Prevented by ill-health from serving his full term, he found himself adrift in the world, without money or friends.

The Turkish fleet, "adrift in the Archipelago" - as the British seamen put it - though greatly superior in tonnage and weight of metal, could never be a match for the Greek brigs, manned as these were by trained, if not disciplined, crews.

The commander, Lieutenant William Bligh, was set adrift in the launch with part of the crew, but managed to make his way to Timor in the Malay Archipelago.

After a horrible weeping fit, Alice sees the bottle and shrinks herself again, only to find herself adrift in a sea of her own tears.

Or it may be the result of economic agnosticism, combined with unwillingness to cut adrift from old moorings.