SECOND VOYAGE 203 



left either to repair or replace them. Their provisions 

 were in a state of decay, and yielded little nourishment, 

 and they had been a long time without refreshments. The 

 sailors indeed were yet healthy, and, like true British 

 seamen, would have cheerfully gone, as they ever had 

 and ever will, wherever they are led, but they dreaded 

 the scurvy laying hold of them, at a time when they had 

 nothing left to remove it. It would, however, have been 

 cruel to have continued the fatigues and hardships they 

 were continually exposed to, longer than was absolutely 

 necessary. Their behaviour throughout the whole voyage 

 merited every indulgence which it was possible to give 

 them. Animated by the conduct of the officers, they 

 showed themselves capable of surmounting every difficulty 

 and danger which came in their way, and never once 

 looked either upon one or the other as being at all 

 heightened by their separation from their consort the 

 Adventure. 



On the 8th of March the mercury in the thermometer 

 rose to 61, and they found it necessary to put on lighter 

 clothes. 



On the 12th they put a boat in the water and shot some 

 albatrosses and peterels, which at this time were highly 

 acceptable. Every one was impatient to get into port ; 

 which induced the Captain to yield to the general wish, 

 and to steer for the Cape of Good Hope. Captain Cook 

 now demanded of the officers and petty officers the log- 

 books and journals they had kept, which were delivered 

 accordingly, and sealed up for the inspection of the 

 Admiralty. He also enjoined them and the whole crew 

 not to divulge where they had been, till they had their 

 Lordships' permission to do so.* 



* Notwithstanding this injunction, so great was the sensation 

 caused by the voyage, that the publishers of the day were as 

 anxious to obtain the account of it, as in the case of M'Clintock's 

 voyage, when his journal was as eagerly sought for by all our 

 leading publishers, the prize falling into the hands of Mr. Murray. 

 The following correspondence is somewhat amusing : 



" Mile End, 18th September, 1775. 



" SIB Last Saturday morning I examined Mr. Anderson, the 

 gunner, about the publication of my late voyage, said to be in 

 the press, and told him that he was suspected of being the author. 

 He affirmed that he had no knowledge or hand in it, and would 

 use his endeavours to find out the author, and yesterday made me 

 the enclosed report. 



" To-day Marra called upon me, and confirmed what is therein 

 set forth ; and farther added, that Bordel, my coxswain, and 

 Reardon, the boatswain's mate, each kept a journal, which they 

 had offered to the booksellers, but they were so badly written 



