The Naval Pioneers of Australia and Walter Jeffery

riend, and one who sympathized deeply w

hina, was engaged by King to call at the reef with provisions and convey to Canton all those of the ships' companies who preferred going to that port; and the Francis,

fied that she was capable of performing the voyage; and both he and King, being men of action, decided that she should sail, in company with the Francis and Rolla, to the scene of the wreck, where Flinders was to select officers and men to man her for the voyage to England, a t

reason of the shortness of other material, and this paper, speaking of the Cumberland, says, "She is a very good sea-boat, and in every way capable of carrying

e extreme, and sought to dissuade Flinders from undertaking it. But his was no

ships were flying before a south-easterly gale, and the Cumberland was reduced to a close-reefed mainsail and jib, and she was so exceedingly crank that Flinders considered it was not safe to run her even in a double-reefed topsail breeze. Then, in spite of her recent repairs, she leaked like a basket, and after an hour a

ent King an account of the trip down, he gave the Governor some i

mall, and mice, rises superior to them all.... I have never stripped myself before the last two nights, but usually slept upon

s and fired a salute from the carronades saved from the wreck. The Porpoise still held together, and the castaways had, during Flinders' absence, built a boat of 20 tons, which they had rigged

Resource for Sydney; then Flinders said good-bye and sailed northward for Timor, where he arrived thirty da

ase of meeting a ship by which it might have been sent, little

and, and followed a small vessel that I wanted to speak into a little harbour there" (Baye du Cap), "and, to my surprise, found that the French were again at war with our nation. After being detained one day I got a pilot, and came round to Port N.W." (Port Louis) "on December 16th last. I waited upon the captain-general, and, after being kept two hours in the street, had an audience, but it was to be told that I was an imposter, the improbability of Captain Flinders coming in so small a vessel being thought so great as to discredit my passport and commission. Finally, Mr. Atkin, formerly master of the Investigator, and me were brought ashore as prisoners at

e for which the passport had been granted by touching at the Isle of France, and that my uncommon voyage from Port Jackson to this place was more calculated for the particular

soners of war, were confined. This house is situated a little without the town, enjoys a pure air, and is surrounded by a wall enclosing about two acres of ground. In this place Mr. Atkin and me soon recovered our health, and here we have remained to this day. Thro' my friend Bergeret, I have lately obtained the greatest part of my books and charts, and therefore am assiduously employed in repairing the ravages that were made amongst them by the Porpoise's shipwreck,

n of his own private caprices. Passports, reciprocal kindness, and national faith are baits to catch children and fools with, and none but such consider the propriety of the means by which the plans are to be put into execution. Men of genius, heroes (that is, modern Fr

to guess how long I am to be kept here, since the French despatches, as well as the letters I have been permitted to write, will probably be thrown overboard on the ship meeting with our cruisers. However, I think my foe begins to be touched with some remorse of conscience. We have accounts by Admiral Linois of the China fleet having lately passed, a

Port Louis overland, and I shall take my commission, passport, and papers to General de Caen myself." The officers were a little crestfallen, but the Englishman's short, precise, active manner left nothing to be said, so

had ever come across "M. Flinedare, who was not unknown to fame." It took him some time to find out that it was himself. At last an interpreter took him into the g

nd aft that she crumbled

to come to this isl

me," answered

r of New South Wales would send you out in so small a boat. Take him away, and treat him well,"

"under the dark entry, and up the narrow stairs into a bedroom, while the door

ooking-glass, and evil smells. At 6 a.m. the sleeping men were wakened by the patrol of an armed grenadie

en, why did he go to Port Northwest at all, and why did he chase a vessel? (This query referred to his endeavour to overtake a pilot-boat.) He gave his reasons in full, and expected to be allowed

04, he wrote to

them must no doubt have been received. General de Caen still keeps me closely confined, but he has lately given me the great

ement the General has made of my particular case; and probably the vessels carrying the despatches will be taken, and the letters thrown overboard, in which case it cannot be guessed how long I may be kept. My dependence, therefore, is on the Admiralty demanding me to be given up, by virtue

ircumstances, condemn him for it; but the generality cannot believe that the commander of a voyage of discovery, whose labour is calculated for the good of all nations, should be kept a

n his station there who is to arrive at anything eminent. It would soften the dark shade with which my reflections in this confinement cannot but be overspread to know that I was promoted to the list where my rank would be progressive. It is to you only, Sir Joseph, that I can address upon this subject. I have had ample testimonies of your power and of the strength of your mind in resisting the malicious insinuations of those who are pleased to be my enemies, nor do I further doubt your willingness to give me assistance than that I fear you do not yet think me worthy of it; but I will be. If I do not prove myself worthy of your patronage, Sir Joseph, let me be thrown out of the society of all good men. I have t

nd what I am, and compare it with where and how I ought to be employed, it is misery; but when to this the recollection of my f

e interpreter who undertook to get it cashed was nearly killed by the soldiers for carrying, as they thought, a private letter. Eventually the Danish co

ch fashion-he was asked to accuse himself of being a spy. He promptly refused the request, which was again and again made, and he always scorned to

ent shows the view he took of t

Isle of France to study the prevailing winds, the port, or the state of the colony, and by this conduct he has violated the neutrality under which he had been permitted to land. It is necessary therefore to order M. Monistrol, chief of the battalion, to board the schooner Cumberland in the presence of Captain Flinders, break the seals put

s in England. Many of these letters never arrived, but what letters did reach home aroused the indignation of his frie

letters, giving him some "straig

ceived well? In war-time Baudin and Hamelin took notes, and were not interfered with.... I was chosen by Sir Joseph Banks to complete Cook's work, and am n

or's answe

delicate motive of my silence. I say, until matters are advanced mor

ons for letting him go, even to France, promising to say not a word of Mauritius and

t. His letters were opened, and very few reached England. At home Sir Joseph Banks set to work, and did his best for the poor prisoner. On August 29t

cation with the French; but I have some with their literary men, and have written, with the permission of the Government, to solicit his release, and have sent

to Flinders from London, de

exchange has on any pretence been effected, they could do nothing for you. I therefore obtained permission in August last to address the National Institute of France requesting their interference to obtain your r

, however, an immediate and favourable answer, which proves that the literary men in Paris will do all in their power to obt

mperial Majesty has always shown to scientific men. As far as I know, your friends here are well. Mrs. Flinders I heard of very lately, as full of

ely received. Your last, containing the last sheet of your chart, I fo

rles Middleton. As he, however, is eighty-four years old, either his mind or his body must soon become incapable of any exertion whatever. I have no news to tell you relative to discovery.

from many parts of the world and grades of society strove only to make the time pass easily, and succeeded until de Caen heard of this and ordered, in his usual haughty style, that "spy-glasses and such things" should be taken away, and if anything were concealed, then the prisoners were

captive wrote to

bout a fortnight since two cartels arrived here with French prisoners from Calcutta and Ceylon. In return for these, all the prisoners of war in this island are to be sent back, and I only to be excepted. It seems that, notwithstanding my imprisonment has continued near nineteen months, the French governor has not

it is possible that I may obtain some little indulgence of liberty after my countrymen are gone. 1805 Both justice and humanity ought to have obtai

easonable computation, about February or March, 1806, at which time I anxiously hope and pray that I may find you, my best and most po

New Holland, to ascertain the existence of an entrance into an inland sea, near the Rosemary Isles of Dampier, previously to my return to Europe, for during the con

ember of the sam

ide in the country on account of my health. I have now for nearly three months resided in this district, almost in the middle of the island, with a

o consider me as a spy; and I firmly believe that, if he had not said to the French Government during the time of his unjust suspicions of me that he should detain me h

ged, and Flinders alone, with an old, lame seama

gar was fought while Flinders was a prisoner, and in Europe people could har

d stop in India with Pellew. 1807 The copy of the letter Flinders received drove the resentment deeper into his heart, for it stated that the Paris authorities approved of de Caen's action, but granted Flinders liberty in pure generosity. In July, 1804, this letter had been approved by the auth

July, 1810, before the Harriet got away, for the English, not knowing that they were detaining their own countrymen, kept such a close blockade that the ship could not get out to sea; and when she did get outside, notwithstanding many attempts on the part of the captain to communicate with an English ship and put Flinders

o talk about to think of him, and so publicly his services were practically forgotten. Among other indignities he suffered, he found that the charts taken from him by de Caen had been appropriated to Baudin's expl

ration my spirit will rise from the

daughter, Mrs. Annie Petril, who was in 1852 granted, by the joint Governments of New Sou