"Saturday, 10th October. Observed the flag for indifferent landing - hove
up, put ye vessel under snug sail and stood off and on during night - at 4
P.M. Phillip's Island bore north distant 6 miles. A boat came along, into
which we delivered a part of the officers' baggage.
"Sunday, 11th October. Moderate winds and weather - a confused sea. P.M. A
boat came off - sent in her ye officers' baggage - at 6 P.M. the weather
looking rather unfavourable ran the vessel into Hunsons Bay - stood off
and on during night - at daylight went round to Sydney Harbour.
"Monday, 12th October. Variable winds, fine weather. P.M. a 2nd boat came
with Ensign Baillie's baggage. Stood off and on during night - in the
morning went into Sydney Bay - a boat came off with Mr. Baillie's baggage,
also received for boat 4 rough spars for sweeps.
"Tuesday, 13th October. Standing off and on Cascade Bay - at 4 the
vessel's signal for a boat was made from ye shore - lowered down our gig
and sent the boatswain on shore in her. In a little time he returned and
informed me it was the Lieutenant-Governor's orders that I should stand
to sea and await boat - made all sail and stood to sea till sundown, when
seeing no signs of a boat made sail for ye island. Saw a large ship in
the offing, she proved to be the Earl Cornwallis from Sydney.
"Wednesday, 14th October. A.M. Seeing no signs of a boat went around to
Sydney Bay and observed Cornwallis lying to off Northern Island.
"Thursday, 15th October. At 5 P.M. Ensign Bayley embarked on boat and the
boat brought remainder of his baggage - all the other passengers came on
board - discharged the pilot. At 6 made sail - at 7 P.M. Mount Pitt bore
north-east by east distant 4 leagues - at sundown ye Earl Cornwallis out
of sight.
"Friday, 16th October. Fresh gales - cloudy and rain - a high sea
running - strong gales. The vessel laboured a great deal.
...
"Tuesday, 27th October. Fresh winds and hazy - at 2 A.M. saw land
north-west 10 or 11 miles - at 8 A.M. south head of Broken Bay bore to
north-west 6 miles - at noon fine - got within Heads and made all sail.
"JOHN MURRAY,
"Commander."
On his return to Sydney on the completion of the voyage Murray was
ordered by Governor King to proceed in the Lady Nelson and finish the
exploration of the south coast, which Grant had not been able to
complete. The instructions issued by Governor King were very precise.
"You will proceed without loss of time to Basses Straights and observe
the following directions for prosecuting discoveries in those straights
on the south-west coast of this country...When you are between Ram Head
and Western Port you will proceed to Kent's Group and ascertain the size
of those islands (particularly the easternmost)...From Kent's Group you
will run on a straight course to Wilson's Promontory noticing the course
and distance, soundings and quality of the bottom...From Wilson's
Promontory you will trace the coast between Point Schanck and Cape Albany
Otway...From thence you will run to Harbinger Rock lying off the
north-west point of King's Island...You will make the circuit of that
island or islands in addition to the King's instructions respecting new
discoveries...You will carefully examine...all within 6 miles round the
island to ascertain whether a vessel may anchor. Having completed the
survey...you will ascertain the time of bearing...between the south
westernmost point and Albatross Islands, the northernmost of Hunter's
Islands and the Pyramid. Having completed...your survey thus far you will
ascertain to what distance soundings may be got to the westward of the
Norfolk's and Lady Nelson's passages taking care to traverse across to
the latitude of 42 degrees on the south side and within sight of land on
the north side or coast of New Holland (Van Dieman's Land) until between
38 and 42 degrees...As you stand in on the New Holland side you will
examine the coast between Cape Albany Otway and Cape Solicitor which
Lieutenant Grant named Portland Bay the bottom of which he did not see.
Should you have time I would wish you to run due south from Cape
Solicitor as far as 40 degrees and work back again to Cape
Bridgewater...you will employ another month...in tracing the coast from
Cape Banks...In returning to this port you will deliver all such journals
and charts as may have been completed...during your intended voyage.
"Should you fall in with H.M.S. Investigator you will communicate these
instructions to the Commander...and put yourself under his command. And
in case you fall in and are come up with by the Naturaliste and
Geographe, French vessels on discovery, you will produce your passport
from His Grace the Duke of Portland to the Commander of that expedition.
"PHILIP GIDLEY KING.
"SYDNEY, October 31st, 1801."
CHAPTER 5.
MURRAY'S EXPLORATION OF BASS STRAIT.
The Lady Nelson set forth from Sydney on her mission on November 12th,
1801. Obeying Governor King's orders, Murray steered first towards the
Kent Group.* (* The Kent Group was discovered by Lieutenant Matthew
Flinders in the Francis, and named by him in honour of Captain William
Kent of H.M.S. Supply. The group was subsequently visited by Mr.
Rushworth and other sailors.) His log shows how he mistook other islands,
probably the Sisters* (* The Sisters Islands were so named by Captain
Furneaux in 1773 from the resemblance they bore to each other. Peron
calls them two small islands escarpes.) at the northern extremity of the
Furneaux Group, for his place of destination and how, when 25 miles to
the northward of Cape Barren, on seeing smoke rising from an island, he
sent a boat ashore and found living there two men, a woman and a child,
the men, Chase and Beven, being sealers in the employ of Messrs.
