Our eager traveller hastened to the house, inquired for the occupant, and ascertained that he was not at home. A son was there, however, who listened to his story, but gave him soon to understand, that he put no faith in his representations, as he had never heard of any such relations as he told of in America. He observed, moreover, that he resembled one of the family, who had been absent some years in the East Indies, and whom they were extremely anxious to see, assuring him that, if he were really the person, he would be received with open arms. This was a very unlucky interview, for nothing ever raised Ledyard's anger to so high a pitch, as a suspicion expressed or implied of his integrity and honest intentions. He seemed, from that moment, determined to prosecute his inquiry after his family connections no further, but to shun all that bore the name. The son pressed him to remain till his father should return, but he abruptly left the house, and never went back.

Some time afterwards, when he had gained acquaintances of respectable name in London, to whom he related his story, they went with it to the same gentleman, telling him, that the young man seemed honest, and they doubted not the truth of what he had stated. The gentleman refused at first to credit him, unless

he would bring some written evidence. Upon further inquiry, however, he was better satisfied, and sent for Ledyard to come to his house. This invitation was declined in no very gracious manner; and when money was sent to him afterwards by the same person, who had heard that he was in distress, he rejected it with great indignation, and commanded the bearer to carry it back to his master, and tell him that he belonged not to the race of the Ledyards. Such was the end of his dreams about his rich relations, and it must be acknowledged, that his own haughty spirit seems to have been the chief enemy to his success. He would, probably, have called it magnanimous self-respect; and, name it as we will, since it operated wholly against himself, he must certainly be freed from any charge of mean motives or selfish ends.

It was just at this time, that Captain Cook was making preparation for his third and last voyage round the world. So successful had he been in his former expeditions, and so loud. was the sound of his fame, that the whole country was awake to his new undertaking, and the general sensation was such, as to inspire adventurous minds with a wish to participate in its glory. Nothing could more exactly accord with the native genius and cher

ished feelings of Ledyard. As a first step towards becoming connected with this expedition, he enlisted in the marine service, and then, by his address, he gained an introduction to Captain Cook. It may be presumed, that on an occasion of so much moment to him, he would set himself forward to the best advantage; and he had great power in recommending himself to the favor of others, whenever he chose to put it in action. His manly form, mild but animated and expressive eye, perfect self-possession, a boldness not obtrusive, but showing a consciousness of his proper dignity, an independent spirit, and a glow of enthusiasm giving life to his conversation and his whole deportment; these were traits which could not escape so discriminating an eye as that of Cook; they formed a rare combination peculiarly suited to the hardships and perils of his daring enterprise. They gained the confidence of the great navigator, who immediately took him into his service, and promoted him to be a corporal of marines.

In this capacity he sailed from England; but tradition reports, on what authority I know not, that he was in due time raised to the post of sergeant. That he should have been willing to undertake so long a voyage, in so humble a station, can be accounted for only

from his burning desire to be connected with the expedition. His skill in nautical matters was not yet such as to qualify him for a higher place, even if he had been able to exhibit stronger pretensions through the agency and influence of friends. But he was in the midst of strangers, without any other claims to notice, than such as he presented in his own person. These were his only passport to the favor of Cook, and, in relying on them, no one was ever deceived.

CHAPTER III.

Sails for the Cape of Good Hope, and thence to New Holland and New Zealand.-Manners

and Peculiarities of the People. Omai, the Otaheitan. - Departs from New Zealand, and visits newly discovered Islands. - Arrival at the Friendly Islands.-People of Tongataboo. — Ledyard passes a Night with the King. — Character and Habits of the Natives. Their Propensity to Thieving. - Departure from Tongataboo.

THE particulars of this voyage have been so often repeated from the official narrative, and are so well known, that any formal at

tempt to give a connected series of events would be superfluous and without interest. I shall, therefore, chiefly confine myself to such incidents as came under our traveller's observation, and to such remarks and reflections of his own, as indicate his opinions and the character of his mind. He kept a private journal of the whole voyage, but on the return of the expedition, before any person had landed, all papers of this description were taken away from both officers and men, by order of the commander, and Ledyard's journal among the rest. This precaution was necessary to prevent an imperfect account of the voyage going abroad, before one could be issued under the sanction of the Admiralty.*

Ledyard never recovered his papers; but when he returned to Hartford, more than two years after the termination of the voyage, his friends induced him to write the short account, which appeared with his name. Το satisfy public curiosity till a complete work could be prepared, a very brief sketch of the voyage in a single volume had already been

* In a review of the first London edition of this Memoir, in the London Quarterly Review, understood to have been written by Sir John Barrow, it is stated that parts of Ledyard's original journal are still preserved in the Admiralty.