216 
AN ACCOUNT OF 
* 7 8 3 - which is one of the charaCieriftics of my countrymen, nor 
NOVEMBER. 
to a forgetfulnefs of the bonds of hofpitality; but to its 
real caufe, the weaknefs of human nature, operating on two 
conflicting paffions, the hope of immediate delivery, and 
the dread of perpetual detention; the agitated mind faw 
' A 
no alternative, and in its perturbation threw down the bar¬ 
rier of every nicer fentiment. 
After the defperate refolution juft recorded to have been 
taken, it is with particular fatisfaCtion that I refume my pen, 
and have it in my power to inform the reader, that this 
frenzy of the Englijh , fuggefted by anxiety and defpair, was 
but of ftiort duration; the cool reflections of the night 
weakened their apprehenfions, by convincing them fo fully 
of the force of the Captain’s arguments, that with the 
Thursday 6. morning, their wonted good-will towards the natives re¬ 
turned, infomuch, that after breakfaft he found no diffi¬ 
culty in getting the pinnace manned to go to Pelew with 
all the iron and tools they could fpare, having made the 
King fuch a promife, whenever their veffel ffiould be com¬ 
pleted. Mr. Sharp and Mr. M. Wilson went down in the 
fioat, with orders to inform the King, that the Englijh would 
be ready to fail in fix or feven days ; that the remainder of 
the tools, and the mufquets which he wiftied to have, fliould 
be given him, but that they could not be parted with till 
fuch time as the veffel was launched; thefe gentlemen had 
alfo orders to fay, that the Englijh wiftied to fee the King 
and 
