When, after braving foul weather, and with food supplies running low, the boat was at length turned homeward, Bass writes "we did it reluctantly," coupling his willing little company with himself in regrets that discovery could not be pushed farther than they had been able to pursue it.

Throughout his diary he writes in the first person plural, and he records no instance of complaint of the hardships endured or of quailing before the dangers encountered.
It is likely enough that the six British sailors who manned Bass's boat had very little perception that they were engaged upon a task that would shine in history.

An energetic ship's surgeon whom everybody liked had called for volunteers in an affair requiring stout arms and hearts.

He got them, they followed him, did their job, and returned to routine duty.
They did not receive any extra pay, or promotion, or official recognition.

Neither did Bass, beyond Hunter's commendation in a despatch.