cxxxvi BIOGRAPHY OF THE VICTORY'S CREW. 



he did scarcely any duty, and I had determined on sending him home by the first whaler 

 I could meet with, but unfortunately for him as well as ourselves, we never met with any, 

 and he continued gradually to sink under his complaint, until the 20th of January, when 

 he died, at Felix harbour, and was buried on M'Diarmid's island. His wages (being 

 claimed by two different parties) were paid into the hands of the Accountant-general of his 

 Majesty's Navy. He seemed to be an inoffensive man, and departed this life quite prepared 

 for the great change. 



ROBERT SHREEVE, Carpenter's Mate. 



Robert Shreeve was born in 1806, at Teddington, in Norfolk, is five feet eight inches 

 and a half high, blue eyes, and complexion sallow ; is the son of a farmer, and was never 

 before at sea. After being at school in Bury St. Edmond's, he served seven years' appren- 

 ticeship to a joiner and house carpenter; he afterwards came to London, and was employed 

 at various places for several years before he came to Mr. Braithwaite's, at New Road ; and 

 from whence he volunteered to serve in the Victory. He was a useful person, but had 

 very indifferent health, and was not well calculated for such a service. Having had quite 

 enough of the sea, he declined entering in his Majesty's service, and having received 

 166/. 9s. of wages, he set up for himself as carpenter and undertaker. 



JOSEPH CURTIS, Harpooner. 



Joseph Curtis was born in the year 1805, at Rotherhithe, is five feet four inches and 

 seven-eighths high, blue eyes, dark complexion, and brown hair ; his father was a tailor, 

 and he went to sea at the early age of ten years, having served his time in the coal trade 

 on board the Flora and Nancy of London. He entered the Davis straits' fishery in the 

 Ehza whaler, and was also a voyage to Greenland in the Everett ; but the most remarkable 

 event of his life, is, his having been on board the Dundee whaler of London, when she 

 was frozen up in Davis's strait, and passed the whole of the winter in the ice, during which, 

 the ship's company had three times abandoned the ship, expecting that she would be 

 crushed to pieces by the ice ; their sufferings also from hunger and cold were great, but 

 they returned in safety after the insurance had been paid to the owner. Since that event, 

 he had been both in the coasting and timber trade, and came from a steam-vessel to the 

 Victory. He was not a powerful man, and therefore not well calculated for such a service 



