I accordingly joined the ſhip on the 24th of December, 1792, but was unfortunately detained by contrary winds. During this accidental delay, a bounty of five pounds was offered for ſeamen to enter into his Majeſty’s ſervice, which proved too great a temptation for all my crew to withſtand, as it afforded a favourable opportunity to thoſe who felt no compunction at robbing their employers of the advance given them to perform a long voyage, to ſhelter themſelves under the proclamation. I employed every poſſible precaution to prevent the defection of any of my people; nevertheleſs, three of them contrived to make their eſcape: and I could not obtain any to ſupply their place, but by paying a bounty equal to that of the Royal Navy. On this condition I procured three men, natives of the Iſle of Wight.
The firſt day of January, 1793, at length arrived, and by this delay, we loſt the proſpect of obtaining the premium given by the Britiſh
