Series 09.02: Letter received by Banks from Lord Sandwich, 10 January 1780 - No. 0001

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Blackheath Jan: 10th: 1780

Dear Sir

What is uppermost in our mind allways must come out first, poor Captain Cooke [Cook] is no more, he was massacred with some of his people by the Natives of an Island where he had been treated if possible with more hospitality than at Otaheite[also spelt Tahiti].

We recieve this melancholly news in a letter from Captain Clerke from Kamschutzcha [also spelt Kamchatka], where they have recieved such friendly treatment from the Russians as deserves the warmest returns of gratitude.

The voyage has been in general very