William takes a Frazer ship out in fog and gets it in a collision with one of the Onedin ships. It is arranged that the elderly,weak Captain Oliphant should be held responsible. Oliphant later kills himself and William is filled with remorse. Elizabeth is relieved to see that he possesses some humanity. However he is seeing Charlotte,supposedly the fiancee of a dissatisfied Samuel,who wants a more active life than working in the family shop. At dinner Samuel's father Robert chokes on a bone and dies. (thetvdb.com)