t is wholly out of
the power of durance of time or length of space in the least to
alleviate that sense of gratitude your goodness has inspired; but,
indeed, I shall ever endeavour upon all and every occasion to acquit
myself," etc.

The next letter is a pathetic farewell to his friend, written on the 17th
of August, 1779, five days before the author's death:--

"MY EVER-HONOURED FRIEND,--The disorder I was attacked with in the
King's Bench Prison has proved consumptive, with which I have
battled with various success, although without one single day's
health, since I took leave of you in Burlington Street; it is now
so far got the better of me that I am not able to turn myself in
my bed, so that my stay in this world must be of very short
duration. However, I hope my friends will have no occasion to
blush in owning themselves such, for I have most perfectly and
justly done my duty to my country as far as my abilities would
enable me, for where that has been concerned the attention to my
health, which I was most sensible was in the most imminent danger,
has never swerved me a single half-mile out of the road of duty;
so that I flatter myself I shall leave behind that character that
it has ever been my utmost ambition to attain, which is that of an
honest and faithful servant to the public whom I had undertaken
to serve.

"I have made you the best collections of all kinds of matter I
could that have fallen in our way in the course of the voyage; but
they are by no means so complete as they would have been had my
health enabled me to pay more attention to them. I hope, however,
you will find many among them worthy of your attention and
acceptance. In my will I have bequeathed you the whole of every
kind. There are great abundance, so that you will have ample
choice.

"I must beg you to present my warmest and most affectionate
compliments to Dr. Solander, and assure him I leave the world
replete with the most social ideas for his much-esteemed and
ever-respected friendship.

"I must beg leave to recommend to your notice Mr. Will. Ellis, one
of the surgeon's mates, who will furnish you with some drawings
and accounts of the various birds which will come to your
possession. He has been very useful to me in your service in that
particular, and is, I believe, a very worthy yo