THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
225 
1779 - 
May. 
of our proceedings; but afterward, Captain Clerke being 
perfuaded that the whole account of our difcoveries might 
lafely be trufted to a perfon who had given fuch ftriking 
proofs both of his public and private virtues ; and conlider- 
ing that we had a very hazardous part of the voyage hill to 
undertake, determined to fend, by him, the whole of the 
journal of our late Commander, with that part of his own, 
which completed the period from Captain Cook’s death, 
till our arrival at Kamtfchatka; together with a chart of 
all our difcoveries. Mr. Bayly, and myfelf, thought it alfo 
proper to fend a general account of our proceedings to the 
board of longitude; by which precautions, if any misfor- 
tune had afterward befallen us, the Admiralty would have 
been in polfeflion of a complete hihory of the principal 
fails of our voyage. It was alfo determined, that a fmaller 
pacquet Ihould be fent by an exprefs from Okotfk, which, 
the Major faid, if he was fortunate in his paffage to that 
port, would reach Peterlburg by December; and that he 
himfelf fhould be there in February or March. 
During the three following days, the Major was enter¬ 
tained alternately in the two Ihips, in the bell manner we 
were able. On the 25th, he took his leave, and was faluted Tfenrfdaya*. 
with thirteen guns; and the bailors, at their own delire, 
gave him three cheers. The next morning, Mr. Webber, Wednefs 26. 
and myfelf, attended him a few miles up the Awatfka Ri¬ 
ver, where w'e met the Ruffian pried:, his wife and chil¬ 
dren, who were waiting to take the lad: farewel of their 
commander. 
It was hard to fay, whether the good priell and his fa¬ 
mily, or ourfelves, were mod: affedted on taking our leave 
of Major Behm. Short as our acquaintance had been, his 
noble and didnterefted condudt hqd infpired us with the 
Vol. IIL G g higheft 
