The Master, Who Appeared To Be A Man
Of Some Information, On Being Told The Destination Of Our Fleet, Gave
It
as his opinion, that if a reception could be secured, emigrations
would take place to New South Wales, not
Only from the old continent,
but the new one, where the spirit of adventure and thirst for novelty
were excessive.
CHAPTER VII.
The Passage from the Cape of Good Hope to Botany Bay.
We had hardly cleared the land when a south-east wind set in, and, except
at short intervals, continued to blow until the 19th of the month;
when we were in the latitude of 37 deg 40 min south, and by the time-keeper,
in longitude 11 deg 30 min east, so that our distance from Botany Bay
had increased nearly an hundred leagues since leaving the Cape.
As no appearance of a change in our favour seemed likely to take place,
Governor Phillip at this time signified his intention of shifting his pennant
from the Sirius to the 'Supply', and proceeding on his voyage without waiting
for the rest of the fleet, which was formed in two divisions. The first
consisting of three transports, known to be the best sailors, was put under
the command of a Lieutenant of the navy; and the remaining three,
with the victuallers, left in charge of Captain Hunter, of his Majesty's ship
Sirius. In the last division was the vessel, in which the author
of this narrative served. Various causes prevented the separation from
taking place until the 25th, when several sawyers, carpenters, blacksmiths,
and other mechanics, were shifted from different ships into the 'Supply',
in order to facilitate his Excellency's intention of forwarding the necessary
buildings to be erected at Botany Bay, by the time the rest of the fleet
might be expected to arrive.
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