d to the command,
made peace with the chiefs, many of whom came on board expressing their
sorrow at what had happened, while the natives brought off provisions as
usual. Indeed, as the ships sailed away they expressed every mark of
affection and good-will.

Two other islands of the group, Woakoo and Atooi, were visited, when the
natives behaved in the same friendly way as elsewhere. After this, on
the 12th of March, the ships sailed for Behring's Straits, in search of
a passage into the Atlantic.

Captain Clerke, who had been suffering for some time from consumption,
was evidently fast sinking, but he still persevered in his undertaking.
On the 28th of April the harbour of Saint Peter and Saint Paul was
reached. The Russian inhabitants, on finding that the explorers were
English, treated them with the greatest possible kindness, and through
Major Behin, the Governor of Bolcheretsk, Captain Clerke sent home an
account of the proceedings of the expedition, with that of the death of
Captain Cook. Both ships, after passing through Behring's Straits,
encountered an icy barrier, against which the _Discovery_ was nearly
lost.

Every effort having been made in vain, Captain Clerke resolved to
return. Before the ships again anchored in the harbour of Saint Peter
and Saint Paul he had breathed his last. He was there buried on some
ground on which it was intended to raise a church. The command of the
expedition now devolved on Captain Gore, who went on board the
_Resolution_, while Lieutenant King took charge of the _Discovery_.
That ship, on being examined, was found to have suffered seriously from
the ice. It seemed surprising, indeed, from the injuries she had
received, that she had kept afloat.

She was repaired as far as possible, some time being spent in these
necessary operations, as also in exchanging civilities between the
officers of the Russian garrison and the English.

The ships sailed on the 9th of October, and steered a course for Macao.
While in Behring's Straits sea-otter and other skins had been obtained;
these realised altogether upwards of two thousand pounds. The report of
the high prices obtained on the return home of the expedition, probably
set on foot the fur trade with the west coast of North America, which
afterwards became of such considerable importance. Here Captain Gore
heard that war had broken out between England and France; but soon
afterwards, being informed that the commanders of