226 
A VOYAGE TO 
1779. higheft refpecft and efteem for him; and we could not part 
with a perfon to whom we were under fuch obligations, and 
whom we had little profpect of ever feeing again, without 
feeling the moll tender concern. The intrinlic value of 
the private preferits we received from him, exclulive of 
the ftores which might be carried to a public account, muft 
have amounted, according to the current price of articles in 
that country, to upward of two hundred pounds. But this 
generality, extraordinary as it muft appear in itfelf, was*" 
exceeded by the delicacy with which all his favours were 
Conferred, and the artful manner in which he endeavoured 
to prevent our feeling the weight of obligations, which he 
knew we had no means of requiting. If we go a ftep fur¬ 
ther, and conlider him as fupporting a public character, and 
maintaining the honour of a great Sovereign, we fhall find 
a ftill higher fubjecft of admiration, in the juft and enlarged 
fentiments by which he was actuated. 44 The fervice in 
44 which you are employed,” he would often fay, 44 is for 
44 the general advantage of mankind, and therefore gives 
44 you a right, not merely to the offices of humanity, but to 
44 the privileges of citizens, in whatever country you may 
44 be thrown. I am fure I am aching agreeably to the wifhes 
44 of my Miftrefs, in affording you all the relief in our 
44 power; and I cannot forget either her character, or my 
44 own honour, fo much, as to barter for the performance 
44 of a duty.” At other times, he would tell us, that he 
was particularly defirous of fetting a good example to the 
Kamtfchadales, who, he faid, were but juft emerging from 
a ftate of barbarifm ; that they looked up to the Ruffians 
as their patterns in every thing; and that he had hopes 
they might, in future, look upon it as a duty incumbent 
upon them to aflift ftrangers to the utmoft of their power, 
1 and 
