THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
Mr. Brandt, the Governor of this place, came to vilit us, 
as foon as we had anchored. This gentleman had con¬ 
ceived a great affedlion for Captain Cook, who had been 
his conRant gueR, the many times he had yifited the Cape; 
and though he had received the news of his melancholy 
fate fome time before, he was exceedingly affedled at the 
fight of our drips returning without their old Commander. 
He appeared much furprized to fee our crew in fo flout and 
healthy a condition, as the Dutch fhip that had left Macao, 
on our arrival there, and had touched at the Cape fome time 
before, reported, that we were in a moll wretched Bate, 
having only fourteen hands left on board the Refolution, 
and feven on board the Difcovery. It is not eafy to conceive 
the motive thefe people could have had for propagating fo 
wanton and malicious a falfehood. 
On the 15th, I accompanied Captain Gore to Cape Town; Saturday 15. 
and, the next morning, we waited on Baron Plettenberg, Sunday 16. 
the Governor, by whom we were received with every pof- 
fible attention and civility. He had alfo conceived a great 
perfonal affedtion for Captain Cook, as well as the higheR 
admiration of his charadler, and heard the recital of his 
misfortune, with many expreflions of unaffedted forrow. 
In one of the principal apartments of the Governor’s houfe, 
he fliewed us two pidlures, of Van Trump and'De Ruyter, 
with a vacant fpace left between them, which he faid he 
meant to fill up with the portrait of Captain Cook; and, for 
that purpofe, he requeRed our afhRance when we fhould 
arrive in England, in purchafmg one for him, at any 
price. 
We were afterward informed by the Governor, that all 
the powers at this time at war with England had given 
orders to their cruifers to let us pafs unmoleRed. This, as 
Vol. III. 3 Q far 
481 
1780. 
April. 
