^.6 
A VOYAGE TO 
1779. of thofe who were prefent have imagined, that the marines 
biiiarv^ an( j boat-men had fired without his orders, and that he was 
defirous of preventing any farther bloodfhed, 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 fhout, and his 
body was immediately dragged on fhore, and furrounded 
by the enemy, who fnatching the dagger out of each other’s 
hands, fhewed a favage eagernefs to have a fhare in his 
deftruCtion. 
Thus fell our great and excellent Commander! After a 
life of fo much diftinguilhed and fuccefsful enterprize, his 
death, as far as regards himfelf, cannot be reckoned pre¬ 
mature ; firice he lived to finifh the great work for w r hich he 
feems to have been defigned; and was rather removed from 
the enjoyment, than cut off from the acquifition, of glory. 
How fincerely his lols was felt and lamented, by thofe who 
had fo long found their general fecurity in his fkill and con¬ 
duit, and every confolation, under their hardfhips, in his 
tendernefs and humanity, it is neither neceffary nor poflible 
for me to defcribe ; much lefs fhall I attempt to paint the 
horror with which we were ftruck, and the univerfal de¬ 
jection and difmay which followed fo dreadful and unex¬ 
pected a calamity. The reader will not be difplealed 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 fhort hiftory of 
his life, and public fervices. 
Captain James, Cook was born near Whitby, in Yorkfhire, 
S on 
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