In 1814 (Terra Australis, by M.
Flinders, South Coast, Sheet 5) is inscribed, "Coast as far as Cape
Schanck discovered by Captain James Grant, 1800," in which track, of
course, is included the entrance to Port Phillip, although Flinders knew
that Grant had not penetrated to the bay itself.
Grant sailed from Sydney in the Anna Josepha, Captain Maclean, an old
Spanish brig, belonging to Mr. Simeon Lord. She had been taken off the
coast of Peru by the Betsy whaler, and on her arrival at Sydney was
renamed Anna Josepha in honour of the Governor's wife. Loaded with coals
and spars, the ship left Port Jackson for the Cape of Good Hope on
November 9th, 1801. She steered southward of New Zealand, made Cape Horn,
and then sailed to the Falklands. Grant quitted her when she reached
Tristan D'Acunha and obtained a passage in the Ocean as far as Table Bay.
There he shipped on April 12th, 1802, in H.M.S. Imperieuse for England,
where he arrived safely, and, in due course, reported himself to the
Admiralty.
Three years later he obtained his rank of Commander on January 12th,
1805, with a pension for gallantry in a spirited action off Holland, when
in command of the Hawke cutter he was badly wounded. He subsequently
commanded the Raven and Thracian and died at St. Servan in 1833, aged 61.
CHAPTER 4.
MURRAY APPOINTED COMMANDER OF THE LADY NELSON: HIS VOYAGE TO NORFOLK
ISLAND.
On Grant's resigning the command of the Lady Nelson, Governor King
appointed John Murray to succeed him. As has been told Murray had
formerly been Master's mate of the Porpoise and had accompanied Grant
when he went for the second time to try and explore Governor King's Bay,
and the Governor apparently thought him a capable officer. His
appointment is dated September 3rd, 1801, so that he seems to have taken
over the new post about two months before his predecessor finally left
Sydney.
When, however, the Lady Nelson sailed to the Hawkesbury in September to
load the settlers' grain and to bring it to Sydney, Grant appears to have
been still on board her, as he was enjoined to ensure her safety at that
place by Governor King. "You are not to leave the vessel yourself or
suffer any other person to leave her while in the river nor let any
strangers or visitors go on board...Your board netting is to be kept up
while in the river." King evidently was determined to guard against the
capture of the brig by runaway convicts, a fate which had overtaken the
Norfolk. Murray succeeded to the command of the brig on her return from
this Hawkesbury trip. His first voyage was to Norfolk Island, when he
carried orders and instructions from the Governor of New South Wales to
Major Foveaux, the Lieutenant-Governor. Before leaving Sydney, Captain
Abbott, Ensign Piper and Mr. John Roberts (surgeon's mate) were embarked
as passengers on board the Lady Nelson, and in the afternoon of October
1st she set sail for her destination. The following account of her voyage
is extracted from the log: -
H.M.A. SURVEYING VESSEL LADY NELSON.
From Port Jackson to Norfolk Island.
"October 2nd, 1801. At 3 P.M. got under weigh and stood out of ye Heads.
Observed ye Porpoise to be in the offing. At 5 P.M. passed under the
stern of the Porpoise and Mr. Murray went on board and waited on ye
Commander of that vessel. At 6 Lieutenant Murray returned on board,
hoisted in our gig and gave the Porpoise three cheers, which was
returned - made sail at half-past 6 P.M. - ye North Head of Port Jackson
bore to west by north distant 6 miles, the South Head of Broken Bay bore
north by west distance 6 leagues.
"Saturday, October 3rd. Fresh winds and clear. About half-past 4 P.M. the
wind shifted to north-west with light rain and thunder and lightning. At
8 A.M. the wind rather took off and we had clear weather, but with a very
heavy sea on. At noon we had a strong gale with a high sea on, our
Latitude 33 degrees 55 minutes south.
"Sunday, October 4th. Strong gale with heavy squalls at intervals with a
very high sea running. Very heavy squall attended with thunder and
lightning, large hail stones at ye same time. At 10 A.M. Mustered ye
Ship's Company and read the articles of war being the first Sunday of ye
month.
"Monday, October 5th. Fresh breezes and heavy squalls with flying showers
of rain and heavy sea running. At 4 P.M. saw Lord Howe Island bearing
north-east distant 16 or 17 leagues. At 10 P.M. when it cleared saw Balls
Pyramid bearing north by west distant 6 or 9 miles: at 12 had another
sight of it on our larboard quarter - at daylight again saw the Pyramid
distant 10 or 12 leagues...At noon lost sight of Island.
"Tuesday, October 6th. Fresh breezes and clear - squally. At noon light
airs.
"Wednesday, October 7th. Light airs and inclinable to calm.
"Thursday, 8th October. Fresh wind and clear high sea. Keeping good look
out for Island of Norfolk. At 4 A.M. made sail - at 6 A.M. saw Norfolk and
Phillip Islands distant 12 leagues - at noon, being 9 or 10 miles off ye
town, fired a gun and hoisted signal for pilot.
"Friday, 9th October. Moderate weather - at half-past 2 P.M. fired a 2nd
gun for pilot - at half-past 3 seeing no boat and judging of the
appearance of the sea there was no landing at Sydney Bay,* (* Sydney,
Norfolk Island.) bore on for Cascade, and by 5 got in sight of ye
Storehouse - fired another gun - at 7 P.M. John Drumond, pilot, came on
board, took charge as pilot - sent our boatswain's mate on shore in
pilot's boat with letter to Lieutenant Governor - kept standing off all
night - at daylight the Storehouse distant 3 miles - at 6 A.M. landed
Captain E. Abbott, Ensign Piper and Mr. John Roberts - at 9 A.M. boat
returned bringing with them ye pilot's assistant who told us ye landing
was good at Sydney - bore up for Sydney.
