yrep th e^ to is , the Bierfii|art]Captain^Macbride), waitj#
nuAry. eti on fhips were
the Aftrplabe and the Bouffaley which failed from France in
$he' year 1 78^, under the commandoT Meffieurs' de/''la
PerOufe, and De Langleio.-?He-%rther acquainted' him, that
having touched at Navigator’s Ifles,- -they had had the ’misfor¥
tune to- lofe Gaptaih/De Langle, the fecond1 in command,
with ten other officers, and two boats: crews,’ all o f whoM
‘ were cut off by the natives of thole iflands, who appeared to
be numerous and warlike. This accident induced them to'
put into this'port, in order to build fome boats, which they
had in frames. It-alio had afforded room -for the promotion
of Monfieur Clonnard, who,. on their leaving France, was
Only the comnaodorc’shfirft lieutenant. i
At ten o’clock the Sirius* with all the fhips, weighody and
in the evening anchored. in ; Port Jackfbn, with- ay few
trifling damages done to fome of them, who-had run foul of
each other in working out o f Botany Bay. . Port Jackfon I
believe to bey without exception, the. fineft and moil exten-
five-harbour in the univerfe,. and- at . the. fame time the
moftisfeeufll; I being fafe from all the winds that blow. It
is divided into a great number of coves, to which hi’s
excellency
excellency has given different names*. That on which the
tpwn is rto be built,: is called Sydney Gove. It. is one o f the
fmallefl in the harbour, but the moft convenient, as fhips of
the gteateft . burden can with eafe go in tout, and heave out
clofe to the fhore. Txincomalc, ;acknowledged to be one
the world, is by no means to be •
compared to it- In a word, Port Jackfon would afford fuffi*
cient and fafe. anchorage for all the navies o f Europe. The
Supply had arrived, the day before, and the governor, with
every perfpn that could he fpared from the fliip, were on
fhorey clearing the groilnd.;f©r 1 the encampment* | In the
evening, when all the fhips had anchored, the Inglifh
colours were d ifpl^ ed ; and at the Toot of the flag-fluff his
Majcfty’s health, and Tuccefs té the fettlepnent, was drank by
the governor, 'many of the principal officers, and private men,
who were pxe&nt upon the occafion. .
27th.. A number of convi&s from the different tranf*
ports were landed to affiff in clearing the ground for the
encampment. His excellency marked the outlines, and as
much as poflible to prevent irregularity, and to keep the
commas ; from:' ibaggling, the provoft . marfeal, aided bf
the patrole, had orders ito take into cuftody all convias that
R fhould