of Jeffrey's punishment got wind, and the admiral,
hearing of it, severely reprimanded Captain Lake
for his brutality, and ordered him to return to
Sombrero and rescue Jeffrey if he were still alive.
Captain Lake accordingly went back to the islet,
but found no one on it. A pair of trousers (not
Jeffrey's) and a tomahawk handle were the only
vestiges of humanity discoverable. The admiral
was satisfied that the poor fellow had been rescued
by some passing ship, and let the matter rest.
The story was, however, so widely circulated, that on his return to England Captain Lake was courtmartialled and cashiered.
Whilst this was passing, the greatest uncertainty existed as to the man's fate. His wrongs were commented on in the House by Sir Francis Burdett, and the case was kept so perseveringly before the public, that the Government issued orders for a strict inquiry to be made as to whether he were still alive or dead.
Presently an account was received, purporting to be by Jeffrey, giving an account of his rescue and his condition in America; but as to this was appended a cross for his signature, whereas Jeffrey was known to have been able to write, the public were led to suspect that this was a fabrication contrived by Lake's relatives and friends.
To settle the matter finally, a ship was despatched to bring Jeffrey home, and he arrived at Portsmouth in October, 1810, three years after his adventure on the island of Sombrero.
His escape had been due to his signals of distress
