nil by convicts-1 could not approve o f; but it could not be well
remedied without incurring a very great expence to Government.
.
On the 11th o f January arrived the Harbinger brig, Mr.
Black, commander, from the Cape of Good. Hope. I have before
mentioned this Gentleman’s name, having fallen in with a
prize of his at sea, previous to my arrival a t th e Cape. This
Gentleman followed me through the Streights, and of that part
o f the land he saw, he gave nearly the same description as I had
given to Governor King. He did not fall in with the land so
far to the westward as I did»-but made it about Cape Albany Otway
and Cape Patton.* He also saw an island in the Straits to
the southward of this land of considerable magnitude, which
he named King’s Island after Governor King,
On the 7th of February arrived the brig Margaret from Eng-»
land, commanded by Mr. Byers. He also made his passage
through the_ Straits, and Ml in with the land a little to the eastward
of where 1 did, mating the latitude nearly in 38° 20', about
Cape Bridgewater. This Gentleman also agreed with me very
nearly in the figure of the Coast and description of it. He did
not keep the coast all the way through on board, owing-to the
wind he was obliged to fun to the southward. However, so far
as both these Gentlemen had seen of the coast weragreed, only
differing in position; though not more than what might be expected
after long passages, from different reckonings or judgments.
I t had, however, the good effect, that it realized the
land I brought in, beyond all manner of doubt, to the westward
of Wilson’s Promontory, and Western Port, which was the farthest
point to the westward that Mr. Bass had proceeded to.—
Some who pretended to doubt my having seen the extent of
* See Chart.
coast
coast which I did, and who were constantly inveighing against
my;vessel, mçwfound themselves completely triumphed over,
and saved me much trouble on account o f the character of my
worthy-friend and patron, whom I vindicated. Conscious, of
the truth of my statements, ' both respecting; the Ivj^tó,, and the
object of itr I at last contented myself With being silent to thé
mean attempts of the malevolent and ignorant.
Gonernçr King having appointed Garden Island for the purpose.
of raising vegetables fèf-Éhé crew of the Lady Nelson, I
accordingly took possession of it. There was the shell of a tolerable
houf® on it, which required much repair to make it habitable.
isent Dr. Brandt, Who had volunteered with me a t
the. Cape, with his dog and baboon to the island, as he had no
inclination to go again t e '^ ^ ^ h a v h ^ mh<^ %àc0oettmodecî
with sea sickness during the,veyagehither.. T therefore j udged
it would be a good place for himto reside at in my-absenoe, and
take charge of my property; a very necessary precaution
against -n o e tu i^ l w^itors, who laid hold on and | carried off
every thing tha t was portable. As the poor Doctor was obliged
to part with every article of provisions I had given him to some
of ‘ these .depredators, who paid him a visit, ! applied to the
(ijiovernor, who very readily issued -an order« that no person»'
should attempt to land on the Island without his or my-leave.
This put a stopi in a great measure, to such-practices. There;
not being any fresh water on it, I was -obliged ‘to - lend the*
Dbcter a small boat, which one person could pull about with a?
pair of' sculls, till I could purchase ‘one'for the use« of the
Island ; but, unfortunately the Doctor lost thfsk h One • of the
young men who came out with me, and who had entered' on;
board another vessel in the harbour, borrowed it -«from him fb r
the purpose of fishing, leaving the-vessel’s boat that heearoe
in with his companion till his return. Three days elapsed,, and
■ not