rnish such
another incident. Indeed, there's a fatality attends my every
undertaking; those people whom I most honour and esteem, that
favour me with the name of friend--to them I become a trouble and
burthen. However, though we cannot help misfortunes, we can help
deserving them, and I am determined that want of gratitude and
attention shall never be an accusation against me; therefore I'm
resolved to decamp without beat of drum and, if I can, outsail the
Israelites, get to sea, and make every return in my power. I think
I had better write to Lord Sandwich to thank him, as I cannot now
wait upon him--for my visitations must be very private--and ask
him if he has any orders for me. Do tell me what I must do on that
head, and if you would have me wait on you ere I depart, &c., &c.,
and believe me in prosperity or adversity.

"Yours, &c.,

"CHAS. CLERKE."

This is followed by another, written on the evening of the same day, in
which he says:--

"I this day received a letter from Lord Sandwich, acquainting me
he shall certainly order the _Discovery_ to sea very soon, in
short giving me to understand that if I cannot leave town by the
10th or 11th instant I must give up all. Now, that completes the
wretchedness of my situation. I find the Jews are exasperated and
determined to spare no pains to arrest me if they could once catch
me out of the rules of the Bench; this, you know, would be
striking the finishing stroke. Let me, my good friend, entreat the
influence of your friendship here. I shall certainly be cleared
the 16th or 18th instant, and shall then be happy."

He got away all right, and on November 23rd, 1776, wrote from the Cape of
Good Hope:--

"Here I am hard and fast moor'd alongside my old friend Capt'n
Cook, so that our battles with the Israelites cannot now have any
ill effects upon our intending attack upon the North Pole. I think
I acquainted you from Plymouth, on the 1st of August, that I was
getting under-way; I then got a good outset with [Sidenote: 1779]
a fresh easterly breeze, and made a very good passage to within
a few leagues of this land without any kind of accident befalling
us.... We shall now sail in a very few days, and return to the old
trade of exploring, so can only say adieu, adieu, my very good
friend. Be assured that, happen what will, i