Page:Colnett - Voyage to the South Pacific (IA cihm 33242).djvu/29

 I accordingly joined the hip 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 eamen to enter into his Majety’s ervice, which proved too great a temptation for all my crew to withtand, as it afforded a favourable opportunity to thoe who felt no compunction at robbing their employers of the advance given them to perform a long voyage, to helter themelves under the proclamation. I employed every poible precaution to prevent the defection of any of my people; nevertheles, three of them contrived to make their ecape: and I could not obtain any to upply their place, but by paying a bounty equal to that of the Royal Navy. On this condition I procured three men, natives of the Ile of Wight.

The firt day of January, 1793, at length arrived, and by this delay, we lot the propect of obtaining the premium given by the Britih