage flill to undertake, 

 determined to fend, by him, the whole of the journal of our 

 late Commander, with that part of his own, which com- 

 pleted the period from Captain Cook's death, till our ar- 

 rival at Kamtfchatka; together with a chart of all our difco- 

 veries. Mr. Bayly, and myfelf, thought it alfo proper to fend, 

 a general account of our proceedings to the board of longi- 

 tude ; by which precautions, if any misfortune had after- 

 ward befallen us, the Admiralty would have been in poffef- 

 fion of a complete hiflory of the principal facls of our voy- 

 age. It was alfo determined, that a fmaller pacquet mould 

 be fent by an exprefs from Okotfk, which, the Major faid, 

 if he was fortunate in his paflage to that port, would reach 

 Peterfburg by December; and that he himfelf fliould be there- 

 in February or March. 



During the three following days, the Major was enter- 

 tained alternately in the two mips, in the beft manner we 

 were able. On the 25th, he took his leave, and was faluted TEurfday^. 

 with thirteen guns ; and the failors, at their own defire, 

 gave him three cheers. The next morning, Mr. Webber, wednef. 26. 

 and myfelf, attended him a few miles up the Awatfka 

 River, where we met the Ruffian prieft, his wife and chil- 

 dren, who were waiting to take the lail farewel of their 

 commander. 



Vol. III. G g Ir 



