260 
A VOYAGE TO 
I 779* 
July. 
very, to inquire into the particulars of the damage the had 
fuftained. They returned, in the evening, with the report 
of Captain Gore, and of the carpenters of both fhips, that 
the damages they had received were of a kind that would 
require three weeks to repair ; and that it would he necef- 
fary, for that purpofe, to go into fome port. 
Thus, finding a farther advance to the Northward, as well 
as a nearer approach to either continent, obftruCted by a fea 
blocked up with ice, we judged it both injurious to the fer- 
vice, by endangering the fafety of the fhips, as well as 
fruitlefs, with refpedt to the defign of our voyage, to make 
any farther attempts toward a paffage. This, therefore, 
added to the reprefentations of Captain Gore, determined 
Captain Clerke not to lofe more time in what he concluded 
to be an unattainable objedt, but to fail for Awatfka Bay, to 
repair our damages there ; and, before the winter fhould fet 
in, and render all other efforts toward difcovery impracti¬ 
cable, to explore the coafi of Japan. 
I will not endeavour to conceal the joy that brightened 
the countenance of every individual, as foon as Captain 
Clerke’s refolutions were made known. We were all hear¬ 
tily fick of a navigation full of danger, and in which the 
utmoft perfeverance had not been repaid with the fmalleft 
probability of fuccefs. We therefore turned our faces to¬ 
ward home, after an abfence of three years, with a delight 
and fatisfaCtion, which, notwithftanding the tedious voyage 
we had ftill to make, and the immenfe diftance we had to 
run, were as freely entertained, and perhaps as fully en¬ 
joyed, as if we had been already in fight of-the Land’s- 
end. 
On the 28th, we kept working to windward with a frefh 
breeze from the South Eaft, having the coafi; of Alia ftill in 
fight. 
Wednef. 28. 
