Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Matthew Flinders - Public Letters written to the secretary of the Admiralty, to other boards, officers &c. and Orders given on various occasions by Matthew Flinders Esq., 1805-1807
Safe 1/54

Public Letters written to the secretary of the Admiralty, to other boards, officers etc. and Orders given on various occasions, by Matthew Flinders Esq., 1805-1807

[Notes: 1. The text of Flinders' letters reproduced here retains the original spelling and punctuation. The letters begin on page 182 with Letter No. 133 and end on page 308 with Letter No. 198. It appears that seven blank pages at the end of the book were used by Flinders' daughter, Anne, to make botanical notes.

[Page a]

1805
Situations of places in the Indian Seas,
ascertained by captain Peter Heywood; copied from a
memorandum book belonging to him, in the possession of Mr. Dale

[Page b]

[Page c]

Botanical specimens

Botanical specimens

Public Letters written to the secretary of the Admiralty, to other boards, officers etc. and Orders given on various occasions, by Matthew Flinders Esq.

[Page 182]

Letter No. 133
To M. Fleurieu at Paris

To Monsieur Fleurieu - Counsellor of State &c. &c. &c Paris
(No. 13 Rue de Taitbout)
Isle of France March 11th. 1805
Sir
Your well known zeal in the cause of geography and natural science, so well proved by your useful and interesting labours for nearly half a century, emboldens the commander of His Britannic Majestys ship the Investigator, though he has not the honour of your personal acquaintance, to address himself to you upon the subject of his confinement in this distant island, - to intreat your patience to the perusal of a tedious paper, and in the name of humanity and the sciences, to claim your assistance in obtaining his release from an unjust imprisonment.
Deprived of the satisfaction of completing the important objects of my voyage of discovery by the rottenness of the Investigator, I embarked for England in a small vessel, the Porpoise, with my people and the produce of our labours, in order to obtain another ship. At 240 leagues from Port Jackson, we met with a reef of coral in the night and suffered ship wreck, but our lives were saved and fortunately the greater part of my charts and papers. I then embarked with a small number of men in the schooner Cumberland, of 29 tons, to reach England by the near route of Torres' Strait. My little vessel proved to be leaky and very crank, otherwise we had run from Timor to the Cape of Good Hope without any delay; but before half that passage was gained, the chambers of the two pumps had become so much worn by constant use, that one was totally useless and the other nearly so. In this state I thought it too unsafe to attempt the passage round the Cape, and therefore determined to put in at the Isle of France on the way, to get the vessel caulked and the pumps fresh bored, and obtain a supply of water and refreshments. It may be well supposed we must want water and refreshments, when the small size of the Cumberland and the fatigues and privations we had undergone the two preceding years, are known.
When governor King of Port Jackson gave me the Cumberland, he left the choice of the route home to me, only verbally pointing out the Cape as the next place he wished me to touch at after Timor, being rather desirous
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desirous that I should avoid Mauritius. On this account I thought it necessary to note down in my journal the reasons for touching there, and it was done immediately in my rough log book, without foreseeing that the expressions there used were to become the subject of severe investigation, and my liberty to depend upon their accuracy, and agreement with the passport; such as they are, however, I must stand by them, and I only request that they may be interpreted with candour.
After mentioning the leakiness of the vessel, badness of the pumps, and the required supplies, I added, that "it would also enable me to make myself "acquainted with the present state of that colony and the nature of the periodical "winds;" whether it or its dependencies in Madagascar could be of use to Port "Jackson in supplying it conveniently and cheaply with cattle, and whether it "would be as good place to touch at in the future part of my voyage.* It is to be observed, that I was a stanger to the Isle of France, nor had I any books to inform me what naval supplies, refreshments, and conveniences it might be able to afford, - what was the usual route taken to Port North West or whether there was not some particular season of the year when hurricanes made it dangerous to approach the island; it was this latter kind of information I alluded to in mentioning "periodical winds". It cannot but be understood, that these inquiries, innocent as I believe they are at any time, if not misinterpreted, were intended to be made on the suppostion of its being a time of peace; for there could be no communication between Port Jackson and the Isle of France in time of war, nor in that case could I touch there in my future voyage, but under circumstances of distress.
A further advantage still promised itself in putting in at Mauritius, that of finding some ship ready to sail for Europe, in which I might obtain a more safe and expeditious passage than in the Cumberland, for she had not answered my hopes either for expedition or safety; I then intended to sell the schooner, or to send her back to Port Jackson, either of which I was authorized to do by governor King, if it should be found necessary. (See the annexed extract of his orders to me Paper No.1.

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It was, as I believe, at the very conclusion of what was written in my journal that I said "add to all this, the possibility of a war between the two "nations, in which case I may save myself from being made a prisoner by "preferring Mauritius to the Cape of Good Hope, for I have a passport from the "French though none from the Dutch government." This was a cautionary foresight, such as any man who was a stranger to European politics for twelve months would naturally think of, and such as Mon. Bougainville had foreseen on putting in at the Dutch settlement of Cajili on the island Boero; so little, however, did I think of the probability of a renewal of hostilities, that I did not even advert to the circumstances of the passport mentioning the Investigator only.
On arriving here, I found to my surprise, that the war was really renewed, and then the circumstance of the passport occurred to me; but I checked my suspicions by considering, that certainly the passport was intended to protect the voyage and not the Investigator only; a description of the Investigator was indeed given in it, but the intention of it could be only to prevent imposition; the Cumberland was now prosecuting the voyage, and I had come in here for lawful purposes , and upon such an occasion as the passport allows me to put into a French port;* the great desire also that the French nation has long shewn to promote geographical researches, and the friendly treatment that the Geographe and Naturaliste had received at Port Jackson,** rose up before me as guarantees that I should not be impeded but should receive the kindest welcome and every assistance. Still however it would recur to me, that the Investigator only was mentioned in the passport, and that it was possible
*The journal has been wholly kept from me, although it was necessary to the construction of my charts and the writing of my accounts. It is possible that I may make some trifling errors in quoting from memory at the distance of 15 months but I trust this will not be brought against me if I preserve the sense of the different passages.
** See the annexed extract from the passport, Paper No. 2
***See the annexed Paper, No. 3.

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it was possible there might be some man who would so far forget what was due to our neutral occupation, to justice and humanity, as to take advantage of the letter of my passport to seize a few shipwrecked seamen whom distress had driven into their port. I feared the possibility of this, and inquired in whose hands was the Cape of Good Hope, almost determining, if it had been with the English, to go away (for it was yet in my power) with three casks of water I had got, and run the risk of being drowned sooner than of being stopped in the prosecution of my voyage, and the publication of my discoveries. I had sown with labour and at the most imminent risk, and like a young man, was eager to reap the harvest of fame. You, Sir, who have reaped so largely, can well know the torture I felt on being made a prisoner; for alas! my fears were too prophetic; there was a man in the Isle of France who could set aside humanity, justice, gratitude,* and the honour of his country as a promoter of science to take advantage of the letter of the passport; and most unfortunately for me, he was the governor [General de Caën]. Let me however do him strict justice; - the officer at the south end of the island seeing a shabby-looking fellow appear in an English vessel, and call himself a Commander in the British Navy, for shipwrecked people are not apt to be nicely dressed, did, I believe, represent me to be a suspicious person; and the general being thus prejudiced, made me a close prisoner and seized my books and papers without almost any examination, and used besides such language, that I refused to except an invitation to his table on the following day. The irritation excited by this refusal has, I fear, led him to examine my journal with too great a desire to find something that might enable him to continue me in confinement, rather than to assist and relieve me, and too willing to put the worst construction upon what he might find there; for it is to be observed, that I was imprisoned first, and then a reason for it was to be found afterwards.
The letters that I subsequently wrote to the general, expostulating with him
*See the annexed Paper, No. 3.

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-ting with him upon such an act of injustice, were not, as I now know, likely to calm his irritation; for I wrote as a man of independent spirit, who had been unjustly deprived of his liberty, may be supposed to do.
For fifteen months past I have been kept in confinement notwithstanding my ill health,* and have been treated with many indignities, the particulars of which I at present pass over. I bore with my misfortunes in the expectation that when the French government should be acquainted with my situation, I should be set at liberty with honour; or at least, sent to France, where an impertial investigation of the circumstances would be made; but after this long and anxious suspence, my hopes of liberty are now at once destroyed by reading in the Moniteur of July 11. 1804 (22 Messidor an 12) an approval of general De Caëns conduct towards me, inserted, to all appearance, from authority; and since not the least intimation of sending me to France has been yet given, I have now no period, except the uncertain end of the war, or death, to look forward to for my liberation. The following are the passages in the Moniteur that most affect me.
"Mr. Flinders ne faisant que soupçonner la guerre, se "hazarda de venir à l'Isle de France, oû ayant appris sa déclaration, il douta lui "même, que le passeport qui lui avait été accordé par le gouvernement Français "dans l'an 9. pût lui servir." "Ce passeport etait exclusif pour la Corvette "l'Investigator dont il portait le signalement, et ce n'est pas sur l'Investigator qu'il "a été arrêté, mais sur le Cumberland. Le même passeport ne donnait accès "dans les colonies Françaises à Mr. F., qu'autant qu'il ne se detournerait pas de "sa route pour y accéder; et Mr. F. reconnâit, dans son journal, qu'il s'en est "détourné volontairement, (car l'isle de France n'etait point sur sa route.)" "On lit "dans son journal, d'une part, qu'il soupçonnait la guerre, et de l'autre, qu'il avait "pris le parti de relâcher a l'isle de France, autant dans l'espérance d'y vendre "avantageusement son bâtiment, que par le desir de connâitre l'état actuel de "cette colonie, et l'utilité dont elle et ses dépendances à Madagascar pourraient "etre au Port Jackson." *See the paper No. 4.

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"Comme le passeport que le gouvernement Français avait donné à Mr. F. "était loin d'admettre une exploration de cette nature sur une colonie Française, "il n'est point étonnant que le capitaine général de cette colonie l'ait fait arrêter, "et rien, jusqu'à ce jour, n'annonce qu'il ait cru devoir le relâcher."
The reasons here assigned for imprisoning me (arrêter) are, I apprehend, those which general De Caën has given to the French government. They are intended to convey the idea, that I had no other cause for touching at the Isle of France than to sell my vessel and explore the colony; and this, although I had reason to think the two nations were at war; nay, it insinuates that it was my suspicion of the war that led me in here to explore the colony. My proper reasons for touching here, those which were first inserted in my journal, are totally passed over; my doubt of the passport not protecting me is put into a wrong light; - my desire to sell the Cumberland is left unaccounted for; - My suspicion of the war is placed in the first instead of the last place, in order to give a hostile colouring to the nature of my enquiries; and that the public opinion may not miss the wished for direction, the supplying Port Jackson with cattle and my desire to ascertain the utility of the port to the future part of my voyage , are wholly omitted. It is said, upon the authority of my journal I suppose, that the Isle of France was not in my route; whereas I said only it was not in my orders; it would be gross ignorance indeed not to have known that the island was almost directly in the route from Timor to the Cape of Good Hope, for a chart and pair of compasses would would have told me that it would not increase my distance so much as 100 miles altogether, to put in at Mauritius. The writer in the Moniteur seems to have been aware that he might be contradicted in saying it was not in the route from Timor to the Cape, and therefore avoids to mention them by which he increases the difficulty of detecting his misrepresentation.
It was for the sake of expedition that I hazarded a passage to England

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to England in so small a vessel as the Cumberland; for the same reason I remained only four days at Timor; and I must be supposed to have given up the plan for which I had risked so much, before it will be believed that I should remain any long time at the Isle of France; seven days were indeed the full extent of my intended stay, if the necessary repairs could be completed in that time; and it may be easily judged what sort of an "exploration" the spare time from the business of my vessel would allow me to make in so short a period. It would have been very easy for general De Caën to have put a stop to my exploration had he found me employed upon any thing he thought unallowable; and I will venture to say, that under so rigorous a government, it would have been impossible for me to have made any survey, or to have moved out of my lodgings without his knowledge. Surely then these rigorous measures were not necessary; but the general did not leave it to be proved, whether I would proceed to make even the enquiries mentioned in my journal; - within ten minutes he told me I was imposing upon him, and sent an officer to seize my books and papers; I was then shut up with the master of the Investigator [John Aken] in a dirty room where were two truckle beds, without curtains, and a French granadier, with fixed bayonet. Can you be surprised, Sir, that I refused, to dine with general De Caen on the next day, no explanation having been made or cause assigned for this treatment. If you suspect that I said something very violent to the general in the first and only interview I have had with him, you do me wrong; I was too much lost in astonishment to speak more than giving answers to his questions.
Whatever intentions I might have had in coming in, they were likely to undergo considerable alteration on finding such a change in the ground work as a war would necessarily make; and had I even declared in my journal an intention of making a nautical survey of the island, it would surely have been unjust to condemn me upon it, unless I had actually proceeded to put it in execution in spite of the war; nay even then, the hostile intention should be made evident to bring it under the passport; for De la Caille and St Pierre, as I understand, made surveys and observations upon the island,

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the island, yet they cannot be thought to have acted hostilely! It is shewn, however, that I could have no such intention as making a survey; I was not so ignorant that, although I was a stranger to it, there were much better accounts of it before the public than I could make in a few days, or perhaps at all.
It will not I think, Sir, be necessary to enlarge further upon the remarks contained in the Moniteur, to shew that my intentions have been misinterpreted. I trust you will see, that I have not come here with any evil intentions, nor voluntarily deviated from the route which I ought to have followed, if it can be called a deviation at all. The leakiness of the vessel and badness of the pumps were, of themselves, sufficient reasons for touching at the Isle of France, to obtain the assistance and the reparation necessary for continuing my voyage; - To have found the schooner unfit for making the passage to England was, I apprehend also sufficient authority for putting in, to obtain a more safe and expeditious conveyance; and let it be remembered, that I had the accounts of the Investigators discoveries with me, the produce of much hard labour, many emminent dangers, and a considerable expense; these were not to be risked too far, and I had determined to risk them no further than the island St. Helena in the Cumberland,* or than Mauritius if a convenient passage could be obtained. I apprehend also, that in making such a passage as from Port Jackson to England in a vessel of 29 tons, even general De Caen himself would have thought there was a sufficient necessity for putting into every port he came near, for water, for refreshment, and for healthful exercise; I had much more cogent reasons than these, and these also, yet he does not allow me to have had a sufficient plea; so much do we hate men whom we have injured, and so far does he carry his national antipathy.**
* See the annexed extract of a letter written to Governor King from Wreck Reef two months before: Paper No. 5.
** He has been heard to declare, that if he had his will, every English prisoner in the Isle of France should be sent to Lord Wellesly without his ears. It is the lex talionis only, as I believe that prevents him from putting his will into execution.

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Upon the remaining and principal point, that the passport is for the Investigator and not for the Cumberland, I can only observe, that the Geographes passport would have been sufficient to protect the Casuarina, a schooner purchased by captain Baudin at Port Jackson. It is truly a hard case, if the commander of a ship on discovery, who had escaped from shipwreck in his boat to the port of a nation from whom he had a passport, if he is to be made a prisoner and his boat, or little vessel, taken away, because he does not appear in the ship that is lost! and how little difference is there between a ship lost and a ship rotten? but I had suffered shipwreck also. Can it, Sir, be for a moment supposed, that the governor of Port Jackson would have made the commander of the Geographe and his people prisoners, had they been shipwrecked on the coasts of New Holland, and got to Port Jackson either in their boats, or a vessel they might have built, or in the Naturaliste? Detested be the name of that Englishman who could thus have added to the misfortunes of the unfortunate! To have said only that they had had a passport, but it was lost; - to have said only that the had been employed upon a voyage of discovery, (a neutral occupation for the advantage of all,) and been shipwrecked, would have obtained them the compassion and kindly assistance of governor King, and of every man whose national antipathy was not superior to the feelings of his heart, and to justice. With such, the enemy would be forgotten in the misfortunes of the peaceful discoverer: but not so general De Caën.
For taking up so much of your valuable time, Sir, I entreat your pardon. My loss of liberty, of health, and almost of hope, I think you will feel for, and forgive this tedious application.
It remains to be proved by the result of my imprisonment, whether it is to the French nation or to general De Caën that the interruption of a voyage of discovery and the treatment I have received are to be imputed. The celebrated author of the instructions to the unfortunate La Pérouse cannot be an indifferent spectator of the event, nor in the present state of affairs can he, I think, interest himself in it without effect; but should it so happen that you make no use of this letter, let me entreat you, Sir, to transmit it to my friend and patron Sir Joseph Banks, or to the British admiralty, that the English nation at least

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-tion at least may know my true situation here. If either through negligent inattention on the part of the government, through national hatred or the intention of appropriating my discoveries to the Geographe and Naturaliste, I am left here a prey to sickness and unrelenting tyranny, no small proportion of the national credit for justice, public faith, for humanity, and the encouragement of science, will fall with me; the world will revenge me by its odium of the deed, and the nation that could perform it; but, Sir, this must not be said (and, exclusive of all private considerations, I am desirous it should not be said,) of a nation wherein Fleurieu, Bougainville, and La Lande, were living and important members.
Adieu worthy Sir, excuse my inaccuracies and prolixity. May you long live to be an ornament to geographical and nautical science, as you have been ever considered by
Your most obedient and humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

P.S. On a further consideration of the passage "et l'utilité dont elle et ses dependances à Madagascar pourraient être à Port Jackson, I think it insinuates, that I wished to ascertain whether the value and convenience of these colonies were such as to make an attempt upon them from Port Jackson advisable. That I could have no such idea will be evident from what is already said; and those who know the nature of the settlement at Port Jackson, its strength, and relative situation to the Isle of France and Madagascar, will think this notion to ridiculous to require an answer.

Paper No. 1
inclosed

Inclosed in the preceding letter
Extract from Governor Kings orders* to me
And as you agree with me that the Cumberland colonial schooner of 29 tons, built here, is capable of performing the voyage to England by way of Torres' Strait, and it being essential to the furthering His Majestys service that you should reach England by the most prompt conveyance
* General De Caen saw these orders and I believe took a copy of them

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prompt conveyance, with your charts and journals, I have directed the commissary to make over that vessel to you, with her furniture &c.
You will proceed to England by the route you may judge most advisable and beneficial for forwarding His Majestys service.
In case any unforseen circumstance should prevent the accomplishment of the voyage in the Cumberland, you will take such measures as may appear most conducive to the interest of His Majestys service, either by selling the vessel or letting her for freight at the Cape or elsewhere, if any merchants chuse to send proper officers and men to conduct her back: And in the event of your being obliged to dispose of her, you will account with His Majestys principal secretary of state for the colonies for the proceeds.

Paper No. 2.
inclosed

Paper No.2. Extract from the passport
    Le Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies ordonne, en conséquence, à tous les commandants etc. de laisser passer librement, et sans empêchement la dite Corvette Investigator, ses officiers, équipage, et effets; pendant la durée de leur voyage, de leur permettre d'aborder dans les differents ports de la Republique, tant en Europe que dans les autres parties du monde, soit qu'ils soient forcés par le mauvais tems d'y chercher un refuge, soit qu'ils viennent y reclamer les secours et les moyens de réparation nécessaires pour continuer leur voyage. Il est bien entendu, cependant, qu'ils ne trouveront ainsi protection et assistance, que dans le cas où ils ne se seront pas volontairement détournés de la route qu'ils doivent suivre, qu'ils n'auront commis, ou qu'ils n'annonceront l'intention de commettre, aucune hostilité contre la Republique Française et ses alliés

Paper No. 3.
Inclosed

Paper No. 3. Extrait d'une lettre adressée par le capitaine Baudin, commandant en chef l'expédition de Découvertes à son ami à l'isle de France.

À bord du Géographe, Nouvelle Hollande Port Jackson, le 12 Fre. an 11

..... après avoir parcouru la mer en différentes directions pendant 9 mois de suite, à compter du départ de Timor, je me suis rendu au Port Jackson pour passer les tems de l'hivernage. Le scorbut avait

[Page 192]
-but avait à cette époque fait des progrès si rapides, que je n'avais plus que douze hommes en état de faire le service quand je suis arrivé dans cette colonie. Les secours qu'on nous a prodigués, les soins affectueux et complaisants du gouverneur King, sa conduite constante, ses procédés sans example tout enfin a fait que les suites de cette maladie ne nous ont pas été aussi funeste que la premiere, quoique la cause n'en fut pas moins grave. Je ne puis passer sous silence un trait d'humanité au quel notre situation a donné lieu: Voici le fait
à notre arrivée au Port Jackson au nombre de cent soixante personnes, les ressources en bled etaient peu abondantes, une grande inondation et le débordement de la riviere d'Oxbury ayant détruit en partie la récolte, qu'on etait à la veille de faire, celle pour l'avenir encore incertaine et éloignée, n'etait pas une circonstance heureuse pour nous; Cependent nous fumes parfaitement accueillis, et dès que nos besoins présents et à venir furent connus, un réglement provisoire diminua de suite la moietié de la ration qui se donnait journellement aux habitants et à la garnison. Le gouverneur, l'administration, et les officiers militaires donnerent le premier exemple de cette générosité qui fut aussitôt imitée par les autres individus. Nous etions non seulement des étrangers; mais encore en état de guerre, car les nouvelles de la paix n'etaient pas encore connues.
Je me suis procuré une petite goelette de 30 tonneaux que etc.
The brother of captain Baudin, commander of a Danish vessel from Franquebar, visited me in prison more than once. A letter he had received from Port Jackson spoke still higher if possible, of the handsome treatment his brother had met with from governor King and the officers of that colony. This letter was published in the Madras gazette, he thought, in December 1803. He repeated a passage of it to me from recollection, to this effect "On the "publication of my voyage, I shall think it my first duty to pay the debt of gratitude "to governor King, to the officers and inhabitants of this colony, for such very "liberal and almost unparalleled treatment."

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Paper No. 4
inclosed in
No. 133 to M.
Fleurieu

Paper No.4. Certificate
Je soussigné, medecin en chef, certifie avoir visité Mr. Flinders, capitaine Anglais, prisonnier au jardin Despeaux. Depuis trois ans il est attaqué de coliques néphrétiques; et souvent ses urines charrient des graviers, et beaucoup de glaires. Il se plaint que ses incommodités s'augmentent tous les jours. Ce dépérissement de sa santé est une suite necessaire du défaut d'exercise et de la dissipation, auquel il est forcé, et de la mélancholie qui s'est emparée de son esprit. Il a perdu le goût du travail de cabinet, qu'il aimait beaucoup; desorte qu'il est tombé dans une inactivité de ses facultés phisiques et morales qui le conduit à un etat d'hypocondrie, qui lui ôte l'appetit, le sommeil, affaiblit la circulation, dont suivent des secretions vitiées, lentes; des engorgements dans tous les couloirs et surtout dans les reins, qui étaient primitivement malades; il parait s'affecter chaque jour d'avantage de la durée de sa detention. Il est instant de prevenir l'augmentation de ses maux; et il devient essential d'assurer la conservation d'un homme, dont les travaux doivent servir aux progrès des sciences, et à l'utilité de ses semblables. Je déclare qu'il a besoin d'aller vivre sur une habitation, avec la liberté de parcourir une certaine etendue, afin qu'il prenne tous les jours l'exercice du cheval; il lui faut le choix d'un domicile, où il puisse trouver, de la dissipation, un bon air, et les ressources de la societé.
J'ai visité aussi Monsieur Aken, autre prisonnier Anglais, officier sur la navire de Mr. Flinders. Cet individu a été malade a l'hopital .... Il est fort affaible; il a besoin surtout d'un règime tonique: le sejour à la compagne est un des meilleurs moyens de restauration, qui puisse lui servir. Ces deux personnes paraissent etre fort attachées l'une à l'autre; et leur liaison cimentée par une longue habitude, et une communauté de dangers et de peines dans un voyage de decouvertes, leur rend plus utile encore leur socièté mutuelle; il leur sera profitable d'etre tous deux en cautionnement sur la même habitation.
Au port N.O. le 29 nivose an. 13. (Signé) Laborde D.M.

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At the time this certificate was presented to the general De Caën, the master of the Investigator and myself [here is inserted in pencil, possibly by Flinders' - 'M. Flinders and J. Aken'] had been prisoners 13 months. The certificate was sent back to the physician with an absolute denial to comply with it, and a reprimand to the doctor for interfering with what did not concern him. Some months before this time I had to dread the loss of one eye. The original cause of this was probably the great use I had for many years made of it in taking astronomical observations; but unusual collections of bile upon the stomach, from want of exercise much hastened I: these being removed, it is much recovered.
On first arriving in this island I was ['I was' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'these two officers were'] in a weak state, and had ['and had' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'particularly the commander, who had] scorbutic sores upon my ['my' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'his'] feet and ankles. M. Chapotin, a skilful young surgeon attended me ['me' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'him'] near three months, and by his care and a vegetable diet I ['I' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'he'] recovered. So soon as I ['I' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'he'] was able to walk he ['he' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'M. Chapotin'] spoke to the general to let me ['me' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'him'] go out in the fresh air and take some exercise to correct the diseased state of the blood but it was refused. Mr. Chapotin was under too much apprehension of the generals displeasure to give me ['me' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders with 'him'] a certificate of the necessity of taking air and exercise, nor do I ['do I' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'does he'] know in what terms he made ['he made' is omitted in pencil, possibly by Flinders] the representation, but I have his ['but I have his' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'was made, but he has M. C's'] word that an application was made and refused. Before four months Mr. Aken and myself ['Mr. Aken and myself' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'the two officers'] were removed, at the kind application of captain Bergeret,* to the Maison Despeaux, where the officer, prisoners of war, were confined. Here we ['we' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'they'] had a piece of ground to walk in, and the society of several of our ['our' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'their'] countrymen: and here we ['we' is replaced in pencil, possibly by Flinders, with 'they'] have remained 12 months except when Mr. Aken has been at the hospital, as he is at present. ['March 11. 1805' has been added in pencil, possibly by Flinders].

* Captain Bergeret had been taken in the last war in La Virginie, after a brave defence, by Sir Edward Pellew. The generous conduct of Sir Edward, operating upon a grateful and honest heart, produced me a warm friend; and my misfortunes have brought me some others amongst the inhabitants of this island.

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Paper No. 5
inclosed in
No. 133 to M.
Fleurieu

Extract from a letter written to governor King from
Wreck Reef, before the pumps of the Cumberland were very bad
Cumberland at sea September 24. 1803

..... From her want of breadth, the Cumberland is exceedingly crank, so that if there is not room to run before the sea, she must lie to in a double reefed-top sail breeze; she has also been very leaky, and in one hour-and-halfs cessation from pumping, the water washed over the cabin floor, but I believe it is wholly owing to the straining. We have hitherto been very uncomfortable, and dry only when at anchor. I am now sitting on the lee locker, with my knees up to my chin for a table to write on, and in momentary expectation of the sea coming down the companion and skylight, for they have broken me two panes of glass out of four, already.
Sept. 27, I wish much that the Cumberland* had been broader, for the sake of the projector, the builder, myself, and you who have been so kind as to give her up to my convenience. We lose much time from inability to carry sail: the Rolla** is generally under three top sails, with one of them aback, but this is in strong breezes only; in light winds, such as I expect from Torres Strait to near the Cape, I think we should get on at least as fast as a ship. My present intention is to go on to the Cape or until I meet with a more expeditious conveyance, when I think of qu[i]tting the Cumberland and embracing it. I fear the strong westerly winds near the Channel, but still more dislike the loss of time to writing and chart drawing from hence to England, for in the Cumberland it will, as to these material objects be an entire loss: Writing here is like writing on horse back in a rainy day, and much worse than in the Norfolk sloop:***Latitude now 28.S. Longitude 155 1/2oE. - Octo. 7 We anchored under the lee of Wreck Reef at four this afternoon, being six weeks today since I left it in the boat..... Never were three cheers more heartily given than those I received on landing at the bank; and the expressions of

* She is the first vessel built at Port Jackson that ever attempted to make a voyage to Europe.
** In this ship the officers and people on Wreck reef were taken to China, and from thence to England in different ships, as they could be accommodated.
*** Of 25 tons, in which I made the first circumnavigation of Van Diemens Land in 1798 and 1799.

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-sions of their joy did not stop here, they must fire a salute of 11 guns also, having got the carronades on shore.
The poor Porpoise is still whole, a monument of our misfortune.

Letter No. 134
with that to
M. Fleurieu
inclosed

To William Marsden Esqr. Admiralty Office London
Isle of France March 13. 1805
(Duplicate May 16. 1805)

Sir
I inclose to you for their Lordships information, the copy of a letter I have addressed to Mr. Fleurieu, a man celebrated for his knowledge of, and services in the cause of, those pursuits to which my voyage of discovery was directed. This letter is occasioned by having just seen in the Moniteur of July 11. 1804 a statement of the reasons which have induced general De Caën to make me a prisoner in this island, and an apparent approval of his conduct on the part of the French government.
In troubling their Lordships with a copy of this letter, I have been actuated with the desire, both to undeceive them in the erroneous insinuations given of my intentions in touching here, and that, if the French government shall determine to keep me confined in this island or to take away my charts, books, and papers, their Lordships may be able, if it shall seem to them expedient, to expose to the public such a gross violation of public faith and the rights of humanity, more particularly conspicuous after the recent friendly reception of the French ships Geographe and Naturaliste at Port Jackson, of which the Paper No. 3 is a testimony as honourable to governor King and the British nation, as my imprisonment is disgraceful to general De Caen and the French.
In my letter to Mr. Fleurieu, I have treated the reasons given in the Moniteur for detaining me, as being the true and only reasons that existed, but I have partly come to a knowledge of some others which appear to have had more influence on this general's conduct, and I think upon the French government also, than any thing alleged in the Moniteur, or than will be made public. The Geographe sailed from

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from this this island for France only one day before my arrival in the Cumberland. In her, Monsieur Barrois, brother-in-law of general De Caën was sent with dispatches, the war having been then some time known. So conscious was the general that he was acting contrary to the nature of their Lordships passport to the Geographe, that Monsieur Barrois was sent on board in disguise, no person being then acquainted with the circumstance but the captain of the ship and the confidential officers of the general. On this account, my arrival here occasioned some alarm, and it was expedient to detain me here a while, lest I should give information of the circumstance, and the Geographe be detained by our cruizers. But it was forseen, that the act of detaining me might cause the very thing it was desired to avoid, if the British government, or any of our men of war, got knowledge of it; therefore to prevent this, an embargo was laid on all foreign ships for about ten days, by which time the Geographe would be well ahead of the information.
My interpretation of the facts here mentioned may be liable to error, but the facts themselves I have upon good authority; and they sufficiently shew, that the Geographes passport was as little respected as the Investigators. This forms a striking contrast to their Lordships care in not sending any letter or dispatch on board the Investigator but what related to her voyage, and in ordering (by letter of July 16. 1801) that not even private letters should be put on board. That I had dispatches on board the Cumberland from governor King cannot be any infringement on neutrality; for no intelligence of the war had or could arrive at Port Jackson until several months afterwards. These dispatches have been seized with my books, and most probably have been violated.
In this inclosed letter I did not think it advisable to notice any of these circumstances, nor, perhaps, will their Lordships until such time as the determination of the French government concerning my books, papers, and myself, is known.
If my former letters from this island are received, especially those of March 16. July 11. and Dec. 30, last, their Lordships will be acquainted

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be acquainted with all the leading circumstances attending my confinement; and I trust they will find my conduct in such an embarrassing situation to have been becoming a British officer; although, if subsequent transactions could have been foreseen, I might have acted with somewhat more caution on putting in at the Isle of France. I have learnt a lesson concerning French passports and politics, that will require some very exemplary acts of justice and disinterestedness on their part to wipe out of my memory.
My letter to Mr. Fleurieu was accompanied by a recommendotory letter from the contre-amiral Linois, the naval commander in chief, whose sentiments upon my imprisonment I have the pleasure to know are in direct opposition to those of general De Caën
I am Sir
your most obedient servt.
 Mattw. Flinders

Letter No. 135

To the Revd. Dr. Maskyline Astronomer Royal
Isle of France May 13th. 1805

Sir
A copy of your obliging letter of Oct. 6th. 1803. reached me here a few weeks since in an odd manner. It was returning back from Port Jackson in the ship Coromandel which was taken and brought in here by a French privateer. The person who had the letter took a copy, which I have got, but the original was taken away by the French and they have not thought proper to give it to me. In this island they are at war with science, as well as against England.
I have prepared for the Admiralty some papers relating to the latitude, longitude and variation observed upon the coasts of New Holland, or Australia, which, as I think you may wish to see them, I shall request of the Admiralty to put into your hands, on application. If circumstances should permit, it is my intention, to prepare for your Board a proper account of our observations, but this being not done,

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not done, I apprehend you will find something to be extracted from those papers which may be acceptable both to you and the Board. Should the Admiralty intend publishing them, with the charts, before my arrival in England, I would beg of you Sir, as a friend of science, and may I add a friend to me, to examine and correct them; Be pleased to consider me as a young man anxious to be useful, but whose desire outstrips his knowledge. Perhaps it will be too much for you to correct these papers, in which case a person will perhaps be mentioned by you to the Admiralty who is capable of deciding how far I have been correct in speaking of the sp[h]eroidal form of the earth in the chapter of latitude, and of magnetism in the chapter upon the variation; and who will make the papers fit for the public.
Some of the tables in the chapter of longitude require to be filled up from the rough observation book of my brother Lt. Flinders. A line from you, Sir, directed to him at his and my agents (Mr. Standert Norfolk St. Strand) would either bring him or his book to you, and the table could be easily filled up, But if the publication of the papers should not be intended, I can complete them at a future time.
Had this opportunity of conveyance given me more time, after the received of your letter, I should not have left you the trouble of copying out of the papers what you think may be acceptable to the board. I should have sent you a more minute account of every thing there contained, as well as of the affect of land and sea winds upon the barometer during our circumnavigation of Australia.
Of all the instruments &c. left by Mr. Crosley, the four feet hand perspective and the time keeper No. 520 were alone remaining with me when I parted with Mr. Inman, as you will see by his receipt inclosed; and since that, the French have taken away the hand perspective, though they left me the time keeper. I now send by Mr. John Aken, late master of the Investigator, the time keeper No. 520, to be delivered into your hands, and his receipt is inclosed. It is a valuable piece, as you will perceive in my chapter in longitude.
I know not, Sir, whether you would unite with Sir Joseph Banks to prevail upon the First Lord of the Admiralty for an application to be made to the French government for my release; but if something

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if something is not done I stand a chance of ending my days here, if the war is not soon terminated. I do not trouble you with the peculiar hardships, and injustice I have suffered in this island from the stupidity and groundless suspicions of this French captain-general, for they must be known in England before this time; but conclude with assuring Dr. Maskyline of the greatest respect and consideration
from his faithful and obedient servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No. 136

To William Marsden Esqr. Admiralty Office London
Mauritius May 13. 1805

Sir
Having yet no prospect of being set at liberty from my imprisonment in this island, and fearing that my books and papers should be again taken from me, I forward to you, for their Lordships information, such charts &c. relating to the Investigators voyage as I have been able to complete to this time, by Mr. John Aken late master of the Investigator, who has very unexpectedly obtained his release, as a prisoner of war on parole. I beg to refer their Lordships to him for any information they may wish concerning the extraordinary treatment I have received in this island.
The roll of charts consists of all the originals of my surveys not indeed quite complete, but they might be published if necessary without much being wrong in them. I began a memoir to accompany the charts, lest their Lordships should not think proper to have the whole voyage of the Investigator published, and I transmit such part as is already written, though it is in a crude state, and will require to be corrected by some qualified person if it should be published before my arrival. By the next good conveyance the remainder of the memoir will be transmitted.
Not having been able to make out an account of our astronomical observations for the Board of Longitude, I beg of their Lordships to let these sheets of the memoir be communicated to Dr. Maskyline on account of the Board; and if it should be intended to publish them, with the charts, it is probable he will either take the

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take the trouble to examine them, or point out some proper person who will
My log books having been nearly destroyed at the shipwreck of the Porpoise, I have made out a new and enlarged copy of the principal part which is herewith transmitted lest it should be taken away. The remainder of the voyage, if I can obtain my latter journals from the French general, will follow so soon as a safe opportunity offers after it is completed.
My last letter (of March 13. 1805) contained some details concerning the secret cause of my imprisonment, and also the copy of a long letter written to Monsieur Fleurieu, praying him to influence the French government to order me to France that my conduct might undergo investigation; for although I believe General De Caën has received some orders concerning me, his haughtiness will not communicate anything that, by raising a hope of liberty, might alleviate my situation. I remain shut up with the prisoners of war without notice, and it has now continued seventeen months.
Deprived of all opportunity of benefiting by the war from my passport and the nature of my employment, I am suffering one of the greatest disadvantages that attends it, a long imprisonment; and this after having undergone all the fatigues and dangers, of a voyage of discovery, including a shipwreck in an unknown sea. I trust their Lordships will consider the great hardships of my situation, and that I am yet upon the Commanders list
I have desired Mr Aken to make the best of his way with the charts and papers intrusted to his care; and I am induced to hope that the expenses of his passage from hence will be allowed him; for although, from the liberality of the Americans they will be very small, probably not exceeding £35 or 40 yet his losses at the shipwreck incapacitate him from bearing them without great inconvenience.
If their Lordships should have any commands or communication to make to me here, Mr. Aken will have laid a train of correspondence by the way of America, through which they can be conveyed.
I am Sir, your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders
P.S. I have given into Mr. Akens charge such of the Cumberlands people as could

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-ple as could get leave to depart. If the loss of the schooner and my conduct here should be the subject of a court martial, they will be required as evidences.
Order No. 21

To Mr. John Aken, acting master of His Majestys sloop Investigator borne upon the Cumberlands books for a passage to England, but detained at the Isle of France

Sir
The undermentioned people borne upon the Cumberlands books, having obtained permission of the French government to depart, you are hereby required to receive them into your charge, and making the best of your way to England, report the same to the secretary of the Admiralty, and wait for their Lordships orders.
Given under my hand in prison at the
Isle of France this 14 day of May 1805

Mattw. Flinders

Orig. entry from Porpoise	Appearance	Ticket	Names	Quality	Discharge	For what reason	Navy charge
1803 July 22	Oct.9.1803	B.No.3	John Aken	Acting master	May14.1805	To Amer. ship James for a passage to England	None
July 21	"	B.No.2	George Alder	Car. mate	"	"	"

Letter No. 137
Loss of vouchers
&c. at the
shipwreck

To the Commissioners for taking care of sick and hurt seamen London
Isle of France May 14. 1805

Gentlemen
I have to inform you, that at the wreck of His Majestys armed vessel Porpoise, many of the accounts of the Investigator were lost; amongst others, the vouchers to your board for £20. 10. 8 paid to Thomas Jamison Esqr. at Port Jackson, July 26. 1803 for medical attendance, and expenses incurred by eleven sick men landed at the colonial hospital. This was the only money for which bills were drawn upon your board by
Gentlemen
your obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders
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Letter No. 138

To the Honble. the Commissioners of His Majestys Navy London
Isle of France May 15. 1805

Gentlemen
I have to inform you, that seeing no prospect of being released from my imprisonment in this island, I have forwarded to you by Mr. John Aken, acting master of the Investigator, the remainder of the astronomical and other instruments in my charge, which were saved at the shipwreck of the Porpoise, and were not taken from me here. A list of them is inclosed, agreeable to which they will be delivered to the maker to be repaired, or to whomsoever you shall appoint, by my agent Mr. Standert; after which I beg to be exonerated from all charge concerning them. Should their Lordships send me out upon discovery hereafter these same instruments, after being repaired, would again serve; except the time keeper which seems to be totally spoiled.
My books, papers, and accounts were all taken away with the Cumberland on my first arrival here, but I have since obtained several of them, and amongst the rest monthly muster books for the Investigator for the months of April and May June and July 1803, when the books were closed, and which I herewith forward; together with the only two counterparts of discharge tickets which are not taken out of my possession by the French.
Many papers were lost in the shipwreck of the Porpoise, particularly the warrant officers expenses &c. of the Investigator; but I transmit by this conveyance all that were saved, and in a little time I expect they will make their appearance in your office.
A muster paper for the Cumberland is also inclosed herewith; and I am to observe, the French government only call her detained, not taken a prize. Those men who have gone away from hence with my permission are discharged, by certificate, when an oppertunity of conveying it to them offered.
Since my bills of July 12. and 19. 1802, from Port Jackson of which vouchers were transmitted, no bills have been drawn by me upon your board except bills for personal pay up to April 15. 1805
I am Gentlemen
your humble obedient servant
Mattw. Flinders

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Letter No. 139
Loss of vouchers
and bills drawn

To the Commissioners for victualling His Majestys Navy London
Isle of France May 13. 1805

Gentlemen
I herewith transmit you a voucher for provisions purchased at Timor for His Majestys armed tender Cumberland, in which I was passing from Port Jackson to England after the wreck of the Porpoise.
Of all the bills drawn by me in the Investigator, vouchers have been transmitted to your Board, except two of the three following.
For £100. 19. 9. for saving of bread from the ships company drawn in favour of Mr. S. Lord June 17. 1803
For 116. 0 for two pipes of port wine on account of the sick drawn in favour of J. Palmer Esq. Commissary general July 10. 1803 and for 70. 16. 8 for fresh meat and vegetables at Port Jackson drawn in favour of Mr. Matthew Kearns July 21. 1803
Two of these have been wholly lost in the shipwreck, together with a considerable number of other important papers relating to your Board. Those that I have saved from the wreck, and afterwards from the hands of the French, I transmit to my agent Mr. Standert by this conveyance, and they will probably appear in your office before long.
I have the honour to be, gentlemen,
your obedient servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No. 140
Mr. Aken to be
put upon the
list of masters

To the Commissioners of His Majestys Navy - London
    Isle of France May 15. 1805

Gentlemen
By your letter to me of May 27. 1801 you were pleased to say, that if I should succeed in obtaining a master for the Investigator, although he should "be one who has not passed his examination at the Trinity House for "master, he shall nevertheless be allowed every privilege of master, and put on "the list the date of his warrant, upon undergoing the necessary examination "after his return from the voyage."
I beg leave to inform you, that after the loss of Mr. John Thistle upon the

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upon the south coast of Australia, who had been prevailed upon to go the voyage upon the above conditions, I found Mr. John Aken chief mate of the ship Hercules at Port Jackson, who accepted the situation upon any promise to obtain for him the same indulgence. My acting order was dated August 12. 1802, and as he has conducted himself to my satisfaction, I trust your honourable board will have no objection to putting him upon the list of masters from that time, after he has passed his examination at the Trinity House; and I beg leave to recommend him, as a sober, diligent and trusty officer; and to add, that should the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty send me upon a similar voyage to that of the Investigator, it is my present intention to apply for him as master, should it be then as agreeable to him as it appears to be now, therefore, in case he should be appointed to any ship before my arrival, I hope it will be one not likely to go abroad, and that you will make this known to the captain of the ship to which he may be appointed; this I mention as well from his desire as my own
I am, Gentlemen
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No. 141
with paper
on the variation
of the compass

To the Rt. Honble. Sir Joseph Banks Bt. K.B. President of the Royal Society
Isle of France June 30. 1805

Sir
About twelve months since I sent you a short account of some observations of the variation of the compass, made upon the coasts of New Holland and New South Wales during my examination of them in His Majestys ship the Investigator, which shewed the variation to differ considerably on an alteration being made in the direction of the ships head; since that time, I have further digested these observations, and, as far as a slight knowledge upon the subject of magnetism, and my present confinement, which precludes access to further information, will permit, have brought my opinion upon the cause of these differences towards maturity. As these alterations in the variation were considerable, and attended with more regularity than might have been expected, the investigation of them is likely to prove interesting to philosophical and

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-sophical and nautical science; and should you judge the following account, or any part of it deserving the attention of the learned society over which you preside, you will do me the favour of presenting such part as may be deemed worthy of that honour.
(Here followed a copy of the chapter upon the variation from my log book Vol. No. 2 with the insertion of another table, and such small alterations as the address to Sir Joseph required different from that to the public.)
I am, Sir Joseph
your most obedient humble servant
   Mattw. Flinders

Letter No. 142
Request to make
observations on
the variation

To John Osborn Esqr. Captain of H.M.S. Tremendous, and comdr. of the squadr.
Isle of France July 1805

Sir
Not doubting but the interest you take in such branches of natural philosophy as tend to the improvement of navigation, will plead my excuse for intruding a private letter upon you, I proceed to state, that from a great many observations for the variation of the compass made on board the Investigator, during my examination of the coasts of New Holland and New South Wales, I have reason to believe, that the following circumstances relative to the magnetic needle generally take place on ship board, within this southern hemisphere.
When the ships head is north or south, the compass will give the variation nearly correct, whether it is on the binnacle or on the fore-castle; but not when in any other direction.
When the ships head is east, a compass on the binnacle will shew too much west variation; and the contrary when it is east.
The differences between variation taken when a ships head is east and when west, is very considerable in high latitudes, as much as 8o or 10o; and off this island will probably be not less than 3o.
The mean of the variation at east and west, will be equal to that taken when the ships head is north, or south.
The variations at north-east will be the same nearly as those

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as those at south-east, and both will be too much westwardly: as much so, as those at north-west and south-west will be too little: therefore, the mean of those taken at north-east and north-west will be the correct variation; as will the mean of those at south-east and south-west; and the same of any equal number of points on each side of the magnetic meridian.
All these alterations take place in a compass upon the binnacle, while in the southern magnetic hemisphere; for it does not appear to be the proximity of the ship to the poles of the earth, but to the magnetic poles, that causes these differences; the quantities therefore, are not proportionate to the latitude, but to the dip of the needle, or the magnetic latitude.
In the northern hemisphere, the whole of theses differences in the variation are reversed; the greatest west variation will then be found when the ships head is westward, and the least when eastward.
The cause of all these changes seems to be, that there is a point in the middle of the ship which attracts the south end of the needle on the south side, and the north end on the north side of the magnetic equator; which, if true, must cause a compass placed on the forecastle to err a different way to one on the binnacle; but of this I have but few examples. Upon the booms, at two or three feet before the main mast, the variation should always be correct, the compass being there directly over the attractive point; and perhaps it will be so on the taffrel, from being out of the sphere of its attraction.
My imprisonment in this island is likely to prevent me from prosecuting this and some other enquires for a considerable time; and as I think, Sir, you will have pleasure in forwarding a subject interesting both to navigation and natural philosophy, I beg leave to point out a short series of experiments, upon which, as a basis, a theory perhaps more satisfactory than one I have lately submitted to the president of the Royal Society, may be formed.
Let azimuths [82] by two or more compasses be taken upon the binnacle, upon the booms near the main mast, and upon the mid ship part of the forecastle, with the ships head in the direction of each of the eight principal points of the compass, or the sixteen if it can be done.

[Page 208]
They would be best taken at an anchor with a spring upon the cable, and so long as they are all taken in or near the same place, it is not material that they should be all taken in the same day or week.
Those compass cards to which the edge of the needle, and not the flat side is fitted, are the best; and if the needles are fitted flat-wise, they should be touched a fresh with magnetic bars before the observations are taken.
Azimuths are best taken by means of the shadow from each end of the vane; because both ends can then be used, and the error in fixing the vane corrected by taking the mean.
The observations upon the binnacle, upon the booms, and upon the forecastle, may be arranged in three separate tables; each of them containing the day and hour of observation, the suns altitude or apparent time, the observed
magnetic azimuth, the variation deduced, the number or mark of the compass, the name of the observer, the direction of the ships head, some remark upon the steadiness of the ship and the comparitive goodness of each observation; and at the conclusion, the latitude and longitude of the place of observation and the dip of the needle if it can be obtained.
This series would be almost the whole of what is necessary to be taken in one place, and the more places they could be repeated in, the better, as far as to every ten degrees of the dip of each end of the needle.
I find the variation in the garden of this prison to be 11o. 42'1/2 West.
If you would be so obliging as to cause some observations similar to the above, to be taken as opportunity offered, by one or more careful officers, either on board the Tremendous, or any other ship of your squadron, and the better if on board two different ships, it would be conferring a favour upon me, and be of service to nautical science. In this island, I can scarcely expect to receive any communication you might do me the honour to make; but at my agents, Mr. Standert of Norfolk St. in the Strand, they would be safely deposited until my present imprisonment shall be concluded, and if the observations were accompanied with such of your remarks as they would undoubtedly excite in a mind possessing your discrimination, their value would be greatly enhanced: May I beg of you, to present my friendly remembrances to captain Vashon, and to accept the assurances of consideration and respect, with which I am, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

[Page 209]
Letter No. 143
on the ill success
of the governor
generals application for my release

To J. Lumsden Esq. Chief Secretary to the Bengal government
Isle of France July 6. 1805

Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 4. last which came to my hands twelve days after its arrival, with the seal broken. I request you will make known to His Excellency the Governor General the grateful sense I entertain of his application to the French captain-general [Decaen] of this island in my favour and the interest he does me the honour to express for my unprecedented situation.
Although the application has not succeeded in obtaining my liberation, it has been the cause of my receiving a piece of information which is a considerable relief to the anxious state of suspence in which I have been mostly
kept for nineteen months; and when compared with the mortifying circumstances of degradation and neglect which I have been obliged to undergo, shines forth as a conspicuous honour, and an act of humanity.
Mr. Bernard, secretary to general De Caën, writes to me thus, - "les "motifs de votre detention ayant été de nature à être soumis au gouvernement "Français, le capitaine général ne peut, avant qu'il ait reçu reponse, rien "changer à la mesure qui a été prise à votre egard."
My present situation is exactly the same as when I did myself the honour of addressing a letter to His Excellency, the marquis, in May 1804; and unless it is through the friendly interference of captain Bergeret, there seems to be no prospect of an intermission in its strictness. The arrival of dispatches from France may, indeed, be speedy; but when it is considered, that both the European and Indian seas are covered with British cruizers, and that it is fourteen months since the letters of general De Caën announced my detention and no decisive answer has yet been returned; it will be evident that my hopes of early liberty ought not to be very sanguine; even though it should be supposed, that the French government have neither forgotten the subject, nor intend to continue my imprisonment.
As far as lay in my power, I have endeavoured to obviate the ill effects of my detention to the service in which I was engaged, by completing such charts, books, and papers, relating to my voyage, as the intercession of captain Bergeret, was able to obtain for me, and transmitting them by occasional opportunities to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty

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of the Admiralty; and I have the pleasure to add, that a very material part of them are now on their way.
 With the assurance of my consideration I beg of you, Sir, to accept my acknowledgements for the obliging terms in which you conveyed to me the sentiments of the most noble governor general
I have the honour to be, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant
Matthw. Flinders

Letter No. 144
Situation in the
Isle of France
described

To Rear admiral Sir Edward Pellew Bart. Commander in chief of His Majestys ships in the Indian Seas
Isle of France July 8. 1805

Sir,
It will not be unknown to you, that I commanded His Majestys sloop Investigator, and was employed to examine the coasts of New South Wales and New Holland, being furnished with a passport by the first consul of France, to prevent the interruption of the voyage. The Investigator was found to be in a very advanced state of decay by the time this service was half finished, and I embarked at Port Jackson on board His Majestys armed vessel Porpoise for England, with my officers and people, as passengers, in order to lay my charts and journals before the admiralty, and to obtain another ship to complete the voyage; The Porpoise being wrecked upon a coral reef in the night, 730 miles from Port Jackson, I afterwards embarked in the Cumberland, a small schooner of 29 tons; and having seen my officers and people on board the ship Rolla bound to China, continued my course to England by the near route of Torres' Strait, for the sake of greater expedition.
The little schooner proved to be leaky in her upper works, and the pumps became so much worn by use, that the chambers were too large for the boxes, and they would no longer discharge the water. In this state, I thought it necessary to put in at the Isle of France, to get the vessel caulked, the pumps fresh bored and fitted, and to obtain water and refreshments, previous to attempting the passage round the Cape of Good Hope. His Excellency governor King, who furnished me with the schooner, left the choice of the route home wholly to me, but expressed his wish that I should make the passage from Timor to the Cape without touching at Mauritius. On this account, I thought it proper to state

[Page 211]
to state the reasons in my log book that induced me to put in here, as well as the hope I had of disposing of the schooner and obtaining a more safe and expeditious passage to England with my books and papers, on board some ship bound to Europe, which you will see, in the accompanying paper No. 1, I was authorized to do.
In such places as I might touch at on the passage home, governor King had requested me to make inquiries concerning the eligibility of sending there to purchase cattle for the colony at Port Jackson, and being unacquainted with the renewal of the war, I therefore said in my log book, as near as my memory serves "that it would enable me to make myself acquainted with the present state "of that colony, and the nature of the periodical winds; whether it or its "dependencies in Madagascar could be of use to Port Jackson in supplying it "conveniently and cheaply with cattle, and whether it would be a good place for "me to touch at in the future part of my voyage." It is to be observed, that I was a perfect stranger to the Isle of France, nor had I any books to inform me what naval supplies, refreshments, and conveniences it might be able to afford, - what was the usual route taken to Port North-West, or whether there was not some particular season of the year when hurricanes made it dangerous to approach the island: it was this latter kind of information I alluded to in mentioning periodical winds.
At the conclusion of my reasons for putting in at Mauritius, I said, "add to "all this, the possability of a war between the two nations; in which case, I may "save myself from being made a prisoner by preferring Mauritius to the Cape of "Good Hope, for I have a passport from the French, though none from the Dutch "government." The possibility of a war would naturally strike any man who had been a stranger to European politics for twelve months, as I was at that time; but so little did I think of the probability of a renewal of hostilities, that I did not even advert to the circumstance of my passport mentioning the Investigator only, and my plan was wholly arranged upon the supposition of peace.
On my arrival, the schooner was seized, the ten people in her, besides myself, were made prisoners, and the whole of my charts and papers, both public and private, taken away. It is unnecessary to enter into a detail of the degrading and contemptuous treatment I was made to undergo. It was no small addition, that I could not learn specifically what charges were brought against me, to cause such a singular infraction of a passport, that ought to be the pledge of national faith; an infraction that

[Page 212]
-tion that becomes the more remarkable, from the service in which I was engaged being so wholly foreign to war, from my having so lately escaped the hardships and extreme danger of shipwreck, and being in a distressed state at the time of my arrival; and still more, when compared with the treatment that two French ships upon a similar service, very lately received in the port whence I last came, and of which the annexed paper No. 2, is a testimony as honourable to the British, as my imprisonment is disgraceful to the French nation.
In a state of uncertainty and anxious suspence, sickly for want of exercise, and unable to obtain any answer to my letters, in some of which I applied to be sent to France to be tried, I have remained shut up nineteen months. A French gazette (the Moniteur of July 11. 1804) gives me the first certain information of the charges against me, it says "Mr. Flinders ne faisant que soupçonner la "guerre se hazarda &c (See page 185 and 186 preceding.)
From what I have before said, Sir Edward, you will be able to perceive how, by omitting the state of the schooner and the want of refreshments, by transpositions and misrepresentation, my plain intentions, formed upon the suppostion of its being peace, are made to wear an appearance of disguise and hostility. That my passport was not for the Cumberland is most true; but how a people laying claim to reason and humanity can make that a plea for detaining me with my books and papers, it seems difficult to conceive. Could it be for a moment supposed, that the governor of Port Jackson would have made the commander of the Geographe and his people prisoners, had they been shipwrecked on the coasts of New Holland, and got to Port Jackson either in their boats, or a vessel they might have built? That would indeed have been adding to the misfortunes of the unfortunate. To have said that they had had a passport, but it was lost; - to have said that they had been employed upon a voyage of discovery (a neutral occupation for the common benefit of all maritime nations) and been shipwrecked, would have obtained them the compassion and kindly assistance of governor King, and of every man whose national antipathy was not superior to the feelings of his heart, and to justice. With such, the enemy would be forgotten in the misfortunes of the peaceful discoverer; but not so general De Caen.

[Page 213]
The following extract of a letter from the secretary of the general, written within these few days, in consequence of an application from the marquis Wellesley for my liberation, will give an idea of the prospect before me "Je "desirerais de tout mon coeur que le Capitaine-Général pût acceder à la "demande de son Excellence Monsieur le marquis de Wellesley, mais les motifs "de votre detention ayant été de nature à étré soumis au gouvernement Français "le Capitaine Général ne peut, avant qu'il ait reçu reponse, rien changer à la "mesure qui a été prise à votre egard." When it is considered, that the European and Indian seas are covered with British cruizers, the arrival of French dispatches must be considered precarious; and though they should arrive, it is very doubtful that any order for my release will be contained in them, since, from the misrepresentation of general De Caen, the government appear to approve of my detention.
Such are my present prospects; but I ought to apologise for troubling Sir Edward Pellew with so long a letter. I do not write it with the wish that such French prisoners as fall into your hands should be treated with a proportional degree of rigour; - your humanity would revolt at it, and I should stand condemned in your estimation as a revengeful and selfish brute; nor do I write with much expectation, that you will be able to relieve me, either wholly, or by obtaining a metigation of my confinement; this last I shall perhaps obtain through the means of captain Bergeret, whom your kindness and liberality have made the warm friend of every unfortunate Englishman.
It is perhaps a weakness in human nature, but there is a degree of pleasure in telling our misfortunes when they are not attended with the consciousness of being occasioned by our own vices or follies; such probably, may have been the motive that led me to think of addressing Sir Edward Pellew; I should not, however have adventured to put it in execution, but on the consideration, that my imprisonment involves a question of some national importance with which it was proper the Commander in chief in India should be acquainted; and that, to enable him to employ most officaciously such measures for the relief of a commander in His Majestys service charged with the execution of a particular duty, as circumstances might point out, it was necessary to enter with some minuteness into the detail of the circumstances attending my confinement; and on this account, I trust to be excused

[Page 214]
to be excused for troubling you with so long a letter.
As far as lay in my power, I have endeavoured to obviate the ill effects of my detention to the public service, by completing such charts, books, and papers, relating to my voyage, as the intercession of captain Bergeret was able to obtain for me, and transmitting them by occasional opportunities to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; and I have the pleasure to add, that a very material part of them are now on their way, in the charge of the master of the Investigator, who has been allowed to depart as a prisoner of war on parole. ['End here' is added in pencil, possibly by Flinders]
I have the honour to be, with the most perfect consideration, Sir Edward,
your most obedient and most humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Certificate to Mr Alfred Dale [38] July 9. 1805

This is to certify to the Honble. the Commissioners of His Majestys Navy, and to whom else it may concern, that on April 1. 1804 when I was removed to the Garden Prison in this island, I found here Mr. Alfred Dale midshipman of His Majestys ship Dedaigneuse. From that time to the date hereof, being one year and one hundred days, he has given me assistance in making astronomical calculations, and has made copies of charts relating to my voyage of discovery which have been transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; he has also given me much assistance in comparing various books and papers with the original manuscripts, some of which he has also copied. In consequence of this assiduity, and his general attention to nautical science, he has improved himself, as much probably, as if he had been in a marine academy for an equal length of time. On this account, and in consideration of his imprisonment, I am induced to hope and request, that the Honble. Commissioners will be pleased to allow this time to be included as a part of his six years servitude in His Majestys Navy.
Given under my hand in the Garden Prison
Isle of France this 9th. day of July 1805
Mattw. Flinders Commdr. of H.M.S. Investigator

[Page 215]
Letter No. 145
Ill success of
governor generals
application for my
release

To Wm. Marsden Esq. Admiralty Office London
Isle of France July 9. 1805

Sir
By Mr. John Aken acting master of the Investigator, who, having obtained permission to depart from hence as a prisoner of war on parole, sailed seven weeks since for England by way of America, I forwarded to you for their Lordships information, all my original charts, and my log book for the Investigator up to March 13th. 1803, with some other books; but on examination I find, that no regular account of my proceedings in the Investigator from April 5th. 1803, the date of my letter to their Lordships from Timor, to the time of the condemnation of the Investigator, and the removal of the officers and people into the Porpoise, have been yet sent; in consequence, I herewith forward to you a letter with its inclosures, written by me some time since, but which, from various accidents and circumstances, has not been sent before.*
Of its inclosure No. 1, a reference to my general chart of Australia will afford a considerable elucidation.
The dispatches referred to in the letter, are detained here with me; but duplicates of them will doubtless have arrived at the Admiralty from His Excellency governor King previously to this letter.
In my present situation in this island, no alteration has taken place since my letter of May 13, last, by Mr. Aken. The Thetis cartel, which arrived here from India some days since, with French prisoners, brought from the marquis
Wellesley an application to general De Caen for my release. With a letter from the chief secretary of the government at Bengal containing an extract from
His Excellency the marquis's dispatch, the secretary of the general writes me a letter, of which the principal contents are as follows.
"Je desirerais &c. (See Letter No. 144 page 213 preceding.) All other English prisoners, myself and one man, excepted, are to be sent away to India in the cartel. The continuation of the memoir upon my charts, will be forwarded to their Lordships so soon as an opportunity offers after its completion, and the second volume of my log book will be prepared for their

* See the letter which follows.

[Page 216]
their Lordships inspection on my arrival in England, or forwarded before, if that event should be very long deferred.
 Having so often written upon the harshness and injustice of my detention
in this island, I can at present only entreat their Lordships attention to it; trusting
that such steps as shall seem meet, will be taken in behalf of my liberation.
Had general De Caen allowed me to go to India with the other prisoners, it was my intention to have made application to Rear admiral Sir Edward Pellew [36] for the means of prosecuting the examination of the north-west coast of New Holland before my return to England. The consideration that my charts were
now completed and sent home, and that possibly their Lordships might not chuse to spare a ship from England for this service, during such a war as the present, were the reasons that changed my opinion as to the proper plan of operation since I embarked at Port Jackson to return to Europe. Add to this, also, that I am more confirmed in the opinion, that an opening of considerable importance, perhaps into a mediterranean sea, will be found upon the north-west coast; the actual existence of which I have the greatest anxiety to ascertain, if possible, before the ships of the French, or any other nation, shall visit the coast; and I beg of you Sir, to make known to their Lordships, that if they shall think fit to order a vessel out upon this service immediately, properly provided either from England or India, and can obtain from the French government an order for my
release, I shall be ready to proceed either to the completion of the Investigators voyage, or in the execution of such instructions as their Lordships shall think
proper to give, with the same zeal for His Majestys service as when I sailed in the Investigator, and with a considerable accession of experience.
Herewith I transmit a copy of the orders of His Excellency governor King to me, upon my embarkation in the small schooner Cumberland after the shipwreck of the Porpoise.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter inclosed in the preceding (see the next page)

[Page 217]
Letter inclosed
From leaving
Timor to
quitting the
Investigator

To Sir Evan Nepean Bart. Admiralty Office London
His Majestys ship Investigator July 21. 1803

Sir
I have to inform my Lords Commissioners that I put into Coepang Bay in the island of Timor for the reasons specified in my letter from thence of April 5th. last.
Having refreshed my ships company as far as a weeks stay would allow, I sailed on April 8th for Port Jackson; but although the decayed state of the ship did not allow me to prosecute the examination of the west coast of New Holland in the way, I yet thought to fulfil that part of my instructions, relating to the Trial Rocks and the bank supposed to extend from them towards Timor. My proceedings herein and until our arrival at Port Jackson, are detained in the inclosure No. 1.
The Investigator did not prove very leaky during the passage from Timor, having made no more than five or six inches water per hour; but on arriving here on June 9th. I judged it necessary that she should be surveyed. The inclosure No. 2 is a copy of the report of the survey, by which she stands utterly condemned from further service.
Upon consideration of all the possible ways in which I might be able to continue the examination of New Holland and New South Wales, agreeable to my instructions, it was judged advisable to employ the Porpoise - armed vessel, in this service, with a tender. On her return to port, therefore, she was examined as to her soundness and strength, but her defects were found to be so great that it was not thought expedient we should remain idle until they could be repaired, more especially as from her size and form she would after all be but ill adapted to the service. In conclusion, it was determined between His Excellency the senior officer [Governor P.G. King] and myself, that the Investigators voyage would be best forwarded by my return to England in the Porpoise, both to lay the account before their Lordships of what was already done, and to solicit another ship adequate to the completion of it; and accordingly have this day discharged the Investigators company in compliance with the orders of His Excellency, of which the inclosure No. 3 is a copy.
For a detail of the various circumstances that led to this determination, I beg leave to refer to the papers contained in Governor Kings

[Page 218]
-nor Kings dispatches, on the perusal of which I hope for their Lordships approbation of the measure which has been adopted.
From having been exposed to the whole of the wet monsoon on the north coast of New South Wales, and from the coast not affording refreshments adequate to the labour and exposition of health required in exploring it, the Investigators officers as well as the ships company, became extremely cachetical, and a considerable part were attacked with fluxes and fevers. I am sorry to add, that Mr. Charles Douglas - boatswain, Mr. Peter Good - gardiner and seven of my best men have fallen a sacrifice to the malignity of these diseases. I have appointed Mr. Edwd. Charrington to act as boatswain, of which I hope their Lordships will approve.
The inclosures No. 4 and 5 will explain to their Lordships why and upon what terms I have agreed to leave the naturalist [Robert Brown] and natural-history painter [Ferdinand Bauer] at Port Jackson until my return with another ship, or until their Lordships directions are received concerning them.
I am, Sir
your obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

No. 1 Inclosure

Taking the Trial Rocks to lie in latitude 20o. 40' and longitude 104o.30' E. according to Arrowsmiths large chart of the South sea, I drew a line upon the chart from thence to Timor. On sailing from the latter place I kept on the east side of this line as far as the latitude 16o.15' So., but then steered westward, crossing it, to the longitude 108o.40'east & 18o.0' south. The wind being S.Et.ly I then steered to the S.W.b.S. crossing the line again until we came into the latitude 20o.50' So. at which time we were by supposition, 1o.24' to the east of the rocks and steered westward to make them.
During the whole of this traverse we sounded constantly, and hove to for this purpose four times a day, but without getting any bottom; and although the wind and sea did not allow us to get near so much line up and down as might be wished, yet it is tolerably certain there is no soundings with 100 fms. in any part of our track.
Having ran westward, sounding as before, until our horizon extended to the longitude 104o. east, beyond which I had no expectation of seeing

[Page 219]
of seeing them, we then hauled back to the eastward keeping a little to the north of 20o.40'; but by the time we reached 107o east longitude the direction of the wind had altered so much to the eastward of south that we could only lie N.E.b.E. Our latitude was then 20o.15' south and I tacked to the southward. The state of the ship, with the approach of the winter season, and the sickly state of my people made it imprudent at this time to continue the search.
The above longitudes are as given by the time-keepers but on May 19th. I found them to differ 55.17,8 to the eastward of the truth. Making a proportional correction to the longitudes, the space examined by us will be from 103o.40' to 106o.45', between which longitudes, I do not think the Trial Rocks lie, if their latitude is between 20o.15' and 21o. south.
A sketch of these rocks published by Mr. Dalrymple in 1782, from the description of a sloop sent from Batavia, places them 80 leagues only from the coast of New Holland, on which account principally it was, that I left off steering to the westward when in 104o.; and it seems probable there may be an equal degree of uncertainty with respect to the latitude. Arrowsmiths South-Sea chart places them in 20o.40' S. as does a table in the 14th. edition of Moore's navigation; but the before-mentioned sketch of the Dutch says, they lie in 19o.30' S.; and except these authorities, I have nothing that relates to the Trial Rocks. Tropic birds were seen in the longitude of 104 1/2o. which would argue some thing for the rocks lying more westward.
On approaching Cape Leuwen, the south-westmost part of New Holland, we found no bottom with 180 fms. when it bore E. 1/2 N. 14 leagues; but having run 9 leagues to the S.E.ward we had 75 fathoms fine white sand, and being daylight soon after, the Cape was in sight bearing N.24oE. 6 or 8 leagues; whence it appears, that soundings do not run far from this coast.
Steering for Goose-Island Bay, I passed on the south side of D'Entrecasteauxs Archipelago; and shall be able to make some additions, and corrections to my former chart of this most dangerous part of the south coast. We stopped three days in Goose Island Bay to procure geese and seals, and make some arrangements for the sick.
Having made the south-west end of Kings Island in the west entrance of Bass's Strait, on May 30 in the afternoon, we steered on between it and Hunters Isles and continued our course through the strait during that and the following day and night without interruption. From this run

[Page 220]
this run I shall be able to make some better connections between the two sides of the strait than there was before, and to lay down many soundings in it. Had it not been for the sickly state of my ships company and the pressing representation of the surgeon in their behalf, I should have done at this time all that was wanting to make the chart of Bass's Strait tolerably correct; but however strong my inclination was to accomplish this desirable object, the supplicating looks of so many pale-eyed cadaverous visages as there were now below, effectually put it to the route; we made the utmost speed to Port Jackson.

No. 2 inclosed
Copy of the report of survey upon the Investigator from pages 70 and 71 at the other end
No. 3 inclosed Copy of the order No. 82 with its lists of men. See pages 82, 83 and 84 at the other end
No. 4 inclosed
Copy of the letter to me from Messrs. Brown and Bauer requesting to remain at Port Jackson See letter No. 73, pages 80, 81
No. 5 inclosed
My answer to the letter See letters written No. 102, pages 121 and 122

Letter No. 146
for Wm. Smith
to remain

To Colonel Monistrol Chef d'Etat - Major - Isle de France
Maison Despeaux July 21. 1805

Sir
I beg leave to represent to you, that there is only one seaman remaining in this island of those that came with me in the Cumberland: his name is William Smith, he is an elderly man, and but lately quitted the hospital, where he was confined with a broken leg. This man I am desirous of keeping with me, and he wishes to stay; I have therefore, to request, that he may not be included in the number of those who are to be sent away in the cartel, but that you will be pleased to permit him to come up to this house and remain with me; but should you not judge it expedient that he should be removed here at this time, I beg you will allow him to come so soon as the cartel may sail.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

[Page 221]
Letter No, 147
Request to live
at Wilhems
Plains

To His Excellency General De Caën; - captain-general &c. &c. &c.
Maison Despeaux Augt. 17 1805

Sir
Captain Bergeret having informed me that your Excellency is disposed to accord to my desire of living in the interior part of this island, I beg leave to repeat my request to that purpose; and to state, that it promises to be the most efficacious means of restoring me to that good health which I formerly enjoyed.
The habitation which I have chosen is that of Madame D'Arifat at Wilhems Plains, the situation of which I trust will be found unexceptionable
I have the honour to be
Your Excellencys most obedient hble. servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No. 148
With paper
upon the
barometer

To the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks Bt. K.B. - President of the Royal Society &c.
Isle of France Augt.19. 1805

Sir
It is a considerable time since I observed to you, that I had made some observations upon the marine barometer during my examination of the coasts of Australia, which were likely to prove interesting to meteorological science. After having got through such parts of the account of the Investigators voyage during my imprisonment here, as had a prior claim to attention, and as those of my books and papers returned me by the French governor, general De Caën,[12] through the mediation of captain Bergeret, would permit, I again turned my attention to this subject. Upon reviewing the principal facts that bespoke a connection between the movements of the mercury in the barometer and the winds blowing from the sea and from over the land, I have thought, that an extract would not be uninteresting to the learned body, over which you have for many years and with so much honour presided; accordingly I take the liberty of transmitting to you, Sir Joseph, an extract of them, with a few scattered remarks upon the different facts; hoping, that you will do me the honour of presenting such part of it to the Royal Society, as you may deem worthy the attention of its learned members.
Should there be anything in the mal-arrangement or imperfection of the

[Page 222]
of the subject, which may render the following paper, or any considerable part of it, improper to be laid before the Society, I have to beg the favour of its being transmitted to the Rev. Dr. Maskyline, who I trust will receive it for the sake of the facts, until such time as I am able to make out a more particular meteorological journal for the Board of Longitude.
With great consideration and respect, I have the honour to be, Sir Joseph,
your most obedient, most humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Chapter No. 8 of the log book inclosed with such variations as the address to Sir Joseph required

Letter No. 149
Permission to
go to Wilhems
Plains

To Colonel Monistrol Chef d'Etat - Major Général de l'Isle de France
Maison Despaux Augt. 19. 1805

Sir
I have the honour to receive your letter, and beg to inform you, that the dispositions you have so obligingly made on my account are perfectly agreeable and satisfactory, and I thank you very sincerely for having thought of me; it is a mark of attention I did not permit myself to expect from any official department in this island.
I am desirous to go out to Wilhems Plains on Thursday or Friday next, but as some preparation is necessary, I would beg permission of you, Sir, to go into the town on Wednesday; and as it will be convenient to dispatch my servant and baggage, at least one day, before me, I should hope there will be no objection to my remaining in the town until Thursday evening or Friday morning.
I have the honour to be, with great consideration, Sir,
your most obedient, most humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No. 150
in favour of
M. Gravier

To the commander of any of His Majestys ships in India
Isle of France Dec. 6. 1805

Sir
Having received numberless marks of attention, assistance, and friendship from Mr. Thomas Pitot, merchant in the town of Port North West, during an imprisonment of nearly two years in this island

[Page 223]
this island, and knowing also that he has extended the same liberal conduct to Major Shepherd of the Bengal establishment and such other English prisoners as it has been in his power to serve; being moreover well satisfied that every commander in his Majestys navy will know sufficiently how to appreciate such conduct towards prisoners from an individual, and be anxious to shew their sense of it; it is with confidence that I beg to recommend to your protection the bearer, Monsieur Gravier, surgeon, the friend of Mr. Pitot, ['and a member of the literary societies in this island and at Batavia,' has been inserted here in pencil, possibly by Flinders] in the case of his being taken prisoner; and to request, that if it is in your power to release him immediately on his parole, or otherwise, that you will have the goodness to do it; but if not, that you will be so obliging as to recommend him to the commander in chief, or to the governor of the presidency to which he may be sent, for the most liberal treatment and earliest exchange it may be in his power to grant; in doing which you will greatly oblige, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders {Commander of His Majestys
{ship Investigator

P.S. Should Mr. Gravier be taken prisoner and meet any of those gentlemen with whom I have the honour to be acquainted, they will oblige me by considering this letter as recommending him particularly to their notice; a favour which I shall be eager to acknowledge and to return.

['Duplicate of this given Dec. 13. 1806' has been added in pencil, possibly by Flinders]

Letter No. 151
in favour of
M. De Glos

To the commander of any of His Majestys ships in India
Isle of France Dec. 30. 1805

Sir
Having received numberless marks of attention, assistance and friendship, from Mr. Thomas Pitot, ['and his family' has been inserted here in pencil, possibly by Flinders] during an imprisonment of two years in this island, and knowing also that he has extended the same liberal conduct to Colonel Shepherd ['Shippard' has been inserted here in pencil, possibly by Flinders] of the Bengal establishment and such other English prisoners in this island as it has been in his power to serve; being moreover well satisfied that every commander in His Majestys navy will know sufficiently how to appreciate such conduct, and be anxious to shew their sense of it; it is with confidence that I beg to recommend to your good offices and protection, the bearer Mr. De Glos

[Page 224]
De Glos, the friend and relation of Mr. Pitot, should he, in the course of his voyage to India, find himself in a situation to require them. Should it happen, Sir, that I have the honour of your acquaintance, you will oblige me by considering this letter as recommending Mr. De Glos particularly to your notice, a favour which I shall be eager to acknowledge and to return. I have the honour to be, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders {Late commander of His
 {Majestys ship Investigator

['Duplicate of this given Dec. 13 1806' has been inserted here in pencil, possibly by Flinders]

Letter No. 152
in favour of
M. Leguen

To the Commander of any of His Majestys ships of war
Isle of France March 3. 1806

Sir
Having received numberless marks of attention, assistance, and friendship, from Mr. Thomas Pitot, ['and his family' has been inserted here in pencil, possibly by Flinders] during an imprisonment of two years in this island, and knowing also that he has extended the same liberal conduct to Colonel Shepherd of the Bengal establishment and such other English prisoners in this island as it has been in his power to serve; being moreover well satisfied that every commander in His Majestys navy will know sufficiently how to appreciate such conduct, and be anxious to shew their sense of it; it is with confidence that I beg to recommend to your good offices and protection, Monsieur Leguen and his family, the friends and relatives of Mr. Pitot, who, with Master Charles Pitot, of his own family, under their care, are about to embark on board a neutral vessel for America; should Mr. Leguen, in the course of his voyage, find himself in a situation to require such protection.
Should it happen, Sir, that I have the honour of your acquaintance, you will much oblige me by considering this letter as recommending Mr. Leguen and his family particularly to your attention and assistance; a favour which I shall be eager to acknowledge and to return. I have the honour to be, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant
    Mattw. Flinders {Late commander of His
 {Majestys sloop Investigator
 {on discovery to the South Seas

[Page 225, left hand column]
Letter No. 153
Request to be sent to France

To His Excellency the captain-general De Caën
['Plaines de Wilhems Isle de France le 9 Mars 1806' has been added here in pencil, possibly by Flinders]
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France March 9. 1806

(Original)

General
The long delay of the government of France in sending out orders relating to me, and the appearance that amidst the great occupation of the ministers, my situation may be forgotten, induce me to address Your Excellency upon the subject of my long continued imprisonment.
Since the period when I was certainly informed, that the decision of my case was referred to the government of France by your Excellency, I have waited quietly, though most anxiously, for the arrival of orders that should decide my fate: I have seen vessels repeatedly arrive, and lately, officers charged with official dispatches, but these arrivals instead of producing any change in my condition, only serve to throw further back, and almost to destroy, all hope of my situation being, at this distance, any longer remembered. Under these circumstances, I trust your Excellency will consider how severely hard my case has been, and how much longer my imprisonment may continue, unless you shall at length be pleased to grant my request to be sent to France.
The intentions with which I came to this colony may have been misunderstood, but I can lay my hand on my heart and aver, that I designed no injury to any nation, or government, or individual. My objects were solely to
relieve

[Page 225, right hand column]
(Translation by Mr. Pitot, as it was sent to General De Caën)

Général
Le gouvernement Français a déjà differé, si long tems, l'envoi des ordres relatifs à ma détention en cette isle, et je conserve si peu d'espoir, que ses ministres puissent songer à moi, au milieu des grands interèts dont ils sont occupés, que je me décide à entretenir Votre Excellence au sujet de ma longue captivité.

Depuis l'instant ou j'ai été instruit que vous aviez remis au gouvernement Francais le soin de me juger, j'ai attendu, en silence, mais avec la plus vive anxiété, l'arrivée des ordres qui devaient décider de mon sort: divers batiments, et recemment encore plusieurs officiers chargés de dépèches ministerielles, sont arrivés; mais loin d'apporter aucun changement dans ma situation, ils n'ont fait qu'eloigner et detruire même presque entierement l'espoir que j'avais conçu, malgré la distance ou je suis, de ne point être oublié par le gouvernement Français. Je crois aujourdhui, pouvoir espérer, que Votre Excellence voudra bien considérer tout ce que ma position a de rigoureux, et combien ma captivité peut durer long tems encore, si vous ne consentez à m'accorder d'être envoyé en France.
Il est possible que mes intentions en relachant à l'Isle de France n'aient pas été bien appreciées; mais je puis mettre la main sur mon coeur et attester, que je

[Page 226, left hand column]
to relieve the pressing necessities of my situation, and to acquire a knowledge of what means the Isle of France afforded me in aid of my future projects for the advantage of geographical and nautical knowledge, and for the benefit of those nations of miserable savages I proposed hereafter to visit. If, unfortunately, the French government should be deceived by any appearances to the contrary, and pronounce judgement against me, I must suffer the penalties of their award; but do not, Sir, in anticipation of this judgement, deprive me of the best years of my life, ruin my hopes of advancement and of acquiring reputation by my labours; - do not keep me to an unlimited time from my family, who for years have been looking for my return to arrange their affairs, and to console them for the loss of a father! Think only, General, that it is possible my intentions might have been innocent, as I have averred; what I have already suffered will then excite your regret; you will hasten to send me where, if I am found innocent, a few days would be sufficient to restore me to my family and the continuance of my peaceful employment; and if guilty, where a speedy punishment would at least put an end to the anxiety and suspence, the expectations and disappointments, with which my mind has been tortured for the last twenty-seven months.

[Page 226, right hand column]
que je n'avais aucun projet dont une nation, un gouvernement, ni même un seul particulier eut pu souffrir le plus léger tort. Mon seul but fut d'obtenir des secours devenus urgents dans la situation ou j'etais, de connaitre l'utilité dont pouvait m'être l'Isle de France dans les voyages que j'aurais entrepris par la suite, pour étendre les connaissances de la géographie et de la navigation, et pour améliorer le sort infortuné des peuplades sauvages que je me proposais de visiter dans mes investigations ultérieures. Si le gouvernement Français abusé par quelques apparences trompeuses, me déclare coupable, je saurai me soumettre a l'arrèt qui sera porté contre moi; mais que Votre Excellence, anticipant sur cet arrèt, ne m'enleve pas le plus belles années de ma vie; ne détruise pas mes espérances d'avancement, et ne me prive pas d'obtenir par mes travaux la peu de gloire à la quelle il m'eut, peut êtré, un jour été permis de prétendre; qu'elle ne me retienne pas, pour un tems illimité, loin d'une famille, qui depuis plusieurs années soupire après mon retour pour la consoler de la mort d'un pere, et réparer le desordre que cet évenement a jetté dans ses affaires at les miennes. Veuillez considérer, Général, que je puis être innocent, comme je l'ai attesté, et ce que j'ai déjà eu à souffrir excitera vos regrets; vous consentirez à m'envoyer dans le lieu ou quelques jours suffiront pour me juger, pour me rendre à ma famille et à mes paisibles occupations si je suis considéré comme innocent; au me livrer sans délais à la rigueur des loix si je suis coupable, et mettre ainsi un terme aux anxiétés, aux espérances trompées, et aux agitations aux quelles je suis en proye sans relache depuis vingt-sept mois.

[Page 227, left hand column]
Justice speedily administered, is an act of mercy, even to the guilty; but how much more to the innocent. If ever, in the carelessness of prosperity, I thought slightly of this adage, my experience within the two last years has most fully convinced me of its truth and importance; I would not at this moment, that my most inveterate enemy should acquire the same conviction at such a price.
The permission you granted me to leave the Maison Despeaux has led me to think, that your Excellency does not regard my unfortunate position in this island with indifference; and makes me hope, that to abridge the term of my suffering would give you pleasure; I do not, therefore, doubt but that you will comply with this my earnest request to be sent to France, even though it should be at the expense of making some change in your arrangements.
I have the honour to be your Excellencys
most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

[Page 227, right hand column]
Le coupable lui même sollicite avec ferveur, et reçoit avec reconnaissance, une décision prompte de son sort, mais avec combien plus d'ardour l'innocent ne doit il pas aspirer à l'obtenir. Si dans des jours plus heureux, cette pensée ne sut pas me frapper avec force, deux années de douleurs m'en ont bien fait connaître l'importance et la vérité: Je ne desire pas à mon plus mortel ennemie d'en être convaincu comme moi par des peines égales à celles qu'il m'a fallu supporter.
Votre Excellence n'est point sans doute insensible à la rigueur de ma situation, la liberté que vous m'avez accordée de quitter la Maison Despeaux me permet de le croire; j'ose donc me flatter que vous verrez arriver avec plaisir le terme de ma captivité, et que les dispositions que vous avez prises jusqu'à présent, ne mettront point d'obstacle à ce que vous m'accordiez la permission, que je sollicte de vous avec instance, d'être envoyé en France par la premiere occasion.
J'ai l'honneur d'être de Votre Excellence, Général
le très humble et très obéissant serviteur
Mattw. Flinders

To Colonel Monistrol, Chef de L'Etat - major-general
Wilhems Plains March 18. 1806

Sir
The late arrival from Europe having destroyed my hopes of being any longer remembered by the French government, in the midst of the great interests with which they are occupied, and His Excellency the captain-general not thinking proper to grant the request I lately made to him to send me to France, I have to beg your permission, Sir, for the seaman, named William Smith, to depart on board an American vessel; his broken leg which prevented him from going in the cartels, being now recovered. If you shall be pleased to grant this request I beg

[Page 228]
I beg the favour of a written permission, which will prevent him from being stopped in his way to the port, or in embarking on board. With great consideration I have the honour to be, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Discharge of
Wm. Smith (1)

List of one able seaman discharged from His Majestys armed tender Cumberland, on board of which he was borne for a passage to England after the shipwreck of His Majestys armed vessel Porpoise.The Cumberland being detained in the Isle of France, but William Smith being permitted to embark on board a neutral vessel, he is discharged for that reason.

Original entry from Porpoise	Appearance	No. of his disch. tick.	Name	Quality	Time of discharge	Navy charge
July 21. 1803	Oct. 9. 1803	B No. 4	William Smith (1)	A:B.	April 9. 1806	None

Mattw. Flinders {Commander & Purser of H.M.S. Investigator, and
{charged with the command of the Cumberland

Discharge ticket B No. 4
This is to certify that William Smith (1) has served on board His majestys armed tender Cumberland under my command, from the twenty-first day of July 1803, as able seaman, to the ninth day of April 1806. - Dated at the Isle of France this ninth day of April one thousand eight hundred and six.

{Commander of H.M.S. Investigator, and charged
Mattw. Flinders {with the command of the Cumberland tender, for
 {a passage to England, but detained at the Isle of France

William Smith is 5 feet 4 1/4 inches high and of a fair complexion, is about forty years of age.

Certificate of
servitude and
conduct to
Wm. Smith (1)

This is to certify the principal officers and commissioners of His Majestys navy that William Smith (1) has served on board His Majestys sloop Investigator under my command, in the qualities of Boatswains mate, Quarter-master, and Able Seaman, from January the twenty-fifth 1800 and one, to July the twentieth 1803, at which time he was discharged into His Majestys armed vessel Porpoise per order for a passage to England, the Investigator having been condemned at Port Jackson. After the shipwreck of the Porpoise on Augt. 17. 1803 he was discharged, with his original

[Page 229]
original entry from the Porpoise, into the armed tender Cumberland, also under my command; on board of which he served, as able seaman, until she was stopped by the French at the Isle Mauritius, on Dec. 17. 1803. He there remained with me as a prisoner, detained until the orders of the government in France should be known to the date hereof, making the whole of his time, in the Investigator and Cumberland under my command, to be five years and seventy four days; and I do further certify that generally, during the whole time, he has behaved himself as a good and able seaman, and to my satisfaction. Given under my hand at the Isle of France, this ninth day of April 1800 and six

  {Commander of H.M. sloop Investigator, and charged
Mattw. Flinders {with the command of the Cumberland tender, for a
{passage to England, but detained at the Isle of France

Certificate of
broken leg to
William Smith (1)
Additional certificate to William Smith
This is to certify to the Honble. the Commissioners for taking care of sick and hurt seamen, and whom else it may concern, that William Smith (1) Able Seaman of His Majestys armed tender Cumberland, under my command, had during the time of our detention in the Isle of France the misfortune to break his leg in prison, in the month of May 1805, on which account he was between seventy and eighty days in the French hospital under cure, and that he was prevented from departing in a cartel for India on that account

{Commander of His Majestys sloop Investigator, and
Mattw. Flinders {charged with the command of the Cumberland tender
{for a passage to England but detained at the Isle of
{France

Letter No. 155
For Wm. Smith
permission to
embark

To Colonel Monistrol - Chef de l'Etat - major general de l'isle de France
Wilhems Plains April 9. 1806

Sir
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 4. 1806 informing me of His Excellency the captain-generals permission for William Smith to depart from this island in a neutral vessel, and also to express my thanks to you, Sir, for the polite terms in which you have conveyed the same to me.
I now send the said seaman William Smith to the town, for the purpose of embarking on board an American ship, for which I beg you will have the goodness to give him your final permission.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obliged and obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

[Page 230]
P.S. It may not be unproper to observe, that the aide-major has omitted providing for either of my two seamen during the last four months past: whether from any change in the arrangement respecting them, or from forgetfulness, I am not informed.

Letter No. 156

To His Excellency the minister of the marine and the colonies of France at Paris

['Letter addressed' and 'referred to from page' have been added in pencil, possibly by Flinders]
Isle of France April 12. 1806

General Minister
A voyage fitted out for the purpose of exploring the unknown parts of the earth and seas, is an object interesting to men of science of all nations; and cannot, therefore, be viewed with indifference by a minister who has direction of the marine of such a nation as France; the men engaged in such voyages have ever been considered as citizens of the world, as men who had devoted themselves to the greatest perils and fatigues for the general good, and they have every where met with assistance and protection, even from the enemies of the nation to which they might have belonged. In this noble conduct towards men, whom a constant exposition to dangers too often renders unfortunate, France has shewn herself the foremost, and she has received, from the friends of humanity and science, the merited applause. That the commander of an expedition on discovery, fitted out from England in 1801, and furnished with a passport by the particular order of the first consul, and signed by the marine minister Forfait, the 4 Prairial, year 9, should have been imprisoned and kept more than two years in the Isle of France, becomes then an object of surprise and regret.
After suffering shipwreck in a distant and unexplored sea, from whence he extricated himself and his companions by undertaking a passage of 240 leagues in an open boat, he embarked, at Port Jackson, on board a schooner of twenty-nine tons burden; to return to Europe with the charts and journals of his discoveries, which, though much defaced, had been mostly saved. Passing by the Isle of France in December 1803, the bad state of his little vessel, and his necessities, obliged him to stop at Port North-West, to repair, or to exchange her before passing round the Cape of Good Hope. Unfortunately for the commander, as for many others, war had again broken out between

[Page 231]
out between: France and England: he presented the passport which had been granted him for the protection of his voyage; but notwithstanding the service in which he was engaged, - the misfortunes he had undergone, - his ignorance of the war, and this same passport which assured him of assistance and protection, he was instantly made a close prisoner, his little vessel seized, and his charts and papers of every kind, shattered as they were, taken from him.
Unwilling to believe, that the high and generous spirit formerly demonstrated by France in the cause of science, can have degenerated in the person of the august chief who at present guides her destiny, or in those of his ministers, and rather attributing his misfortunes to the errors of the captain-general De Caën than to the ill disposition of the French government towards him, the English commander trusts that His Excellency, the minister of the marine, will not be displeased that he has presumed thus to address him upon the subject of his voyage, and the long imprisonment which, as yet, has been the only reward of his labours.
I will not weary your Excellency with a detail of what I have suffered in person and in mind since December 1803: It pleases me better to say, that for the last seven months I have been permitted to reside in the interior part of this island with some portion of liberty.
Confident in the justice of the French government, and in its desire to protect men of all nations, engaged in forwarding the progress of knowledge, I have been in continual expectation of the arrival of orders which should set me at liberty, or order my papers and myself to France, to be examined; but till this day, have received only the most mortifying disappointments. Believing myself to be forgotten, I have more than once petitioned general De Caën, the author of my wrongs, to send me to France, that if I am guilty of any crime, I may be punished; or if innocent, set at liberty; but this request has always remained either unanswered or denied.
I entreat your Excellency to consider, that I am a man of peace; my business is not to destroy, but to add to the knowledge of one part of mankind, and alleviate the miseries of another. That the passport was given for my ship, the Investigator, and does not mention any other vessel, is true; but I can produce ample testimonies of the necessity for quitting her, and certainly it was not the Investigator; in

[Page 232]
in particular, that was the object of care of the French government, but my voyage of discovery, the people engaged in it, and the information that might result from our labours; but the voyage has been interrupted, myself and the few people with me made prisoners, and my charts and papers seized, instead of affording us the assistance and protection which the passport promised. If it is thought, that in coming to the Isle of France I had any ill intentions, I do assure your Excellency, upon the word of a man of honour, that not only such an opinion is false and unjust, but that I had no knowledge whatever of war having again taken place, before arriving at this island. It is true that the governor of Port Jackson took the occasion of my voyage to send letters for England; these letters have been taken away, and what they might have contained I know not; but being sent before the war was known, nothing in them can involve the efficacy of my passport.
Permit me to recal[l] to your Excellencys mind the orders given by the court of France for the protection of Captain Cooks third voyage of discovery, in 1780, and by the Republick for that of captain Vancouver, in 1795, though
neither of these navigators had passports; - permit me to present to your Excellency a document* of the reception given to the French ships Geographe and Naturaliste, in 1802, at Port Jackson, the place from whence I last came; - believe that, in my researches, to obtain some information of the fate of the unfortunate La Perouse, was always an object of my concern; - and think,
General, that after having undergone the fatigues and dangers which I have done in the service of science, what must be the agony of my mind, at being
imprisoned by a nation which has been one of the foremost to protect it, in a distant island far from my country and my family; to see the best years of my life consuming away in inactivity, and my hopes of advancement and reputation, (the reward of my past and future labours in the same cause,) so cruelly blasted.
Let me, then, intreat your Excellency, either to hasten my liberation, or to order me to be sent to France with my books and papers: I ask only to have an examination made into the circumstances by impartial and capable men. If it is found, that the suspicions which I understand have been entertained against me, have no other ground but in my misfortunes, you will order me to be set at liberty
*The letter of Monsieur Baudin (see paper No. 3, page 191, preceding) which was inclosed in this letter.

[Page 233]
-berty with honour; but if I have committed any hostile act, or entertained any hostile intention against the French nation or their allies, I must then submit to the judgement that may be pronounced against me. The only mercy I ask, is to be speedily and impartially tried tried, which in any case will deliver me from the tormenting state of suspence and disappointment to which I have been left a prey for the last twenty eight months.
In the confidence that this application to your humanity and justice will not be made in vain, I beg leave to assure your Excellency, of the high consideration and respect with which I have the honour to be
Your Excellencys
most obedient and most humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No. 157
Request to use
his interest that
I may be sent to
France to be
tried

To Monsieur Fleurieu - Grand officer of the legion of honour - Counsellor of state &c. &c. &c. Paris (No. 13 Rue de Faitbout)
Isle of France April 12. 1806

Sir
The commander of an expedition on discovery to the South Seas, having suffered shipwreck, and been since detained a prisoner more than two years in the Isle of France, presumes to address you: your character, which he gathers from your writings and the mouth of the public, makes him believe that his employment and his misfortunes will be a sufficient introduction to your notice and interest.
Looking upon you, Sir, of all the celebrated literary characters in France, to be the most interested for the advancement of geography and navigation, in whose service I was engaged, and to be not less zealous in the cause of humanity and justice; I did, by a letter dated March 11. 1805 address to you, by two different occasions, a detail of the circumstances that led me to this island, and of the treatment I have here received from the captain-general De Caën; and I requested your intercession with His Excellency the marine minister, or with the government, that I might either be set at liberty with my books and papers, or ordered to France to be examined: If innocent of any crime, or the intention of committing any, I should then obtain liberty by virtue of my passport; if guilty, I might be punished; in either case

[Page 234]
case a period would be put to the distressing state of anxiety and disappointment, the sufferings both of body and mind under I laboured, and in great measure do still labour; and it is probable I should afterwards be at liberty to continue my voyage of discovery. I know not whether that letter was ever received, but I will not at present trouble you, Sir, with a repetition of the detail; if it was not received, and you should wish to know the circumstances that led to my imprisonment, sufficient information will be found in a letter addressed from Dunkirk, by some person unknown, to the editor of the Moniteur, and inserted in that of July 7. 1804 (18 Messidor, an 12): though all the details in that letter are not correct, they will furnish the information here required; and the answer to it in the Moniteur of July 11. 1804, inserted apparently by authority, will let you know what is alleged against me. Of the misrepresentation and falsity of these allegations, my letter also contained an exposition, and which I shall excuse myself from here repeating; adding only to this letter a copy of the papers which accompanied the former;
No. 1 shewing, that although it was not originally intended I should touch at the Isle of France in the Cumberland, yet that I was at liberty to do so if necessary, and to dispose of the vessel as occasion might require.
The paper No. 2, being the extract of a letter written near three months before my arrival in the Isle of France, or had formed the intention of stopping, will shew the state of the Cumberland, and how much less she proved to be capable of performing so long a voyage, as from Port Jackson to England, than I had supposed.
Although I put in at the Isle of France to get my vessel repaired, or to exchange her, supposing it to be a time of peace, and without having any idea that my passport would be wanted, or having a distinct knowledge of its contents, (it being in a language to which I was then a perfect stranger;) the paper No. 3, being an extract from the passport, will shew that I was fully authorized, under the existing circumstances to put into this port in time of war. The paper No. 4, will shew what treatment the French ships on discovery, Le Geographe and le Naturaliste had received at Port Jackson, the place from whence I had come; and the

[Page 235]
and the paper No. 5* will show how rigorously the only officer I had with me, and myself, were treated.
Since the time that I did myself the honour of addressing to you the above mentioned, the circumstances of my situation have somewhat altered. My officer
 [John Aken] has been permitted to depart on his parole for America, as a prisoner of war; and since the establishment of a cartel of exchange, and the departure of the other English prisoners, the captain-general has permitted me to reside in the interior part of this island with some portion of liberty, expecting, I believe, to receiveorders from the minister of the marine for the disposal of my person, my books, and papers.
Twenty-eight months have now elapsed since my imprisonment commenced, and my prospect of liberation is more distant than I believed it to be on the first day; for several dispatches have lately arrived from France, which so far from bringing me relief, only serve to convince me, that if any attention to the extraordinary circumstances of my situation was ever paid by the French government, that it has now ceased, without any exertion either in my behalf, or to learn the merits of the cause. Finding myself thus forgotten, I repeated my application to general De Caën to be sent to France, in a letter of which I take the liberty of inclosing you a copy;** but his answer was, that having received no orders he could make no change in my situation. Thus, Sir, I remain without prospect of being liberated so long as this unfortunate war shall last; without prospect of being able to continue my labours, or of making known what I have already done. It is not for me to say, that the cause of science suffers from my detention, but the losses I myself sustain from it, in advancement, in time, in fortune, in peace of mind, are incalculable, and without any one person, or nation, or thing in the world, being benefitted by it.
By this same occasion I have taken the liberty of addressing a letter to His Excellency the minister of the marine, intreating him to put a period to my imprisonment, either by ordering me to be set
at liberty
* These papers extracted from the former letter to M. Fleurieu, are inclosed.
** See the preceding letter, in French, to general De Caën.

[Page 236]
at liberty, or to be sent to France; and I think that my present application to you, Sir, as a friend to the sciences and to justice, to use your influence to the same
end will not be made in vain. It has been told me, that it is not so much from anything I have done, or that was apprehended from me, that I am detained; but rather from the same cause as many Englishmen, who were arrested in different parts of France at the commencement of the war: as a hostage for the return of vessels and men said to have been arrested in England previous to the declaration of war; but surely, Sir, my employment has nothing in common with that of men travelling for their health or their pleasure; - surely this cannot be a just cause for imprisoning a man employed as I was, instead of affording him the assistance and protection promised by a passport from the government, and which the ships of France so recently received under similar circumstances in an
English port! I request only to have my own actions tried, independently of any reference to those of others and to be compared by impartial and capable men with my passport, and the usages received in voyages of discovery. I have a right to be considered as a citizen of the world employed for the general good, so long as I do not interfere with war. If it is alleged that I have interfered in any way, or that I had the intention of interfering, this is exactly the question I intreat may be examined and decided; and the only mercy I ask is, that it may be decided speedily and impartially. Let me beg of you then, Sir, to use the influence, which your exalted character and situation give you, to obtain an order for my being sent to France, or otherwise set at liberty; in so doing you will at least perform the most assential service to an unfortunate individual and his family, the remembrance of which will be ever cherished by, Sir,
your most obedient, and faithful
humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No. 158

['Letter addressed' has been added in pencil, possibly by Flinders]

To William Marsden Esq. Admiralty Office London
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France
  April 13. 1806
Sir
I beg you will have the goodness to inform their Lordships that my

[Page 237]
that my imprisonment in this island still continues. The Captain-general De Caën has lately received several despatches from France, and I believe he, as well as myself, expected they would have contained an order from the marine minister of France for the disposal of my person and my books and papers, but none such have arrived; and I have therefore, very little prospect of being set at liberty, or even of having an examination made into the merits of my imprisonment, before the conclusion of the war; unless His Majestys ministers, through the intervention of the ambassador of some neutral power, shall interfere in my behalf. I have endeavoured, as far as possible, to obviate the ill effects of my detention to the service in which I was engaged, by constructing the charts and writing the accounts of my discoveries upon the south, the east, and the north coasts of Australia, and the parts adjacent, and in forwarding them, by all the private occasions I could find to the Admiralty, particularly by Mr. John Aken, the late master of the Investigator, who obtained permission to quit this island in May 1805. If these have all been received, as I hope, their Lordships will be possessed of the most interesting part of the information we have gained of that extensive country. The second volume of my log book is in train, but the detention of one volume of my rough journal, with many other charts and papers by the French captain-general, presents an invincible obstacle to its completion.
I have very lately written again to general De Caën, requesting that I might be sent to France with my books and papers, since no orders arrived respecting me, that it might be ascertained what it was I had committed contrary to the tenor of the passport obtained by their Lordships from the French government, for the protection of my voyage; but he answered, that until he should receive orders, no change in my position could take place. It appears that the marine minister found the circumstances of my imprisonment so extraordinary, that he did not think himself authorized to decide upon it, and has therefore referred it to the council of state, where it rests, and has done nearly two years. In fact, the imprisonment of the commander of a voyage of discovery, who is in reality employed for the benefit of all maritime nations, and for the advancement of science, and the seizure of his books and papers, are circumstances unparall[el]ed in the annals of any nation. The old court of France in Captain Cooks third voyage, and even the Republic in the case of

[Page 238]
of captain Vancouver, acted far otherwise, although neither of these commanders were furnished with a passport. On the other hand I had a passport by the order of the first consul Bonaparte, and signed by the marine minister Forfait; I have carefully abstained from every thing that bore the resemblance of any act of hostility, - my voyage was prosecuted upon the most perilous coasts with great success, until the rottenness of the Investigator obliged me to desist and to embark as a passenger for England, for the purpose of obtaining another ship, and making known what we had already done; - from the shipwreck of the Porpoise, in an unknown sea, during the night, and at a distance from land, I had the happiness to save almost the whole of my charts, papers and books, and to contribute greatly to the saving of the people by undertaking a voyage of 730 miles in an open boat; after which I embarked again from Port Jackson, in prosecution of my first design, on a vessel of 29 tons, the only one to be procured for an expeditious conveyance to Europe; and notwithstanding the qualities of this little vessel proved inferior to my expectations, should have performed the voyage, had not her leakiness and the worn out state of the pumps obliged me to stop at the Isle of France, in passing from Timor to the Cape of Good Hope, being also a stranger to the renewal of war. Here, notwithstanding my passport, the general utility of my employment, the misfortunes and hardships we had undergone, and the distressed state we were then actually in, myself and the whole of the crew of the little schooner were made prisoners, and my books and charts, shattered as they were taken from me, with every other letter or paper whether public or private. My imprisonment is now advancing fast into the third year, and my hopes of liberty are more distant than ever. Such is the treatment which the commander of a voyage on discovery, with a passport, has received here, and to which the government of France, professing to patronize the advancement of science, does not seem to have paid any other attention during two years than that of giving their temporary approbation of it. The only consoling circumstance I have to expect, is to find their Lordships so well satisfied with the charts and accounts of my discoveries, when compared with the means I possessed of making them, as to have promoted me to the rank of a post-captain; to which, I trust they will think my services, if not the injustice I am suffering give me

[Page 239]
give me some title.
It has been lately told me, that my imprisonment here is continued upon the same principle that so many gentlemen have been detained in France, as hostages for the return of vessels and men said to have been arrested in English ports at the commencement of the war; thus a passport, which ought to be the guarantee of national faith, is violated, and the progress of a voyage for the improvement of geographical and nautical science, in which all civilized nations are interested, is wantonly impeded, upon a principle with which it has no connexion. This outrage becomes still more black, when compared with the reception given by His Excellency governor King to the two French ships at Port Jackson in the last war, and the quick discharge of the Naturaliste from Portsmouth, so soon as her passport was recognized. The Whole of the circumstances attending my extraordinary treatment here, I shall form into a narrative and transmit at a convenient season.

I have the honour to be Sir,
your obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No. 159
To stop
allotments

To the Commissioners of His Majestys Navy - Navy Office - London
Isle of France April 17. 1806

Honble. Gentlemen
I beg leave to inform you, that the Cumberland armed tender and myself still continue to be detained here, and that all the men discharged from His Majestys late armed vessel Porpoise, into her for a passage at to England are now discharged from the books of the said tender with the exception of the two mentioned in the margin.

Matthew Flinders
Commander
John Elder
acting master at
arms of H.M. late
ship Investigator

None of these men were marked to me as having made any allotment, but from the circumstances under which I received them it might easily have been neglected to be marked. I have therefore to request, that if any of them have made an allotment, which is not already stopped, that it may be stopped immediately. From the arrival of the Porpoises books in England, and I hope also from those of the Investigators, which I sent by Mr. John Aken, the master, in May last, all allotments made in the Investigator will have been stopped, or transferred to the Porpoise. Those men who died on board the Investigator and

[Page 240]
and had made allotments, I did not mark to you from Port Jackson, expecting myself to be in England before any letter could arrive; and since that time, the shipwreck of the Porpoise, my imprisonment, and the loss of my books and papers, have been so many impediments in my way. The arrival of the Investigators books for July 1803, at which time they were closed, will have given you all the requisite information upon this subject, if the letters of His Excellency governor King [6] had not done it before.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No. 160
Recommending
Mons. Boisgris

To the Commander of any of His Majestys ships or vessels of war
Isle of France April 23. 1806

Sir
Having received numberless marks of attention, assistance and friendship, from Mr. Thomas Pitot, merchant in the town of Port North-West, during an imprisonment of more than two years in this island, and knowing also that he has extended the same liberal conduct to Colonel Sheppard of the Bengal establishment, and such other English prisoners in this island as it has been in his power to serve; being moreover well satisfied, that every commander in His Majestys navy will know sufficiently how to appreciate such conduct, and be anxious to shew their sense of it; it is with confidence that I beg to recommend to your good offices and protection, the bearer Monsieur Boisgris, the friend and relation of Mr. Pitot, should he, in the course of his voyage to Europe, find himself in a situation to require them. Mr. Boisgris has obligingly charged himself with my letters, which I beg you will permit or assist him to forward.
Should it happen, Sir, that I have the honour of your acquaintance, you will oblige me by considering this letter as recommending Mr. Boisgris particularly to your notice, a favour which I shall be eager to acknowledge and to return. I have

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I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient
humble servant

{Late commander of His Majestys
Mattw. Flinders {sloop Investigator, on discovery to {the South Seas

Letter No. 161
Requesting
permission to go
to Port N.W.

To Colonel Monistrol Chef de l'Etat - major general de l'isle de France
Wilhems Plains May 2. 1806

Sir
Having some little affairs to arrange, I have to request you will do me the favour to grant me a permission to come to the town for a few days; at the same time I shall have the honour of paying my respects to you, in testimony of the sense I entertain of your former polite attention, and if you will permit me, of conversing upon the subject of my books and papers which still remain in the secretariat of His Excellency the captain-general.
I have the honour to be, with consideration and respect,
    Sir your most obedient humble servant
 Mattw. Flinders

Letter No 162
Information of
my arrival at
Port N.W.

To Colonel Monistrol - Chef de l'Etat - major general de l'Isle de France
Port N.W. Monday May 12. 1806

Sir
I have the honour to inform you of my arrival in town last night, and being desirous of paying you my early respects, I beg you will be pleased to inform me at what time it will be convenient to you to grant me that honour.
I am, Sir, with consideration
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

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Letter No 163.
Request to visit
La poudre
d'Or and Flacq

To Colonel Monistrol Chef de l'Etat - major general de l'isle de France
Port N.O. Tuesday May 13 1806

Sir
As I trust that His Excellency the captain general is satisfied of the integrity of my manners and pacific disposition, I do not feel hesitation in complying with the wishes of my friends, in requesting you will be pleased to grant me permission to pass four days with Mr. Rouillard at Poudre d'Or and four or five with Mr. Ravel at Flacq
You will be sufficiently acquainted, Sir, that the position of a man forcibly confined to one place, however agreeable that place may be, makes an occasional change of scene and situation extremely agreeable; and as I hope no reasons exist against it, and being confident in your desire to alleviate misfortune, I cannot doubt but that you will be pleased to comply with this my request.
I have the honour to be, Sir, with much consideration
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No 164.
Recommending
Mons. C. Baudin

To the commander of any of His Majestys ships
Isle of France May 15. 1806

Sir
The established character of the commanders of His Majestys ships for their liberal treatment of those whom the chance of war throws into their hands, might render unnecessary the recommendation of any particular individual to their notice and protection; but I cannot dispense myself from saying something of Mr. Charles Baudin, an enterprising young officer, who will present this to you. the acknowledgements I owe him for the zealous efforts he has made by means of his friends of the Institute of Paris to relieve me from
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me from an imprisonment in this Island, as unjust as it is unparall[el]ed, render this an indespensable act of Justice. Mr. Baudin made the voyage of discovery in the Geographe, and though very young gained to himself reputation by his talents and spirit of enterprise; and learned to appreciate the labours of those employed in the cause of science and humanity, to whatever nation they might belong.
Persuaded that his understanding and manners will amply indemnify you for the attention you may be pleased to shew him, in the pleasure you will receive from his conversation and acquaintance, I doubt not you will pleased that I have pointed him out to you; and I beg of you, Sir, to be assured, that every act of kindness conferred upon my young friend, will be received by me with all the acknowledgements and desire to make them reciprocal that can animate one officer towards another.
With consideration and respect, I have the honour
to be, Sir, your very obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders
Late commander of H.M.S. Investigator

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Letter No 165.
Requesting the
interference of
the Institute that
I may be sent to
France

Letter addressed by the Society of Emulation in the Isle of France, to the
National Institute at Paris, in April 1806.

Messieurs
Permettez nous de chercher à vous intéresser en faveur d'un homme, dont les talents, le courage, & l'honorable profession, méritent l'estime de tous ceux qui, comme vous Messieurs, savent apprécier le Sciences les plus utiles & les plus glorieuses a l'humanité. Nous n'avons pas besoin de vous rappeler les circonstances de l'emprisonnement du Capitaine Flinders; pour lequel nous réclamons aujourd' huy l'emploi de votre crédit & de celui de vos amis; vous en avez été, sans doute, informés depuis long tems; vous avez su, que pendant duex années il a parcouru, au péril mille fois instant de sa vie, des mers inconnues jusqu'alors, et semées de dangers toujours renaissants; vous avez su, qu'après un nauffrage où Son courage & Son habilité ont pu seuls l'empêcher de perdre la vie, ainsi que tous ses compagnons d'infortune; il n' a pu trouver pour retourner en Europe qu 'une barque de 2C & quelques tonnedux, qu'il S'est exposé sur cette frêle Embarcation pour rentrer dans sa patrie; que forcé par le manque d'eau, de vivres, les mauvaises qualités de Son Both, l'état de détresse où il se trouvait réduit, la maladie qui le tourmentait ainsi que le seul officier qu'il eut à bord du Cumberland; & enfin, le mauvais état de ses pompes devenues absolument incapables d' être employées; it est venu, son passeport à la main, réclamer les secours d'une colonie appartenant à la nation renommée pour la protection libérale, et le généreux accueil accordés par elle, aux Savants de tous les etats, de toutes les nations; Surtout quand le malheur les a frappés; vous savez enfin, que depuis le jour où il a mis le pied sur une terre jadis hospitaliere, i s'est vu livre à une détention dont vous pouvez apprécier l'amertume, et les Suites funestes pour sa santé, Son avancement, le sort de sa famille, & nous osons le dire, aussi pour les progrès de la geographie & de la navigation. 28 mois se sont ecoulés depuis ce jour si infortuné pour lui, et son sort n'a point changé: Les esperances qu'il avail du Concevoir

Messieurs les présidents & Secrétaires
des diverses classes de l'institut des Sciences, Lettres & Arts
A Paris

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dû Concevoir d'un prompt élargissement se sont évanouies, et l'ont laissé en proye au plus profond désespoir, il voulait garder le silence, et S' abandonnant sans nouveaux efforts à la rigueur de sa position, attendre indéfiniment peut être, que l'on eut prononcé Son arrêt; nous avons relevé son courage abattu par tant d'infortunes, nous lui avons donné l'assurance, sans craindre un moment que la suite put nous dementir, que vous ne seriez point insensibles à son infortune, que vous vous employeriez avec Zele pour lui procurer son élargissement, ou au moins cette favour, qu'il sollicite avec tant d'ardeur depuis long tems, d'être appelé en France pour y être jugé, & condamné s'il est coupable, mais délivré & rendu à sa patrie, à ses parents, à ses travaux utiles, s'il est innocent, si jamais il n'est entré dans son coeur un seul desir, une seule pensée, dont l'éxécution put être nuisible à un seul individu de quelque classe, de quelque nation qu'il fit partie. Que n'a-t-il pu dès long tems paraitre devant un tribunal & y plaider sa cause! bientot tous ses juges seraient devenus ses amis & ses admirateurs, il ne leur êut fallu qu'un moment pour reconnaitre sa loyauté, ses principes d'honneur, et pour chercher, partout ce que la générosité française a d'égards & de délicatesse à le dédomager des tourments qu'il a soufferts; le gouvernement lui même, désabusé bientôt, eut reconnu que jamais le Capitaine Flinders ne s'est écarté de la route que lui prescrivaient ses fonctions, qu'il s'est montré partout & constamment, non point le navigateur d'une nâtion étrangère, mais l'agent de toutes les nations, le promoteur des sciences, et l'ami de l'humanité; enfin que ses travaux et ses vertus lui donnent des droits à l'estime et a l'amitie de tous les successeurs des Cook & des Lapeyrouse, pour ne parler ici que de ceux dont la mort a terminé la glorieuse carriere, ces hommes si grands dans leurs projets, si persévérants dans leur execution, ces hommes à qui toutes les classes de la societé sont redevables de tant de bienfaits, ne sont pas assez communs pour qu'il soil permis d'entendre avec indifférence le récit de leurs malheurs, & de negliger quelques unes des demarches qui pourraient y mettre un terme. Nul mieux que vous n'est fait pour sentir la force et l'importance de cette vérité, & quand nous vous supplions d'embrasser la cause du Capitaine Flinders, quand nous le recommandons à votre zéle, a votre protection,

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à votre protection, c'est peut être moins une faveur que nous reclamons de vous, qu'un devoir que nous vous rappelons.
Employez donc, s'il le faut, nous vous en conjurons, en faveur du Capitaine Flinders l'influence du premier corps savant de l'Europe, de l'Institut National, & que l'erreur qui à donné lieu à la captivité de ce savant navigateur soil enfin reconnue; vous aurez acquis, en le rendant à ses nobles occupations, de nouveaux titres à l'estime & à la reconnaissance de toutes les nâtions, et à celle de tous les amis de la science et de l'humanité.
Veuillez agreés l'asssurance de notre respectueux devouement & nous croire
Messieurs
Vos très humbles & très obeïssant serviteurs
Les membres composant le Bureau de la société d' Emulation de l'L'lle de France
Signé
Foisy - President
C.T. Pitot - - Secretaire
J. Vincent - - Id. Adjoint
Arrighi - Id adjoint
Ed. Pitot - - Adjoint au Bureau

Lett. No 166
To return to the
Maison Despeaux
during the winter

To Colonel Monistrol Chef de l'Etat - major general à l'Isle de France
Sir
In this high part of Wilhems Plains, called Vacoua, the weather is at this time disagreeably cold, with almost continual rain, and it is expected to continue for three months; I understand that the Maison Despeaux remains unoccupied, and therefore request your permission to return to my former residence there until a change of season takes place; hoping at the same time, should no orders from France relative to me

[Page 247]
arrive in the interval, that this will be no obstruction to my returning back to Wilhems Plains upon my parole in the summer, with the same extention of liberty as at present.
I have the honour to be, Sir, with the highest
consideration, your most obedient humble servant

Mattw. Flinders
Wilhems Plains
June 13. 1806

Letter No 167
Of thanks for
their letter to
the N. Institute

To Monsieur Foisy, president; Mons. C.T. Pitot, secretary; and the other gentlemen composing the bureau of the Society of Emulation of the Isle of France

Gentlemen
I have the honour to receive the copy of a letter, which your zeal to serve those employed in the promotion of science, and compassion for an individual suffering under an imprisonment as extraordinary as it is unjust, have led you to write to the National Institute of France, praying them to intercede with the government in my behalf.
The kindness, the hospitable reception which, since my enlargement from the Maison Despeaux, I have every where found amongst those inhabitants of this island whom my circumscribed bounds have permitted me to visit, had already convinced me, that the high opinion I entertained of French liberality, especially towards men struggling under misfortune, was well founded; but if any thing was wanting to prevent the severities of the governor from casting a shade upon my sentiments of the governed, your goodness, gentlemen, towards an unfortunate stranger, - your earnest intercession and representations to the Institute, so much beyond any thing which my poor exertions in the service of science can merit, have accomplished it.
The Society of Emulation, has ever possessed my respect and best wishes, as it must of all men who desire to see depôts of knowledge multiplied upon the earth, and the spirit of universal philanthropy

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-sal philanthropy extend itself among men, for it is a truth, of which if any are unconvinced, your present generous proceeding must tend to their conviction, that the friends of science are ever the friends of humanity.
Accept, gentlemen, the homage of my respectful acknowledgements; and be assured, that whatever may be the event of my imprisonment, your liberal sentiments, your generous exertions, will ever be for me a theme of praise and admiration in whatever part of the earth my labours may call, or my misfortunes may throw me.
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No 168
of farewell on
his departure
for France

A Monsieur le capitaine Bergeret de la Marine Française
Wilhems Plains June 22nd 1806

My dear Sir
I had the honour to receive from you yesterday the answer to my letter addressed to His Excellency the captain general on March 11 last, and I beg of you to accept my best thanks for the trouble you obligingly took at my request in that affair.
You are now, my dear Sir, about to embark for France; that you may arrive in good health, and find your friends in the state you yourself wish them, is my anxious desire; - and not mine only, the numerous benefits and kindnesses which, with so much disinterested goodness, you have lavished upon many of my unfortunate countrymen, prisoners like myself, have made you the object of much concern and gratitude to a numerous body; nay, when added to the celebrety which your-well-tried bravery, and your highly honourable conduct relative to Sir W. Sydney Smith acquired, I may say, of the whole English nation.
I need not at this time call to your recollection, what my situation is in this place: I have been so long pressed under the

[Page 249]
the hand of injustice, and my confidence in the French government is so much exhausted, that I am reduced to asking as a favour what ought to be demanded as a right. On your arrival in France then, my dear Sir, forget not that I am here, - that my prayer is to be ordered to France to be examined, - to be tried, - to be condemned, if I have in action, intention, or thought, done anything whilst employed in my voyage of discovery, against the French nation or its allies, - if in anyway I have infringed upon the line of conduct prescribed to me by the passport of the then first counsul of France. To have the best years of my life, - the essence of my existence thus drained away without any examination made into my affair; - to have the fruits of my labours and risks thus ravished from me, - my hopes of advancement and of reputation thus cruelly blasted, is, I acknowledge, almost beyond what I am able to support; Use then, I conjure you, Sir, your best endeavours with those men in France who have it in their power to forward my wish, - with those men for whom a voyage of discovery, the preservation of national faith and the exercise of humanity have still attractions; with such men, in spite of the neglect my extraordinary situation here has undergone, now near three years, I will not believe; but that the French empire abounds. A Fleurieu, a Bougainville, a Lalande, a De Lambre, and numberless others, - can such men be strangers to national honour and humanity? - Has a man, whom any ardent zeal to advance geography and its kindred sciences has reduced to misfortune, no claims upon men like these? It cannot be! However unworthy an instrument I am in the hands of our literary British worthies, my employment, if not my misfortunes, give me a claim upon their assistance in obtaining, at least, an examination into my crimes or my innocence, and this claim I now make. See these celebrated men, Sir, - explain to them the circumstances of my situation, - tell them the plain tale, and that it is towards them, though

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though so distant, that my looks are directed: your own name will give you an introduction, and the cause you undertake will not disgrace it.
Adieu, worthy Sir, may the winds be propitious, and may you never be reduced to the bitterness of sighing after justice in vain.
With the highest sentiments of esteem, respect and gratitude, I am my dear Sir
your most affectionate humble servant
Mattw. Flinders
Late commander of His Majestys
ship Investigator

Lett. No 169
Acknowledgement
of letters received

To Rear-admiral Sir Ed. Pellew - Bart. Commander in chief
of His Majestys ships in the Indian Seas.
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France July 1. 1806

Sir
I have to acknowledge the receipt of two open letters dated June 18 1805 and January 15 1806 which you have done me the honour to write, and I beg leave to express my acknowledgements for the interest you take in my misfortune, as also for the private offers of assistance Captain Bergeret has made me in your name
Since I had the honour of addressing myself to Sir Edward Pellew, my situation in the Isle of France has been ameliorated, but my hopes of liberation, either by exchange, or in consequence of my passport, seem nearly as uncertain as ever. After the departure of the cartels in August last, I was permitted to reside in the interior part of the Isle of France, with the extent of liberty that a radius of two leagues will give. I had the honour in October last to receive a letter from the Rt. Honble. President of the Royal Society whence he says,

[Page 251]
whence he says, that as no intercourse existed between the French and English governments, nothing could be done for me in that quarter, but that he had obtained permission to write to the Institute of France in my behalf, and that the Institute, who admitted the justice of my claim, had given an answer as favourable as possible; he had therefore, well founded hopes, that as soon as the Emperor should have returned from Italy, he would extend to me his protection: Vessels, however, have arrived here from France, and public dispatches received, which had been written some months after Bonaparte's [56] return from Italy, but no orders relative to my detention were inclosed. It is three months since I again addressed General De Caen, requesting him to send me to France where a thorough examination might be made into my case, and judgment given; that at length an end might be put to my imprisonment one way or other. All the information I can obtain is, that the minister of the marine did not think himself authorized to decide upon so extraordinary a case as the imprisonment of the commander of an expedition on discovery with a French passport, having probably some difficulty between the captain-general on one side, and the credit of the government on the other and had therefore referred it to the council of state; General De Caën it appeared could make no change in my situation until orders should be received; he had repeatedly applied for these orders, and would again press the minister upon the subject; thus the matter rests at present. I am willing to attribute the delay of the French government in giving orders, to the great events which have occupied their attention, since the promise of the Institute was given to take measures for my enlargement; and to hope that when their affairs shall be more tranquil they may perhaps think of me.
The idea of obtaining my liberty by exchange, as a prisoner of war, seems to me improbable; since there is no circumstance whatever

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whatever in which the conditions prescribed by my passport, on which I was promised assistance and protection, have been infringed by me. If there is justice in the French government, I shall be liberated honourably and with recompense. My hopes are somewhat raised by the expected arrival of the governor of New South Wales in England. His Excellency is acquainted with the manner in which my voyage was prosecuted, and foresees the advantages what will accrue to navigation and commerce from my discoveries, and I doubt not of his warmest application to our government in my behalf. Should the ministry succeed, through the medium of a neutral ambassador, in obtaining an order for my liberation, it is to be hoped, that a duplicate of it will be forwarded to India; for the loss of despatches on board French vessels, from being thrown overboard on meeting our cruizers, is always probable; and I doubt not, Sir Edward, you would have pleasure in forwarding such an order to this place by a flag of truce. Several individuals in this island have made applications to their friends in the department of the marine and of the council of state in Paris, that the causes of my detention may be examined; and the departure of my friend captain Bergeret for France which is to take place in a few days, gives me also hopes of obtaining some decision; these hopes however, must be prolonged necessarily, for one year more and perhaps may be disappointed like all those I have hitherto entertained. The last letter I addressed to captain Bergeret, as it may explain to you my sentiments of that worthy man, and give some insight into the feelings which have agitated me during the last two years and a half, I take the liberty of inclosing a copy for your private information, and I have the honour to be, with the most perfect consideration and respect,
Sir Edward, your most obedient and faithful servant
Mattw. Flinders

[Page 253]
Lett. No. 170
Recommending
Mr. Thos. Pitot

The captain or commander of any of His Majesty's ships
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France July 22. 1806

Sir
The imprisonment of the commander of His Majestys ship Investigator, during the last two years and a half in the Isle of France, notwithstanding a passport from the French government and the employment of a voyage of discovery is probably not unknown to you. Its injustice remains unpalliated, but the severity of my treatment has received much alleviation, from the kind attention, the obliging of assistance, and friendly attachment of Mr Thomas Pitot a respectable merchant in this island, and secretary to the Society of Emulation; whose character is equally estimable for his literary qualifications, and virtues of his heart, of which others of our countrymen, prisoners in this island, have reaped the advantage. This worthy man having occasion to make a voyage to Bourbon, I beg leave to present him to your notice, should he be taken on his passage; and to request in my own name and by the ties of mutual consideration which bind together the officers of His Majestys navy, that you will be pleased to treat him with every attention and indulgence that the service will permit, and grant him that protection, which, as the warm friend of justice and humanity, he truly merits.
Mr Pitot being a passenger on board, and not bearing arms. I doubt not but you will have the goodness to set him on shore, either here or at Bourbon, by the first opportunity that may offer; and I beg of you, Sir, to be assured, that whatever good offices you may find occasion to do for this my particular friend, they will be always considered with much gratitude, and followed by every return that fortune may put it into my power to make. I have the honour
to be, Sir, your very obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

To Colonel Monistrol Chef d'Etat - major de Lisle de France
Wilhems Plains July 24 1806

Sir
I have to beg the favour of you, to grant me a permission to come to Port North West for one or two days. My principal object being to learn some intelligence of what steps may have been taken in England, concerning my release, from the captain of the Warren Hastings, I hope you will favour me with a speedy answer, as I understand he has already received a permission to go to America and will embrace the first occasion.
I have the honour to be, Sir, with great consideration,
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No 172
With my narrative
up to August 1805

To William Marsden Esq. Admiralty Office - London*
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France July 28 1806

Sir
Since my last letter from this island, dated April 13. 1806, my time has been principally employed in forming into a narrative, the more remarkable circumstances of my voyage which have occurred since the condemnation of His Majestys ship the Investigator, late under my command, and which I intended to make complete up to the time of its transmission; but the departure of Mr Larkins, late commander of the Hon. East-India Companys ship Warren Hastings, for America, having furnished me with such a conveyance as rarely occurs, I herewith forward to you a copy of the part finished, for the information of my Lords commissioners.
The narrative is put into the form of a publication; and were it placed in the hands of a skilful writer, with his corrections of sty[l]e and arrangement, such reflections as the different situations and circumstances would excite in a well-informed mind, and the addition of appropriate comparisons and facts drawn
* This letter was written in the beginning of the narrative, by way of preface.

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of sty[l]e and arrangement, such reflections as the different situations and circumstances would excite in a well-informed mind, and the addition of appropriate comparisons and facts drawn from the naval annals, it would probably be of sufficient interest to be laid before the public of all the nations of Europe; and should its publication be judged inconvenient, the narrative will always remain in the hydrographical office as so much information relating to the Investigators voyage. My principal intention in writing it, was to give their [Lordships] a complete knowledge, as far as I was able, of the various circumstances attending my extraordinary imprisonment in the Isle of France, and the steps I have taken, either to obviate its effects to my voyage, or to obtain justice; and that they might be able to judge, whether the case merits the interference of His Majestys ministers, - and if so, what steps are best to be taken, the necessary pieces, on both side of the question, are either interwoven in the narrative or joined in an appendix: the justification of my conduct, I do not disguise, was also one cause which led to its formation and transmission.
In the last two chapters (V and VI) some circumstances are mentioned upon the authority of others, relating, chiefly, to the treatment of English prisoners in this island; and although I have avoided giving place to reports or information, whose correctness appeared to be doubtful, yet I connot pledge myself for the authenticity of what did not pass under my own eye: in these cases I have generally been careful to mention my authorities.
After eleven months of residence in Wilhems Plains making in the whole a detention of more than thirty-one months, my prospect of obtaining liberty seems to be more than ever distant. The suspicions, real or pretended of general De Caën, make him continue his rigorous measures; nor will he listen to any change, until he

[Page 256]
-til he receives orders from the French government; the minister of the marine and the colonies, it seems, refusing to decide upon so extraordinary a case, has referred the determination to the council of state, who are either too much occupied with the great events that are happening in Europe, or want inclination, to examine into it; and thus, if my situation is not called to their remembrance by some powerful agent, the duration of my arrest will very probably be coincident with that of the war.
On the other hand, from all those inhabitants of the Isle of France, with whom my circumscribed limits have permitted me to make acquaintance, and from whom the excellent family with which I am fortunately placed, in particular, I have experienced nothing but kindness and friendship: My gratitude for such generous conduct on the part of these liberal-minded individuals, is abundant and sincere, but cannot make me forget my country, my family, and my voyage; - that those years of my life, which ought to be employed in the service of my country and of hydrographical science, are passing away in listless inactivity, far from those ties of patriotism and of kindred which the human heart courts most dear, and from those occupations which, in perspective, had flatteringly promised me some little share of fame; occupations from which I had hoped to obtain rank in His Majestys naval service, before that age, when it comes too late to be useful.
In humble confidence, I still entertain the hope, that their Lordships will not suffer the imprisonment of a faithful servant of His Majesty, contrary to every principle of justice and humanity, to continue without notice, - without such steps being taken to obtain my release, and that of my remaining charts and papers, as in their

[Page 257]
their wisdom shall seem proper: to this hope I still cling through all disappointments.

I am, Sir, your most obedient
humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

P.S. In the event of the publication of the narrative, the chart of Torres' Strait, with chapter VII of the memoir before transmitted, would perhaps be an appropriate and useful accompaniment.

Letter No 173
In favour of
Mons J. M.
Menesse

To the commander of any of His Majestys ships or other commanding officer in His Majestys, or the Honble. companys service
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France Augt. 6 1806

Sir
It is probably not unknown to you that the commander of His Majestys ship Investigator, employed on a voyage of discovery with a French passport, having suffered shipwreck in the South Sea, arrived at the Isle of France in a small schooner [Cumberland] with his charts and papers in December 1803, when he was made a prisoner by the captain general De Caën, and has been detained from that time to this present; the first twenty months closely confined, but since then upon his parole in the interior part of the island, having been received into the family of Mons. D'Arifat, with the greatest kindness and hospitality. In this situation, amongst other persons he became acquainted with Mons. Palerne, formerly captain in the regiment of the Isle of France and an intimate friend of the family with whom he resides.
Presuming, Sir that you join with me, in the opinion, that a war between nations is not a war between private individuals, nor should prevent us from doing them justice, or even conferring kindness where either merit or misfortune claims it; - persuaded also that your patriotism will lead you to regard those with a favourable eye who have any way contributed to alleviate the distresses of your imprisoned

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Imprisoned countrymen, I thus address you from my retreat, and beg your attention to the following circumstances; -
Monsieur Palerne, for whose uprightness and veracity I have every respect, states to me, that his friend Mons. Jaques Michel Menesse formerly of Mahé on the coast of Malabar, but now an inhabitant of this district, having been informed of the death of his father, to whose property he is sole heir, is under the necessity of making a voyage to India to take possession of his right; but having some apprehension, that his being an inhabitant of the Isle of France might excite suspicion, and possibly be an impediment to his affairs, was exceedingly desirous of a letter from me, certifying the circumstances of his situation.
Monsieur Palerne has laid before me authenticated pieces, certifying the identity of Mons. Menesse, and the signatures of those from whom he received the account of his fathers death at Mahé on the 20th of November 1804; also divers letters from Mr. A. McDonald lately a prisoner in this island, from which I learn, that Mons Menesse was intimately acquainted with Mr. McDonald, and rendered him many kindnesses, as also to others of his companions in the same situation. I am also assured, that Mons. Menesse, though formerly an officer in the regiment of Pondechery, has for several years held no situation under the French Government; and that his voyage to India is totally unconnected, or will he undertake or have any concern, with anything relating to the war that unhappily subsists between the two nations, or that can in any manner be injurious to the British government: his voyage being solely for the purpose of obtaining the possession of his late fathers property.
In full confidence of the above circumstances, from the assurances of Mons. Palerne, the papers I have seen, and the

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parole of honour given me in a letter by Mons. Menesse "to do nothing in India that could make me regret having done him service", I am induced to beg of you, Sir, to permit his voyage to Mahé without molestation; and that he may receive from you that support in the prosecution of his affairs, which the British laws grant to every honest man; and should he, Sir, be under the necessity of asking your protection, if to his prayers you will have the goodness to consider mine to be added, and comply with his request, you will confer a sensible favour on me, and repay the debt of gratitude due to Mons. Menesse from our countrymen.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
your most obedient and humble servent
Mattw. Flinders
Late commander of His Majestys ship Investigator

Letter No 174
In favour of
Mons James Mallac

To the captain or commander of any of His Majestys ships

Sir
The bearer of this letter Mr. James Mallac, a member of the Society of Emulation and one of the pleasantest men in the Isle of France, has requested of me a letter of recommendation to my countrymen cruizing off the island, who might oppose his passage to Bourbon, or put in force the rights of war upon his effects; his effects will not, I imagine, be more than a trunk or two of cloaths and books, and his voyage is for the purpose of being present at a marriage, to which I am sure his presence will be a vast accession of gaiety. To such a man and upon such a voyage I do not risk much in asking your indulgence; and as he occupies no office under the government, nor is either soldier or sailor, in requesting you will have the goodness, to put him on shore by the first occasion, and if it can be at Bourbon before

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before the celebration of the ceremony which is the cause of his voyage; for although he may not be able, physically, to turn water into wine as was once done upon a similar occasion, he is well able to do it morally, by the inebriation which the sallies of his wit do not fail to produce even upon water drinkers.
I take the liberty of writing to you Sir, in Mr Mallac's favour, upon the supposition that my long and unjust imprisonment in this island is neither unknown or uninteresting to you, nor that you are without inclination to alleviate it should opportunties fall in your way; - this Sir, you have now the only means of doing which circumstances will permit, - by treating with attention a gentleman to whose politeness I feel myself indebted; and in doing which you will confer a sensible favour on me, which I shall be happy to acknowledge and to return.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
your very obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders { Late commander of His Ma
{ -jesty's ship Investigator

Letter 175
In favour of
M. Robert

To the captain or commander of any of H.M.S.s of war
Wilhems Plains in the I. of France
Nov. 20. 1806
Sir
The bearer of this letter Monsieur Robert, is the brother-in-law of Madame Meurville, a respectable lady in the vicinity of the place where I am kept a prisoner upon my parole, and from whose family I have received much civility. Her brother being to embark for Calcutta

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for Calcutta on board a neutral vessel on account of his private affairs, she has requested me to recommend him to the attention of the officers of His Majesty's navy in case any unforeseen misunderstanding should put him in a situation to require it. As I am assured that he bears no office, civil or military, under the French government, - that he carries no cargo or other effects with him other than his own cloaths and necessaries, - and that his voyage has no relation whatever to politics, I do not hesitate a moment to comply with her request, having too severely felt misfortune myself not to be desirous of alleviating it in others, particularly those from whom I, or any of my unfortunate countrymen, have received acts of civility and kindness, and when neither the honour or interest of my country can be thereby compromised.
In this sentiment I shall be joined by every officer in His Majestys navy, and therefore risk nothing in requesting you, Sir, to act with Mr Robert in the most favourable manner that circumstances will permit, particularly in allowing him to continue his voyage unmolested to the place of his destination.
I take the liberty of writing to you, Sir, in Monsieur Roberts favour, upon the supposition that my long and unjust imprisonment in this island is neither unknown or uninteresting to you, and that you are not without inclination to alleviate it should opportunities fall in your way; this, Sir, you have now the only means of doing that my peculiar situation will permit, - by acting in the lenient and honourable manner, usual with His Majestys officers, towards a person whose relations have shown me civility and attention ever since my enlargement from the Maison Despeaux upon my parole, and you will at the same time confer

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time confer a favour upon me which I shall be happy to acknowledge and to return.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders
{Late commander of H.M.
ship Investigator on a voyage of discovery.

Letter No 176
In favour of
M. DeGlos

To the captain or commander of any of H.M.Ss. in the Indian Seas.
December 13. 1806

Duplicate of the letter in favour of Mr. DeGlos, dated Dec. 30. 1805
with the alteration "three years" instead of two.

Letter No 177
In favour of
M. Gravier

To the captain &c. December 13. 1806

Duplicate of the letter in favour of Mr. Gravier, dated Dec. 6. 1805 with the above alteration, and also styling him, "member of the literary societies in this island and of Batavia" instead of surgeon.

Letter No 178
In favour of
M. Fred.Pitot

To the captain or commander of H.M.Ss in the Indian Seas.
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France Dec. 15. 1806
Sir
Being persuaded that the treatment of British subjects, prisoners in this island, more particularly of His Majestys officers, cannot be uninteresting to you, and that such inhabitants as may have contributed to soften the hardships of their situation, will share in the consideration you have for disinterested kindness, I take the liberty of recommending to your notice and good will Mr. Frederick Pitot, member of a house

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-ber of a house distinguished in this island for their kindness to English prisoners. Colonel Sheppard and Mr. Robertson, surgeon on the Bengal establishment, are particular instances of this, and the pecuniary assistance given to Mr. Larkins, commander of the late H.E.I. companys ship Warren Hastings, to procuring the passage of himself and officers to America, ought to be mentioned. For myself, during the quarter part of a three years imprisonment, I have constantly received the benefit of their friendship and service in all cases where I have either thought it proper to demand, or their influence could avail.
I presume to address you thus, Sir, in the behalf belief that you are no stranger to the fraternal sentiments which usually animate His Majesty's naval officers towards each other; and also, that the long and unjust imprisonment I have been made to undergo here is neither unknown to you nor unattended with sentiments of indignation and regret. With these suppositions I cannot doubt, Sir, that Mr Frederick Pitot will have the advantage of your protection, and your assistance or recommendation in procuring the earliest exchange, or permission to return to his family upon parole; a favour which I shall be ever happy to acknowledge and eager to return.
I have the honour to be, Sir,

your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders {Late commr. of H.M. ship
{Investigator, employed on
{discoveries with a French {passport

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Letter No 179
Requesting a
permission to
visit Port N.W.

A Monsieur le colonel Monistrol - Chef d'etat - major general
de l'Isle de France
Sir
Having some little affairs to arrange in the town, I have to request you will be pleased to grant me a permission for two or three days to that effect.
I have the honour to be, Sir, with much consideration
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders
Wilhems Plains
Dec. 21. 1806

Letter No. 180
In favour of M. Germinil
Chauvet

To the captain or commander of any of His Majestys ships of war
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France Jan. 30. 1807
Sir
It is probably not unknown to you that the commander of His Majestys ship the Investigator, employed on a voyage of discovery with a French passport, having suffered shipwreck in the South Seas, arrived at the Isle of France, in a small schooner with his charts and papers, in Dec. 1803 when he was made a prisoner and has been detained from that time to the present: the first twenty months in close confinement, but since then upon his parole in this district. During the greater part of this time, the injustice he was made to suffer from the government, has been much alleviated by the friendship and unceasing kindness of Mr. Thomas Pitot a merchant in the town of Port North-West, and a principal member of the literary Society of Emulation established in the island; to whom, also, many other

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many other English prisoners have been indebted for assistance and attention, more particularly Colonel Sheppard of the Bengal establishment, whose liberation he procured.
Believing, Sir, that being animated with those fraternal sentiments by which the officers of our navy are united, you do not behold my situation without taking some interest in it; and that the liberal conduct of a worthy individual, by which my misfortunes and those of others have been alleviated, will meet your warm approbation, I take the liberty, at the request of my friend, to write to you in favour of Monsieur Germinil Chauvet the son of a family in Bourbon with whom he is particularly united, that in case the fortune of war should throw him into you hands, he may receive the benefit of your countenance and protection.
Not doubting, Sir, that you are convinced with me, that a war between nations is not a war between individuals, nor should prevent us from doing them justice, or even conferring kindness, where either merit or misfortune claims it, I have no hesitation in making this application in favour of M. Chauvet in the name of M. Pitot and myself, although I may probably not have the honour of your acquaintance; and I request, Sir, you will be persuaded, that any assistance or kindness you may shew that young gentlemen will be thankfully acknowledged by me, and that at all times I shall be eager to return it in any similar case.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

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Letter No 181
To the President and members of the Society of Emulation I. of France

Gentlemen
Amongst the many praise-worthy objects for which your Society was instituted, observations upon nautical subjects cannot but hold a distinguished place, from the connection they naturally have with the insulated position of your country, the patriotism which marks your proceedings, and from the interest you take in the advancement of knowledge in general; the promotion of science is moreover, the common concern of all who interest themselves in the happiness and elevation of the human mind, and was the grand object of my voyage to Australia* and the Pacific Ocean. The discoveries of former times were undertaken from motives of immediate interest, - were often marked with rapine and violence, - and the knowledge acquired was sedulously concealed from the rest of the world; those of our more philanthropic and enlightened days are undertaken for the acquisition of knowledge and the extension of civilization, - humanity and moderation have attended the steps of modern navigators, - and their discoveries are made public for the benefit of mankind. This
*The vast island sometimes called New Holland, is politically separated into two divisions. The coast of the western half were discovered and roughly explored by Dutch seamen, in the interprising commercial voyages undertaken by their nation, at the commencement of the seventeenth century; the examination of the eastern half was begun by captain Cook in 1770 and has since been mostly completed by British navigators: the former is New Holland properly so called, the latter bears the denomination of New South Wales. For a name to the whole which should not interfere with the claims of each nation to their of discovery I have had recourse to the original descriptive appellation Terra Australis or Australia; but it remains to be known whether this will be adopted by European geographers.

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This marked difference in the objects of their pursuit and in their proceedings as it has rendered their voyages more extensively useful, so has it procured for them an interest which so far from being confined to their own nation as heretofore, has caused that all civilized powers have, till now, shewn themselves forward to protect and to render them assistance.
The misfortune that attended the expedition I had the honour to command, will extremely abridge the utility I had flattered myself would have resulted from it; and perhaps it is premature in me to communicate any part of the few observations I was enabled to make, before they have undergone the revision of my government, and such selection made from them as might be judged sufficiently useful and important to merit promulgation; but persuaded as
I am, that in making a communication of some circumstances which may tend either to prevent misfortunes similar to mine, or furnish a clue by which the zeal and opportunities of well-informed men may be early directed to an object interesting to natural philosophy and hydrographical science, - persuaded that in so doing I do but anticipate the liberal intentions of the British admiralty, I have formed the project of offering to your notice some observations upon the extraordinary changes in the variation of the compass, which take place on ship-board, and which seem to arise solely from a cause to which little or no attention
has hitherto been paid; and also some remarks upon two newly discovered banks of coral, lying between the east coast of New South Wales and the island of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean. These last claim the priority, from their connection with a subject interesting to the hearts of all mankind, and more particularly to the French nation; - I allude to the disappearance of that accomplished navigator, the unfortunate La Pérouse, once an inhabitant of the Isle of France,

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Isle of France to lament whom, the good of all nations have joined themselves to his sorrowing countrymen.
His Britannic Majestys armed vessel the Porpoise, and the Cato - a merchant ship of London, were shipwrecked upon the largest of the two banks of coral in the night of August 17. 1803. On board the former of these vessels I was taking a passage to England with the books and charts of my discoveries, after my ship the Investigator had become incapable of continuing my voyage. This bank, which now bears the name of Wreck Reef, lies N.41º E 64 leagues from Sandy Cape, which is the nearest part of the coast of New South Wales: from the nearest part of New Caledonia it lies about 150 leagues distant to the west.
The greatest extent of Wreck Reef is about twenty miles in an east and west direction, forming a line of coral which is from a quarter to one and a half mile in breadth; it is, however, by no means one solid mass, but is divided into many small patches, of which six are the most important. The openings in the reef which separate these patches, are generally one or one and a half mile in breadth, and the depth of water in the two easternmost is eight, nine, and ten fathoms; so that a ship may pass safely through them: whether the same may be done through the three western passages I cannot assert, but should have no hesitation to attempt them myself in a case of emergency. Upon four of the six large patches of coral, there are sand banks which do not appear to have been lately covered by the tide; these dry banks are more or less frequented by sea birds, such as noddies, boobies, tropic birds, man-of-war birds, and gannets, which resort thither for the purpose of resting in security and breeding up their young. Leaving the particular situation of these four sand banks to be learned from the accompanying

[Page 269]
-panying sketch, I proceed to a short description of them, commencing with the easternmost, which is the most considerable and the most frequented by birds.
The diameter of this bank is about one quarter of a mile and as its form is nearly circular, the circumference of it will consequently be less than one geographic mile. This accumulation of sand upon the solid coral rock, appears to have been thrown up at different periods by the sea during the high tides and gales of wind; and since the time that it surpassed the elevation of the sea, it has acquired a soil of two or three inches in thickness, to which the birds are constantly making an addition. This soil is now clothed with a coarse, wiry tufted grass, and some small shrubs; amongst which, in September and October 1803, it was difficult to walk without trampling to death the young birds, or crushing the eggs; besides having to encounter at each step the beaks of the parent birds, who having never experienced the power and disposition of man, fearlessly
defended their progeny against the new invader. The state to which this dry bank is now arrived, seems to entitle it to a superior appellation, and it was generally distinguished amongst us by the name of Bird Islet. It was not however upon this part of Wreck Reef that our two ships were thrown; but the distance of the islet not being more than seven miles, and lying to windward of the wrecks, our boats visited it occasionally without fear of being driven to sea, and obtained many thousands of birds eggs, from it and occasionally a turtle: after rainy weather, a small quantity of muddy water might have been procured here.
The second dry bank is that near which the Porpoise and Cato were shipwrecked, and to which we are indebted for our preservation, the officers and ships companies remained nearly two months upon it, until I made a voyage of 250 leagues to Port Jackson in one of the boats, and

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boats, and returned with vessels to their relief. By way of distinction, we called this Wreck-Reef Bank: its length is three or four hundred yards and its breadth about one hundred, and next to Bird Islet it is the most considerable of the whole both in elevation and extent. Its surface is from four to six feet about the reach of the tides, and if we may take the number of Birds Eggs found there, and general appearances to be sufficient proof, the sea never attains to its summit in the heaviest gales. This arises from the force of the waves being broken by the outer edges of the reef, from which the bank is removed nearly half a mile in all directions; judging, however, by the absence of all sea plants incapable of supporting sea water, the light spray of the sea must frequently pass over it, for the whole of its vegetation consists in a few diminutive sea plants. We made an essay, however, of its vegetable powers, as well as those of Bird Islet, by sowing oats, maize, and pumpkin seeds upon them; and at the time we quitted the reef, the young plants were out of the ground, and in a tolerably flourishing state on both: It is possible, that some of these may succeed upon the islet, if not destroyed by the birds, but upon Wreck-Reef Bank this is scarcely to be expected. The cocoa nut is capable of resisting the light spray of the sea, and it is to be regretted that none of them were at that time on board the Porpoise. A cluster of these majestic and useful palms would have been an excellent beacon to warn mariners of their danger; and in the case where darkness might render them unavailing in this respect, their fruit would have afforded a most salutory nourishment to the shipwrecked seamen. The navigator who should distribute a thousand cocoa nuts in similar situations, and the Pacific and Indian Oceans abound with such, would be entitled to the gratitude of all maritime nations and of every friend to humanity. It is from having suffered ourselves that we learn to appreciate duly the misfortunes of others, and become doubly

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come doubly interested in relieving them; - the human heart, as Chateau-briant elegantly expresses it "est comme ces sortes d'arbres qui ne donnent leur baume pour les blessures des hommes, que lorsque le fer les a blessés eux-mêmes.
The two western sand banks are of less extent and elevation than that last mentioned: they were seen in my voyage to Port Jackson in the boat, but I landed only upon the westernmost, which was strewed with the eggs of the noddy, though in much less number than upon Wreck-Reef Bank; in other
respects, what has been said of it is applicable, in a somewhat less degree, to the fourth bank, and most probably to the third also; a further description of either is therefore unnecessary.
According to the observations of my brother, lieutenant S. W. Flinders, the latitude of Wreck-Reef Bank is 22º.11'.20" south, from the mean of ten meridional altitudes of the sun, carefully taken from both the sea and quicksilver horizons; and from the mean of forty sets of distances of the sun and stars east and west of the moon, the number of sets on each side of the moon being equal, and each set consisting of six observations taken with an excellent sextant placed on a moveable stand, the longitude of the bank is 155º.35'.31" to the east of Greenwich. The variation of the magnetic needle, he determined from the mean of a considerable number of observations by two compasses of Walker's construction, in which the needles are fixed edgewise to the card, and found it to be 11º.11'. to the right: the inclination of the needle from the horizon I cannot state, having left our instrument behind at Port Jackson.
It is high water at Wreck Reef three hours before the moon comes to the meridian, and the rise of tide is from six to eight English feet. The flood comes from the eastward; but I found also a current setting to the north-west at the rate of five or six

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five or six leagues per day, occasioned, no doubt, by the south-east winds which seem to prevail here during the greater part of the year: of this current, ships passing near the reef should be aware; as also, that an increase or abatement of the wind may add to, or diminish its strength, or a change of wind to another quarter alter the direction of the current, either more to the north or to the westward.
The depth of water on the south, or windward side of the reef, I cannot precisely state; but to judge by analogy from other banks of coral found in the open sea, and from our having had seventeen fathoms on one side of the Porpoise whilst there was only a few feet on the other, it is unfathomable at much less than a cable's length from the breakers. On the north or lee side, I had from fifteen to twenty-two fathoms upon a tolerably good bottom of sand, when the highest part of Wreck-Reef Bank bore from south-east to south-south-west, distant about one mile; and in this situation, the ship and two schooners I obtained for the succour of my companions, lay four days at anchor in tolerable security; it will, however, be perceived, that the anchorage is practicable only whilst the direction of the wind is between south-west and east-south-east.
I now proceed to speak of the second newly-discovered reef, which lies S. 12º.E.19 leagues from Wreck-Reef Bank, or in latitude 23º.7' south, and longitude 155º48' east; but this position is not entitled to the same confidence as the former, being determined at the distance of five or six miles, and the latitude deduced from the observation at noon taken nearly three hours before. Our distance permitted me only to observe a dry sand, apparently of less magnitude than that of Wreck-Reef Bank, and about which a large flock of birds were hovering; but that this bank is raised upon a reef of several miles in circumference, I cannot doubt; and it is possible, that it may form part of a chain somewhat analogous to Wreck Reef, and that we saw only the eastern extremity; I am notwithstanding, more inclined to think, that it is only a single patch.
Along the neighbouring coast of New South Wales, there are exten-

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are extensive banks of coral, which I have traced to the distance of thirty leagues from the shore; and have reason to believe, that in the parallel of Wreck Reef they extend more than forty. These reefs commence near Sandy Cape, and stretching to the northward, nearly parellel to the shore, form a barrier to the coast which does not terminate but at the strait which separates Australia from New Guinea*. It is interesting to know what connection the two banks above described, have with these extensive barrier reefs. I shall state the two sole facts of which I am in possession, that throw light upon the subject.
In steering from the western part of Wreck Reef in the boat, towards Port Jackson, we made a south-western course for Indian Head, (see the chart of New South Wales,) but deviated about five leagues to the westward of a straight line. This carried us near thirty leagues behind the second newly discovered reef above described, but we saw nothing of any bank, reef, or island; which proves, that if it has any connection with the barrier of New South Wales, it can only be by patches intermediately dispersed, and at a considerable distance from each; of this, however, there seems but little probability.
When returning to Wreck Reef in the little schooner Cumberland, I ascertained, that in the space of twenty leagues due west of it, no danger exists; by this space then, if not by a greater, Wreck Reef is separated from that part of the barrier in its parallel. Further than these two facts may be admitted as proof, the circumstances under which I laboured did not permit me to establish the certainty of their separation.
It now only remains to furnish the Society with my ideas upon the loss of the much lamented La Perouse, and the reasons upon which
*The commencement of the reefs being in latitude 23º. S. and longitude 153º. E nearly, and their end in about 9º. S. and 144º. E. the length of this immense barrier of coral, without taking the windings into the calculation, will be more than one thousand miles, which is perhaps not to be equalled in any other part of the world. Several small openings through the barrier are known to exist, and probably there may be others larger, found hereafter.

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upon which they are founded.
In collecting wood for a fire upon Wreck-Reef Bank, on the first evening after our shipwreck, a piece of timber was found, worm-eaten and almost rotten. It was burnt before I was informed of the circumstance; but the master of the Porpoise, a man of information in these matters, and worthy of being believed, assured me, that it was doubtless a piece of the wreck of some ship, and to all
appearance had been part of the stern post. It seems to me far from impossible,
that it might have been a remnant of the Boussole or Astrolabe, since it was the intention of the French navigator to explore the opposite coast of New Caledonia which lies to windward; and according to Monsieur D'Entrecasteaux, appears to be scarcely less dangerous than that of New
South Wales. Monsieur de la Pérouse in his letter to M. de Fleurieu from Avatscha Bay, dated Sept. 7. 1787, expresses his intention of refitting in Queen Charlotte's Sound - New Zealand; "and parting thence, says he, I shall employ "six months in visiting the Friendly Islands to procure refreshments, the south-
"west coast of New Caledonia, the island Santa Cruz of Mendana, the southern "coast of the land of the Arsacides, with that of Louisiade, as far as New Guinea". On Sept. 28. 1787 he says again, "The orders I have just received will make no "change in the plan I had laid down for the further prosecution of my voyage, "except that I shall touch at Botany Bay", and in a letter from that bay, dated Feb. 7. 1788, addressed also to M. de Fleurieu, he writes, - "You will doub[t]less be "glad to learn, that I have not allowed this misfortune "(the loss sustained at the Navigators Islands)" to derange the plan of the remaining part of my voyage". Voyage of La Pérouse, Translation, London 1799, - Vol. II, page 490 et seq.
From this it seems not improbable, that either in approaching or quitting New Caledonia, he might have encountered in the night, as we did, some one of the several reefs that lie in this sea. Less fortunate than us, he probably had no friendly sand bank near him, upon which his people might be collected together and the means of existence saved out of the ships. When the Porpoise struck upon

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struck upon Wreck Reef in the night, she fortunately took a direction toward the rocks, by which means we were enabled to save the boats, and the greater part of the provisions and stores; but the Cato inclined the opposite way, and her open decks being exposed to the surges of the sea, were torn up, and every thing within the ship either washed away or destroyed in a very short time; and in twenty four hours, some loose pieces of the wreck were the only vestiges of her that remained. This last might have been the fate both of the Boussole and Astrolabe, and in that case, the presence even of a dry sand bank could have rendered them no other service than that of prolonging for a few days the miserable existence of a few of the best swimmers. What must have been the situation of La Pérouse during the night of his shipwreck? But his magnanimous soul would not despond even in such a situation: the hope that his consort had either escaped, or had taken a position less exposed to the ravages of the sea, would support him through it, and furnish a subject with which to console those who possessed less fortitude than himself; but when the following dawn disclosed the fallacy of every hope, - shewed him the wreck of the Astrolabe ready to be swallowed up by the next wave, and his friends, the faithful companions of his dangers, waving to him a last adieu, - Oh La Pérouse! I feel what must have been the agony of thy mind. That the sharers in they perilous voyage should be torn from thee one by one as their strength failed, - that the fruits of thy extensive and useful labours should for the most part be lost to mankind, - that thy family - ! But the picture is too painful to be pursued. Deprived of every hope, save that which never forsakes the good, thou wouldst consider the surge that washed the remnant of thy bark to atoms, and buried, alas! thee and thy remaining companions in its bosom, as conducted by the angel of mercy.

That such was the end of this excellent and regretted navigator, there are, at this period, but too many reasons to induce our unwilling belief. Besides the extensive reefs that skirt the coasts of

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coasts of New Caledonia and New South Wales, we are now acquainted with nine different banks of coral that lie scattered in this sea between them:
The two reefs described in this letter:-
The two discovered by M. de Bougainville, situated about 190
leagues north-west from Wreck Reef:-
The Bature de Diane, by the same, N.W. by N. 160 leagues:-
Booby Shoal, seen by Lieut. Ball, about 68 leagues to the E.N.E.:-
The Bellona's Shoals, about 82 leagues in the same direction:-
Bampton's shoal, 70 leagues to the N.E. from Wreck Reef:-
And the islets and shoals seen by the ship Sovereign, which seem to be a part of those which extend so far from the north-west end of New Caledonia. All these and some others further to the northward, lie in the space comprehended between Louisiade and New Guinea on the north, - New Caledonia to the east, - New South Wales on the west, - and a line drawn from Sandy Cape to the Isle of Pines on the south. There are few ships who have passed through this sea without making the discovery of some new bank of coral; and it is scarcely to be doubted, that several other patches exist in it, particularly on the New Caledonian side: I would have this space called the Coralline Sea.
I have always entertained the opinion, that the unfortunate La Pérouse was lost here, and in my examination of the opposite coast of New South Wales, one of my first objects on landing, was ever to see if there were any marks of shipwreck amongst the sea drift lying on the shore. I found none; probably because my particular examination has hitherto extended no further along the east coast than to Cape Palmerston, in 21 1/2º south latitude; and consequently, the remains of any shipwreck near New Caledonia, carried to the coast of New South Wales by the south-east trade wind, would not fall within my cognizance. Had not a continuation of misfortune prevented the resumption of my voyage, the whole coast would have undergone a minute examination before this time, and the place, which proved fatal to so

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-tal to so many brave and interesting men, would probably have been ascertained with certainty, and perhaps some valuable remnants of their voyage found; but hereafter, the remains of the Porpoise and Cato, scattered already more than three years in this sea, will present a very great obstacle.
The observations I have made upon this subject, and upon the two newly-discovered banks of coral, which seem worthy of being presented to your notice, are now concluded; and I shall esteem myself happy if they may prove the means of saving one valuable life, or of leading to the discovery of any remnant of the expedition commanded by Monsieur de la Pérouse.
Uncertain how far my present situation may prove an obstacle to the reception of anything from me, I wait the approbation of the Society to communicate my observations upon the first of the two subjects mentioned in this letter; but which ever way its judgment may incline, I beg leave to assure Messieurs the President and Members, of my anxious wishes for the success of their laudable institution, and of the respect and consideration with which I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
your most obedient
humble servant
Matthw. Flinders

Wilhems Plains
Januar. 17. 1807

Note This letter was not sent until the beginning of May, on the return of Mr. Thomas Pitot, Secretary to the Society, from Bourbon

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Letter No 182
In favour of
Mons. Labat

To His Excellency the Right Honble. Lord William Bentinck
Governor-general of Madras
Wilhems Plans in the Isle of France
March 12. 1807
My Lord
The goodness with which you acceded to the request made in my letter of January 5. 1805 in favour of Messieurs Merles, and interested yourself with general De Caen on my account, as from Mr. Augustin Baudin, I learned, you took the trouble to do, induce me to believe, this letter will not be thought importunate.
Your Excellency will not be uninformed that since August 1805, general De Caen has permitted me to live in the interior part of this island on parole; but he has refused all my application to be liberated in any way, nor will he send me to France for the judgment of the government until he shall receive orders. The minister of the marine has referred the decision of the affair to the council of state, with whom it has ever since remained. The President of the Royal Society, in a letter dated June 1805, gave me hopes, that the application of the National Institute of Paris to the French emperor, would procure me a speedy restoration to my country, but as yet I am a stranger to the result of this, or any of the various means that have been tried to procure my enlargement; and it is to be apprehended, that the French government have been led to consider my imprisonment in the light general De Caen desired; and that until peace takes place, I have but little hopes of resuming my geographical labours, or revisiting my family.
Thus situated, I cannot but feel very sensibly the kind attention of various families in this island, to alleviate my chagrin and contribute to my happiness. One of these has requested me to intercede with Your Lordship in favour of a Monsieur Labat, prisoner at Poona-malee, who being not included in the number of five which are treated as officers of French

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French privateers when taken, is confined amongst the seamen, and unable to obtain permission to return to the Isle of France upon his parole as many others have done. I could not resist their solicitations to represent the case of M. Labat to your Lordship, and their prayer that he might be allowed to return on parole to his friends; to which, if mine is of any avail, I beg leave to join it to theirs. Should Your Excellency think proper to grant this request, I do not despair, through the friends of Mons. Labat, to obtain the release of lieutenant McCartney, or some other English prisoner upon the same terms.
Requesting Your Excellency Lordship to accept the assurances of my perfect consideration and respect, I have the honour to be
Your Excellency's
most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No 183

To His Excellency William Bligh Esquire
Governor of New SouthWales
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France March 23. 1807
Sir,
Having learnt from the gazettes of India, Your Excellency's arrival at Sydney in August last, I take the liberty of addressing a letter to you, in the belief, that the interest you were pleased to take in my voyage, and your desire to promote the success of your colony will render the subjects of it acceptable.
With the decay of the Investigator, - the shipwreck of the Porpoise, - my voyage in the little Cumberland, and extraordinary imprisonment in the Isle of France since December 1803, Your Excellency will be acquainted; and from the arrival of the master of the Investigator in England in England with my charts and several other papers and books, in October 1805, which I suppose to have

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pose to have been antecedent to your departure, the principal produce of my labours, particularly the charts, will have probably passed under your inspection. The chart of Torres' Strait, which would be one of the most interesting, was amongst these; but that chapter of my memoir upon the charts which particularly explains the combination of your discoveries in the strait, and those of captains Cook and Edwards, and of Mr Bampton, with mine, was not finished in time to be transmitted by the same occasion, but I hope is now long since arrived. If Your Excellency took the trouble to compare my positions of the islands and reefs in the strait with those of your chart, you would have been much struck with the concordance; and not less with the extraordinary differences of longitude in places near Cape York, which subsists between the situations laid down by captain Cook and by me. I had full reason to agree with the remarks at the end of Chap. XVI of your voyage in the Bounty, which say - "I cannot with certainty "reconcile the situation of some parts of the coast that I have seen to his survey." "- Perhaps by those who shall hereafter navigate these seas, more advantage "may be derived from the possession of both our charts, than from either of them "singly."
The two main points of comparison between the longitude given by your time-keepers in the Providence and mine in the Investigator and Cumberland, were B (the Murray's Island of the Pandora) and R, the top of the high mountainous island. After the time-keepers on board the Investigator were corrected for the error they had contracted between the fixed stations nearest to our passage through the Torres' Strait, and their longitude was afterwards corroborated to less than one minute, by the excellent time-keeper (Earnshaws No. 520) which I had in the Cumberland, I made the comparison at B and R with those of your manuscript chart, of which a copy had been furnished to me by the admiralty. At the first island, my longitude was 14' 1/2 more east, and at R 18' east; but on examining the longitude at which Coepang had been taken

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had been taken, I found that the requisite proportional correction to your time-keepers would produce an agreement which exceeded my most sanguine expectations.
I remember very well, that your Excellency's ill health prevented you from taking any astronomical observations for fixing the position of Coepang, and that either three or five sets of observations on one side of the moon, taken by captain Portlock, gave 123º.41' east; and also that the three time-keepers gave 9 1/2' to the west of that longitude, or 123º. 31 1/2' east; but I have since determined the longitude of Coepang to be 123º 53 1/2' east, from the mean of 54 sets of observations of the sun and stars east and west of the moon, the number of sets on each side of the moon being equal; and taking this to be correct, it consequently follows, that the three time-keepers had erred 22' to the west from the time of taking our departure from Matavai Bay about 75 days before; and the proportional correction resulting from this, being applied to the anchorages of Sept. 4 and 17. 1792 (these being the nearest to the places in question,) I found there would not be quite one minute of difference between our longitude of these two extremities of Torres' Strait; than which, a nearer coincidence is almost impossible.
Upon your chart of the south side of the strait, for which, notwithstanding your distressful situation in the Bounty's launch, you found means to collect the materials, I made the following observations. From the Flat-topped York Isle to Shoal Cape, the distance is 26' of longitude: I made it 30 1/2' by time-keepers corrected as above. From the York Isle to Booby Isle, your chart gives 39' : mine 44' But let us make a comparison with captain Cook:
From the flat-topped York Isle to Cape Cornwal, the difference of longitude in captain Cooks chart is 42', but I made it no more than 26': from the York Isle to Booby Isle, he had 63', whereas at two different times I found it to be 44': yours being 39' as before

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as before mentioned. These were the differences in relative longitude; and from Greenwich, I found the longitude of the York Isles in captain Cooks chart to be 1º.12' too little east from Greenwich, and Booby Isle 1º.31': differences which are truly extraordinary, and difficult to be accounted for: The following observations upon them and upon your chart of 1799, occur in my memoir, chapter VII
"It has been to me a cause of much surprise, that under such distress of "hunger and fatigue, and of anxiety still greater than these, and whilst running "before a strong sea breeze in an open boat, captain Bligh should have been "able to gather materials for a chart; but that this chart should possess a "considerable share of accuracy, is a subject for admiration. On the other hand, "that such errors should exist in any chart made by captain Cook, is equally "wonderful. He has been highly and universally praised, not only for his "perseverance, ability and uncommon success, but also for the accuracy of his "charts; and I have myself witnessed in so many instances how well he deserved
"this character, that I have always held his works to be sacred; and pride myself "not a little in being, in some sort, his disciple; my first acquirements in nautical "science having been made under one who mostly gained his from that great
"master himself: untoward circumstances shall not prevent me from repeating the "name of Bligh at this moment.*
" Concerning the particular cause of the great errors in captain Cook's "longitude, I can only offer &c. ----
"----- Had captain Cook possessed a good time-keeper, one set or series of "observations could have been connected with others; and any error so "considerable as those above mentioned, would have been with certainty "detected; and his surveys would doubtless have been as correct in the first, as "in his second and third voyages; for I
*Your Excellency will know, that I here allude to the unfortunate antipathy you took against me, in the latter part of our voyage in the Providence; but this has never, nor will it prevent me from doing justice to your rare nautical talents, and useful labours in the cause of science

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" for I wish it to be understood, that it is not my intention to call in question in the "most distant manner, the accuracy of this distinguished navigator, where he "possessed a time-keeper; what has been said above, appertaining solely to the "errors in the situation of lands about Cape York; of which, a due regard to my "own credit and the present advanced state of geographical knowledge made an "explanation necessary. It is probable, there are many others who, like me, "have been so much dazzled by the celebrity of the name of Cook, as to attack "the idea of incontrovertible accur[ac]y to every chart that bears it, without "adverting to the means he possessed of imparting such accuracy. That his "works in the second and third voyages are entitled to this devotion, I am far from "wishing to dispute; but we ought carefully to distinguish them from the first "voyage; where, for want of time-keepers, it was to the few fixed stations, only, "that an equal degree of correctness in longitude could with certainty be "imparted. Such is the importance of time-keepers in marine surveying, that who "ever thinks to make the chart of a coast, of any extent, without them, which shall "stand the test of future examination, will be deceived: its errors may probably "not be found by those who sail along the coast no better provided than was the "surveyor, or if found, they will still be doubtful, but immediately that a good time-"keeper is brought to bear upon it, its fancied accuracy will shrink back to the few "points that may have been fixed by a series of astronomical observations; and in "the intermediate parts, errors in longitude, of greater or less magnitude, will start "into view, as mountains and hills become distinctly visible, when the mist, which "obscured them is cleared away by the rays of a mornings sun." The limits of a letter do not permit me to enlarge further upon the subject of my charts.
My situation in the Isle of France remains nearly in the same state of uncertainty as before. General De Caen constantly refuses to liberate or send me to France until he shall receive the orders of his government; and it appears, that the French marine minister has found the im-

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the imprisonment of the commander of a voyage of discovery, bearing a passport, to be so unprecedented, that he has declined giving a decision upon it, but has referred it to the council of State; which seems to be either little inclined, or so much employed, that it has hitherto
been neglected. We are now in the season of arrivals from Europe, and public despatches are daily expected, in which, I still entertain hope, some orders relative to me will be contained. General De Caen still keeps a part of my books
and papers from me, and all the letters and despatches, public and private, of which I took charge at Port Jackson. I believe, however, that the private letters and packets are safe, but the public, I have every reason to think have been violated.
I have remarked in this island, the manner of dressing and using maize, by which it is made an excellent substitute for rice, and is in common use for curries and most preparations where rice is used; by means of the maize also, thus prepared, bread may be dispensed with and no great privation be suffered. As I am myself in the daily habit of eating maize, and almost the whole of the inhabitants in this country do the same, I conceive that a knowledge of the manner of preparing it may be very acceptable to the major part of the colonists at Port Jackson, where I do not know of its being practised. The inclosed paper contains the necessary details for Your Excellency's inspection, and future usage as you shall seem expedient.
This letter I shall send to Messrs. Campbell and Co at Calcutta to be forwarded by the first occasion; and if Your Excellency should be disposed to do me the honour of writing to me here by the same way, the letter should be inclosed in a Cover to "Monsieur T. Pitot - Négociant, a l'isle de France." There are sometimes Americans who come to this island from Calcutta, but as they generally conceal the place of their destination when it is to an enemy's port, if Mr. Campbell has a correspondence at Tranquebar to whom he could inclose it, to be forwarded by the first Danish vessel for the Isle of France, it would perhaps come more expeditiously and with greater certainty. On my arrival in England, however, I should find any letter that might be sent me, either at Sir Joseph

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Sir Joseph Banks', or at my agents' Mr. Standert of Norfolk Street.
I have the honour to be, Your Excellency's
most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

P.S. Your Excellency will have the goodness to remember, that whatever is published in the Sydney Gazette concerning my imprisonment, may do me either good or harm in the Isle of France, for sooner or later it will find its way hither.
Paper inclosed
in No 183

Manner of preparing maize for the table in the Isle of France

To the better understanding of this mode of preparation, it seems necessary to premise, that a grain of yellow maize contains four distinct substances, - the outer husk, - the white point, or heel of the grain, - the white farinaceous part next the heel, which may be called the heart, - and the yellow top or head, which constitutes more than two-thirds of the whole substance. After the maize is roughly ground, the whole art consists in separating these different parts, which are applicable to different purposes; the yellow head only being that which is served up on the tables of the planters, where it is used as rice, and very commonly in lieu of bread. The sole instrument used in separating the different parts of the grain, is a flat and somewhat flexible basket, in the form of a round dish, but with a very narrow rim: its diameter is usually about one foot and a half, and it is made of thin strips of bamboo, with a narrow hoop of wood for a rim, the small holes in it being filled up with paste, glue, or cow dung, after which it is dried in the air; and when rubbed clean, is fit for use; but split rattan, osiers, or any similar substance would do as well as bamboo.
The basket, and a sack of roughly ground maize being ready, a woman sits down upon her hams in one corner of the kitchen, - the basket in her hand, - the sack of ground maize by her side, and three or four cloths, bags, or sacks, spread before and on the other side of

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side of her. She takes a convenient quantity of the maize, perhaps a pound or two at a time, into her basket; and by throwing it from side to side, with a slight movement forward, the light husks rise at the top in the fore part, and are put out by hand upon one of the cloths. The remainder is thrown backwards and forwards, and by a light cant up of the fore part of the basket after each double movement, the yellow maize with the heels, rises at the top, and the white farinaceous heart remains at the bottom. These are put upon
separate cloths, but the maize and heels are again taken into the basket in order to be separated; by a movement backwards and forwards, the heels being lightest, rise at the top, and by a smart cant up of the fore part of the basket each time, they may be made to fly off upon the cloth, and the yellow maize alone will remain in the basket.
This is the whole process, except it should appear that there is too much good maize been put out with the husks, or flown off with the heels; in which
Case, it may be separated from each of them as before. In this manner, a bushel of maize may be winnowed in two or three hours, according to the dexterity and industry of the winnower: how much the operation might be facilitated by mills I do not pretend to determine. After separation, the yellow maize is well washed, and boiled dry for the table in the same manner as rice is; and if the pot used to boil it is as large at the top as the bottom, and the maize well dried, it will come out whole in a thick cake, by upsetting the pot; and will have a crust to it, which most people prefer; more especially if it is to be cut up into slices and eaten as bread.
The husks are mixed with other food for the hogs, - the heels boiled soft, serve both for hogs or ducks, - and the white flour is some times made up with sugar and eggs, and baked into cakes, which however are very pasty; and more commonly the white flour is either used as the husks and heels, or boiled up into a mess for the dogs.
From the imperfect manner of grinding maize in the Isle of France, the yellow part is of very different degrees of fineness, and those who are nice have the coarse separated from the fine by the winnowing basket

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Ing basket, and the fine only is served at table: the coarse is given to the fowls; but with steel mills, this trouble would be avoided.
Matthew Flinders

Letter No. 184
For permission
to visit the town

To colonel Monistrol, Chef d'etat-major-general à l'Isle de France
Wilhems Plains March 23. 1807
Sir
I have to request you will grant me a permission to go to the port, my presence there for a few days being necessary to my affairs. I have the honour to be, Sir
Your very obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No 185
In favour of
M. Desbassayns

To the captain or commander of any of His Majestys' ships
Isle of France April 15. 1807
Sir
I take the liberty of informing you, that the bearer of this letter Monsieur Des Bassayns, one of the most respectable merchants of the Isle of France, is a gentleman to whom I have obligations for his polite attention to me in my confinement, and for the interest he has been pleased to take in my situation. Being under the necessity of taking a voyage to India, he has requested me to certify that he occupies no place, civil or military under this government, which I do with the greatest pleasure, being also satisfied that his voyage has no connection with politics, or with any thing that can cause injury to the British government; his objects being to amuse himself, and forward his commercial concerns. From the respectability of his character, and his attention to a British officer in misfortune, I doubt not that he will meet with that civility from you to which these claims entitle him, and as such I beg leave to recommend him in the strongest manner; requesting you to be assured, that any services rendered him will be

[Page 288]
him will be gratefully acknowledged, and the first occasion embraced of rendering them reciprocal by, Sir
Your faithful and obedient servant
Mattw. Flinders Late commander of
H.M. ship Investigator

Letter No 186

To Mr Beckmann - Danish merchant at the Isle of France
Port North West April 15. 1807
Sir
Knowing that you have been instrumental in obtaining the liberation of several English Prisoners from this island, I am led from thence, and from the conversation which passed the other day, to believe, that you would not refuse again to undertake a task, which if successful, would enable you to render a similar service to French prisoners in India. You see, Sir, that I reckon much upon the benevolence of your disposition.
You are not unacquainted, that I have been detained nearly three years and a half in this island, waiting for the decision of the French government upon my extraordinary case. No orders have yet arrived, and there is too much reason to apprehend, that the subject has escaped the attention of the ministers; and that if I am still kept, it is to a peace between France and England that I can only look, to return to my family and resume my discoveries; and this period may probably be yet very distant.
My object in writing to you, Sir, is to request that as you have advantage of being known to His Excellency general De Caen, you will use your endeavours to induce him to grant me the favour of an audience. His Excellency must be aware of the great losses I sustain in being thus kept here waiting for a decision which may never arrive; and as every body assures me of the goodness of his heart, notwithstanding the severity he has exercised with respect to me, I am led to hope that if he would not grant me my liberty on parole, he would perhaps listen to an offer I wish to make him, of rendering myself up a prisoner in France

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er in France by the way of America, or the most direct route; for the execution of which, my parole of honour shall be a security; and if it is required, I could offer the security of Messeiurs Pitots and of some other respectable families for the performance of my promise.
Since it is by the government of France only that the affair can be terminated, to send me there for judgment, or permit me to go there, cannot be considered an unreasonable request from a man who is not even accused of having done anything improper, for it is necessary for you to know, Sir, that it is a suspicion of my intentions only, so far as I can learn, which has been the cause of my misfortune; which suspicions have originated from some passages found in my journal which have been misunderstood. When you reflect, Sir, that from this cause I have been deprived of the advantages in promotion, reputation, and fortune which I hoped an exposition of my discoveries would have procured me on my arrival in England, - that three years and a half have passed as if it had never been, and that I see no prospect of recommencing my existence, you will not think my prayer to have these suspicions verified or confuted, to be an unreasonable request. So far am I from desiring to injure any government, that for many years my labours have been solely directed to the advancement of those sciences which are interesting and useful to all nations; and having need of their protection and assistance, it could not certainly be my interest to molest them. With respect to individuals, I have seized every occasion of being useful to them, of what nation so ever they might be; my conduct in the Isle of France, if inquired into will attest this.
Upon the whole, Sir, I trust you will not find the commission I request you to undertake unworthy of you, and I beg you to be assured of the sincerity with which I have the honour to be Sir
Your very obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

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Letter No 187
With bills of
exchange for
£297.18

To the commissioners of His Majesty's navy - London
Isle of France April 13. 1807
Honble. Gentlemen
You will not be unacquainted, that after the condemnation of His Majesty's ship Investigator under my command, at Port Jackson, as irreparable, I embarked by the order of His Excellency captain P.G. King on board His Majesty's armed vessel Porpoise for a passage to England; and after the shipwreck of that vessel, on board the armed tender Cumberland; - that being under the necessity of stopping at the Isle of France to repair the schooner, the vessel was seized on Dec, 17. 1803, notwithstanding my passport, and myself detained here, until the determination of the French government should be known. No orders having yet been received by the captain-general of this island, for the disposal of the schooner and my person, I am under the necessity of drawing upon you for the pay due to me, up to this day, as commander of the Investigator; and I have accordingly drawn upon you for the sum of two hundred and ninety seven pounds eighteen shillings sterling, by four bills of exchange of this date, which I request you will be pleased to honour
I am, Honble. Gentlemen
Your obedient
humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

[Page 291]
Letter No 188

To rear-admiral Sir Edward Pellew - Baronet. Commander in
chief of His Majesty's ships in India
Wilhems Plains in the I. of France April 22. 1807
Sir
By a letter dated July 1. 1806 I had the honour of acknowledging the receipt of your two open letters dated June 18. 1805 and Jany.15. 1806, and of explaining, at the same time, the nature of my situation, and prospects of obtaining liberty. No change has hitherto taken place with respect to me, or any orders been since received from France. Finding the seasons for arrivals nearly passed for this year, I proposed, a few days since, to request an audience of His Excellency the captain general De Caën; to induce him if possible, either to send me to France for judgment, or permit me to go there upon my parole of honour, to render myself up to the government for examination and trial; but aware of the little attention usually paid to my letters, I requested Mr Beckmann, the bearer of this, who has the reputation of being on terms of intimacy with the general, to deliver my message, and to enforce it with such arguments as should appear most conducive to the desired effect; and in case the general should refuse the audience, as I apprehended, I gave Mr Beckmann such information upon the circumstances of my situtation, as well as upon those which led to it, as seemed necessary to answer the general's objections, and induce him to view my proceedings with a less prejudiced eye. The interest which Mr Beckmann took in the affair, and the exactness with which he fulfilled so disagreeable a commission, considerably enhance the obligation I have to him for the trouble he has taken. I will not weary

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not weary you, Sir Edward, with any detail of the conference which succeeded; Mr Beckmann having, as he informs me, the honour of being known to you, will explain the circumstances so far as you shall desire to be informed of them; it is sufficient to say, that the general refused to grant the audience I desired.
There is, however, one particular, of which I beg leave to enter into some explanation. The general acknowledged to have received applications for my liberty from Sir Edward Pellew, from the marquis Wellesley, and from my Lord Bentinck. He had written answers to these requests, since which, he added, the applications had ceased. Seeming to insinuate thereby, that you had apparently been so well satisfied with the reasons he had assigned for his conduct, as to have taken no further interest in the affair. I doubt not but general De Caën will have adduced the reasons best calculated to justify himself; and I readily conceive, that without having the intention to advance untruths, the eye of prejudice with which he regards everything relating to me, will have furnished him with charges drawn from the most innocent of my actions, and even from my misfortunes; that, for instance, I did not come to the Isle of France in the Investigator, is made a charge against me, though the cause of it lies in the misfortune of my being embarked in a vessel that was incapable of continuing my voyage: That I touched at the Isle of France at all, is, I learn from the Moniteur of July 11. 1804, another charge; though the distressed state of the Cumberland obliged me to it, as it is very easily in my power to prove, could I only obtain an examination by people who know what it is to make a voyage half round the globe in a vessel of twenty-nine tons.
I have learned, Sir Edward, within these few days, that notwithstanding the Investigator was condemned at Port Jackson, by the

[Page 293]
by the unanimous opinion of the surveyors to be "not worth repairing in any country, and that it is impossible, "in this country" (New South Wales) "to put her in a fit state for going to sea", yet that she was sometime afterwards repaired at Port Jackson, and actually arrived at Plymouth, where she now lies. The necessities which afterwards led governor King to incur such an expense and such risk, as to have taken this measure, are totally unknown to one; but that the ship has arrived in England is sufficient to induce general De Caën to believe, that I quitted the Investigator rather from some project concerted between the governor and myself, relative to the Isle of France, than from absolute necessity. When you shall be informed, that the Investigator made eleven inches of water per hours before I quitted her, and after perusing the report of survey upon her, which I have the honour to inclose*. you will be satisfied of the necessity, as well as of the regularity of my proceedings in embarking on board another vessel to return to England by the most prompt conveyance; as well to give information to the admiralty of my discoveries, as to obtain another vessel capable of completing my voyage. It may be also observed, that had the opinion of the surveyors been, that the Investigator might have been sufficiently repaired to carry me to England, yet the length of time such an operation required, and which I think could not have been less than ten or twelve months, would have destroyed deterred me from remaining so long a time inactive, for the sole advantage of returning in one ship rather than another. Perhaps, Sir Edward, you may have learned the circumstances that gave rise to the reparation of the Investigator; and if so, a communication of them by the way that Mr Beckmann will point out, would be satisfactory to me, and still more so the reasons that general De Caën may have assigned for his conduct with respect to me.

* See the survey in No. page

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At present, I have but a very slight prospect of being liberated during the war, since the captain-general De Caën has often, and so obstinately refused to liberate me on any conditions, or to send me to France, until the orders of his government shall be received. My anxious desire to complete the examination of Australia, (the general name I have adopted for the immense island which comprehends New Holland and New South Wales) will therefore probably languish until age and chagrin will render me incapable of the necessary activity for so arduous a task. To see myself thus stopped in the midst of an honourable career, my promotion impeded, and myself kept a prisoner far from my country and my family, and loaded with accusations which have no other foundation than in my misfortunes and the too great openness of my proceedings, would before this have consumed my perseverance and my health, had not the hope of one day demonstrating my innocence and the injustice I have been made to undergo, supported me, as I trust it will do, until a peace shall restore me to liberty, or the
powerful application of the British government obtain it for me. A future occasion will enable me to present you with some further circumstances of my situation, and of demonstrating the respect and consideration with which I have the honour to be,
Sir Edward,
your most obedient and
most humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No 189
In favour of
Mr Boand

To the captain or commander of any of His M. ships in India
Wilhems Plains in the I. of France
May 11. 1807
Sir
I take the liberty of informing you, that the bearer of this letter, Mr.

[Page 295]
letter, Mr. John Boand, mercantile agent for the house of Portalis at Neufchatel, under the dominion of the King of Prussia, is a gentleman to whom I have many obligations for the various services he has rendered me during my detention of three years and a half in the Isle of France, and still more for the zeal and attention he has constantly shewn to assist me in every way that lay within his power. These reasons, with the knowledge I have of his strict probity, and attachment to the British nation, induce me, on his departure for Madras in pursuit of his mercantile affairs, to take the liberty of recommending him to your notice and protection should any unfortunate circumstance put him under the necessity of requiring them. Mr. Boand is a person in whose prudence and attachment I have the greatest [an indecipherable word is crossed out] confidence, and if any letters for me should have fallen in your way, - if you have any communication to make me, or you could favour me with any late gazettes, magazines, or a Steele's List, I request you will have the goodness to confide them to him, to be conveyed to me by a channel with which he is acquainted.
Should this letter fall into the hands of captain Vashon, my lord George Stuart, or any other officer with whom I have the honour to be acquainted, I doubt not that they will comply with my request in favour of Mr. Boand with pleasure; and I request the officer to whom it may be presented to be persuaded, that any services he may render to Mr. Boand, will be thankfully acknowledged by me, and that I shall be eager to embrace any future occasion that may offer of rendering them reciprocal
I have the honour to be, Sir
your very obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders - Late commr.
of His Majesty's ship Investigator

[Page 296]
Letter No 190
In favour of
Mr Demouhy

To the captain or commander of any of His M. ships in India
Wilhems Plains in the I. of France

Sir
I take the liberty of addressing you to say, that the bearer of this letter, Monsieur de Mouhy, is a near relation and friend of an excellent family with whom I have resided near two years of the three and a half which I have been detained in this island, and from whom I have received every attention and kindness that friendship and humanity could inspire.
I trust, Sir, that you will not be insensible of such singular goodness exercised towards an imprisoned British officer, and that Monsieur de Mouhy will receive at your hands every protection and favour that his situation may require, and circumstances allow you to shew him. Should you be enabled to permit M. de Mouhy to return to his wife and family, either on parole or exchange, it would be the most grateful return for the many favours I have received from his respectable relations, and confer an obligation upon me which I shall ever remember, and be anxious to find a future occasion of rendering reciprocal

I have the honour to be, Sir,
your very obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders -
Late commander of His
Majesty's ship Investigator

Letter No 191
For the 3rd. vol.
of my logbook

To His Excellency, the captain-general De Caen
Wilhems Plains May 19. 1807

General
I beg leave to represent to you the great necessity I have long had, and am still under, for the small log book which is in your possession, in order to forward the charts and accounts of

[Page 297]
accounts of my voyage. If Your Excellency will permit me to have it for a time that I may take a copy of it, the copy would answer all my purposes, and I could return the book afterwards; or if there are any particular passages in it that you wish to preserve, on being informed what they are, I will write them out for you and sign them with my name.
This request to have the small log book, I trust Your Excellency will find sufficiently reasonable to be complied with, and as by its means I shall be able to perfect and continue my hydrographical labours, its restoration will be to me a concern of much importance.

I have the honour to be, General,
your most obedient
humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No 192
With a copy of
my narrative at
the I. of France

To Rear admiral Sir Edward Pellew Bt. Commander in chief of
His Majestys ships in India
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France May 19. 1807
Sir
I had the honour of addressing a letter to you on April 22. last by Mr. Beckmann, which contained a copy of the survey by which His Majestys ship Investigator lately under my command, was condemned at Port Jackson as incapable of further service. There were some circumstances that I did not think proper to communicate by that occasion, particularly a copy of the narrative of all the transactions that have taken place in this island with respect to me, as well as the occurrences that obliged me to touch here. In this narrative, Sir Edward, if you take the trouble to read or to cause it to be read to you, you will gain the most complete information that I am able to give of the whole of this very uncommon affair; and the transmission of it is the greatest proof I can give of my respect to Sir Edward Pellew and of my

[Page 298]
and of my desire that my proceedings should not be misunderstood by him. The final destination of the narrative must necessarily be to the secretary of the admiralty for the information of the Lords Commissioners, and I beg the favour of you, Sir, to cause it to be transmitted by an early occasion; but if you think it proper to be communicated to the commander in chief at the Cape of Good Hope, by the way, it may perhaps render me service by interesting him in my situation.
The bearer of this letter and of the narrative, is Mr. John Boand, mercantile agent for the house of Portalis at Neufchatel in Switzerland, who, with some singularities, is a very honest and upright man, and has rendered me many services, solely because I was an Englishman and unfortunate, for either of these titles are sufficient to excite his interest: The confidence I have in him will be demonstrated by the commission of this journal to his care; and if you should wish to make any inquiries of him relating to my present situation and prospects, he is able above any other, from his intimacy with me, to satisfy you. I have agreed with him upon a channel of correspondence by which he will transmit to me any letters that you Sir Edward, or any other person may chuse to favour me with, without the necessity of their passing through the hands of this government.
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y4l &3 s6x363x as p 331 stt aq3 &4l3 xf a4y4692 3i36l 295qa tbsy aq3
aq96a332aq as aq3 w3l32a332aq st aqsw3 ys2aqw. 9k988 32x341sf6 as &3
aq363 92 4742s3 b s2 w33925 4 k4ig25 as67q, 63vf3wa, 4&s4a y4l &3 w32a as
y3. 136q41w, w96, lsf k988 7syyf 2974a3 aq9w as aq3 4xy9648 4a aqe 7413. If
no orders relative to me should be transmitted to here in consequence

[Page 299]
in consequence of captain Bergeret's arrival in France, which I suppose to have taken place in the end of November last, I can scarcely entertain any hope of being set at liberty before the conclusion of the war.

I have the honour to be, Sir Edward
your very obedient and humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No 193
For a permission
for Elder to depart

To Colonel Monistrol, Chef d'etat-major général de l'isle de France
Wilhems Plains May 27. 1807

Sir,
The arrival of any orders from France, which should make a change in my present position being now almost hopeless, and His Excellency the captain-general having constantly refused either to liberate or send me to France without orders, I have to request you will have the goodness to grant a permission to my servant John Elder to depart either to America or India by the earliest occasion. He has now been here a prisoner with me above three years and a half, and refused to depart in the cartels of August 1805 because he would not leave me wholly alone in this island, and because he knew I expected that orders would soon arrive for me to be sent to France or set at liberty. These hopes have now wholly abandoned him, and since the last refusal of the captain-general to grant me an audience, his mind has been delivered up to despair, and
there have lately been days, Sir, in which I feared for his intellects and even for his life. A promise to use my efforts to obtain from you a permission to depart was the only effectual argument I could use to console him, and I entreat, Sir, that you will have the goodness to grant my request; for should it be refused, I may have the melancholy spectacle of seeing a faithful servant, the companion of my dangers and misfortunes during six years, expiring by the most cruel of all deaths. Trusting that

[Page 300]
-ing that your humanity, will be exerted on this occasion to give me a speedy and favourable answer, I have the honour to remain, Sir, with great consideration
your obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Discharge
ticket for
Elder

List of one petty officer discharged from His Majestys armed tender Cumberland, on board of which he was borne as a supernumerary from His majestys' ship Investigator for a passage to England, after the shipwreck of H.M. armed vessel Porpoise, on board of which he had previously embarked. The Cumberland being detained at the Isle of France until the orders of the French government should be known, but John Elder being permitted to depart on board a neutral vessel, he is discharged for that reason

Original entry from Porpoise	Appearance	No. of discharge ticket	Name	Quality	Time of Discharge	Navy charge
July 31.1803	Oct. 9. 1803	B.No.5.	John Elder	Acting Master at Arms	June 30.1807	None

John Elder has made a will dated on board the Investigator June 6 1801

Discharge ticket B.No. 5
This is to certify, that John Elder has served on board His Majestys' armed tender Cumberland under my command, as acting master at arms belonging to His Majestys ship Investigator late under my command from the 21 July 1800 and three to the thirtieth day of June 1800 and seven. Dated at the Isle of France this thirtieth day of June 1800 and seven.

(Commander. Charged with the command of
Mattw. Flinders (H.M. armed tender Cumberland for a passage
(to England, but detained at the Isle of France
(since Decr. 17. 1803

[Page 301]
Certificate
To J. Elder, as
act. mast. at arms

These are to certify the principal officers and commissioners of His Majestys' navy, that John Elder served as acting master at arms on board His Majesty's ship Investigator under my command, from the first day of August 1801 to the 20 day of July 1803, and from the last mentioned day to the 30th day of June 1807 on board His Majestys armed tender Cumberland for a passage to England and at the Isle of France, where the Cumberland was and is still detained waiting for the orders of the French government. And I do further certify that during the whole time he has behaved with deligence and sobriety, and was always obedient to command.
Given under my hand at the Isle of France this
30. day of June 1807
Mattw. Flinders - Commander

Gen. certificate
for whole time

Additional certificate to John Elder

This is to certify the principal officers and commissioners of His Majestys' navy, that John Elder has served on board His Majestys' ship Investigator under my command, in the qualities of ordinary seaman and acting master at arms, from April the first 1800 and one to July the twentieth 1800 and three, at which time he was discharged into His Majestys' armed vessel Porpoise per order, for a passage to England, the Investigator having been condemned at Port Jackson. After the shipwreck of the Porpoise on August 17. 1803, he was discharged with his original entry from the Porpoise, into the armed tender Cumberland under my command; on board of which he served as acting master of arms belonging to the Investigator until she was stopped by the French at the Isle Mauritius, on December 17. 1803. He there remained as a prisoner, detained until the orders of the government in France should be known, to the date hereof,

[Page 302]
hereof, making the whole of his time in the Investigator and Cumberland under my command, to be six years and ninety-two days; and I do further certify, that
during the whole time, he has behaved himself with diligence and sobriety and very much to my satisfaction.
Given under my hand at the Isle of France this
thirtieth day of June - 1800 and seven
Mattw. Flinders
Commander of H.M.S. Investigator, and
charged with the command of the Cumber-
land tender for a passage to England, but
detained at Mauritius.

Letter No 194
To change J. Elder's
permission for
America to one
for India

To Colonel Monistrol - Chef d'etat-major general a lisle de France
Isle of France May 29. 1807
Sir
I have the honour to receive your letter of this morning containing His Excellency the captain-generals' permission for my servant to return to England by the way of America. I am sorry, Sir, to trouble you twice upon the same subject; but I find by enquiry at the American consuls, that he has only one American vessel in the port, which is not expected to sail in less than six or eight weeks; and really, Sir, to keep my poor servant here so long a time in his present state of mind, will I fear be productive of disastrous consequences. The Holstein (late Warren Hastings) sails, as I am informed, in three or four days for Tranquebar, and if you would have the goodness to change his permission for India instead of America I should be much obliged. Be pleased Sir, to accept my thanks for the obliging offer contained in your letter and to attribute this second trouble to the extreme pressure which the occasion demands, and I request you to be assured of the esteem and consideration with which I have the honour to be, Sir, your obliged and very humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

[Page 303]
Letter No 195
In answer to his
Request to respect-
ing the duty of
Astronomer done
on board the In-
vestigator; and
the recompense
proposed by the
board of longit.

To the Rev d. Nevil Mackelyne - Astronomer Royal at Greenwich
Sir
I have had the honour to receive your letter of October 12. 1806, and beg you to accept my thanks for the concern you express at my detention, as yet, I have no prospect of seeing an end to it.
In answer to your three queries relative to my brother lieutenant S. W. Flinders having filled the astronomical department on board His Majestys' ship Investigator after Mr. Crosley quitted us at the Cape of Good Hope, I beg leave to make the following short statement.
Foreseeing that the necessary duties of the ship, and the surveys of the coasts and harbours would by no means leave me sufficient time to pay the necessary attention to the astronomical department, I chose lieutenant Flinders, the best qualified of my officers in that way, and associated him with me in the execution of that duty; and to animate his exertions, I promised him, that should any interest or consideration arise therefrom, it should be wholly his; being confident, that if my own efforts in the conduct and general execution of the voyage did not fall infinitely short of my hopes and intentions, I should make to myself a sufficient title to promotion, the object of my wishes, without it, particularly as my Lord Spencer permitted me to hope for, if he did not promise it.
As my surveys and observations of every kind, increased in number, and the ability of lieut. Flinders to make the requisite observations kept place with them, the time I had to spare from the duty of the ship was naturally turned more and more from astronomy to the surveys and construction of my charts, until the first was almost wholly executed by him, and he was to all intents the astronomer of the Investigator and so considered. I therefore beg you will have the goodness to state to the Board of Longitude, that whatever pecuniary recompense it may be pleased to think merited by the astronomical observations made on board the Investigator, after the departure of Mr. Crosley, that in my opinion it ought to be presented

[Page 304]
-sented to lieutenant S. W. Flinders, and it is my request it may be so.
You speak, Sir, of the first volume of my log book, but not of the memoir attached to my charts, though the five first chapters were sent by Mr Aken at the same time. The three chapters which explain the manner in which the latitudes and longitudes of my survey were ascertained and regulated, and the manner of applying the variations of the compass, would furnish an important addition to the astronomical observations: The second volume of my log book remains incomplete, from one of my journals being still retained by the French captain-general, which no application of mine is able to procure. The log book kept by lieut. Flinders, with the astronomical observations, for the Board of Longitude, is also still detained amongst my other papers. Should it ever please the British government to demand, and the French to grant my liberation, I doubt not of making you and the Board pleased with what was done on board the Investigator in the astronomical department; but you will readily conceive, Sir, that as for the labour I have undergone in narrowly exploring and describing a considerable portion of the coasts of Australia in a decayed ship, and the sufferings of body and mind in consequence of the Porpoises' shipwreck, my only reward, as yet, has been an imprisonment of three years and a half in this island, upon a principle the most extraordinary and unjust; nor do I find any prospect of a termination, or see a hope of being remembered amongst the promotions that take place in the Navy. Thus circumstanced, you will not wonder, Sir, that having finished all, and perhaps more than, my duty prescribes, I am not much encouraged to prosecute my labours under the the many disadvantages of my present situation. I am indeed disheartened, and have suffered more than I either will or can describe.
To Dr. Maskelyne, however, I beg to say how sensible I am of his attention in writing to me, and to assure him of the consideration with which I have the honour to be
his very obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

[Page 305]
Letter No 196
For a permission
to go to town

To Colonel Monistrol Chef d 'etat-major-général de l'Ile de France
June 30. 1807
Sir
Some concerns requiring my presence in town, for a few days I beg you will have the goodness to grant me a permission to that effect
I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, Sir, your very obt. humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

Letter No 197
With charts and
a log book

To William Marsden Esq. Admiralty Office London
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France June 30. 1807
Sir
By John Elder, late acting master at arms of the Investigator, and the last of my people remaining with me in this island, I have the honour of transmitting to you for their Lordships information, the second volume of my log book, which carries the journal of that ship up to June 10. 1803, the time when we arrived at Port Jackson, and soon after which the Investigator was condemned. That it is not continued up any further is owing to the want of the third volume of my rough log book, to obtain which from general De Caën I have made every effort that was likely to be attended with success; but my representations of the necessity I was under for it to complete my charts and to continue the accounts of my discoveries and observations were without success three years ago, and equally so on May 19. last, when I made fresh representations (See the inclosed copy of my letter to general De Caën)
In the volume now transmitted, is also contained a corrected copy of the eight first chapters of the memoir, which should be attached to my charts in case of their being published without, or previously to, the voyage of the Investigator. Two other chapters yet remain to be written, - the one upon the winds that prevail upon the coasts of Australia, the other upon the currents and

[Page 306]
currents and tides; but for want of the journal retained by general De Caën I am unable to complete them. Should the period ever arrive, when the French government shall think that its own passports ought to be respected, I shall have occasion for the volume now sent, in order to complete it fit to be lodged in the hydrographical archives of of the admiralty.
Lest I should be doomed to finish my days in this island, or that any accident should deprive me of my papers, or of my life in the attempt I may be obliged to make to regain my liberty, I send also a paper containing a general account of the Investigators' voyage to the commencement of my survey at Cape Leuwen. Should the voyage ever be written without me, the gentleman employed will find this useful to him.
My discoveries upon the north coast of Australia, I have lately revised and laid down afresh upon large scales, and I herewith transmit the the three following charts:-
No. 1. Chart of the N.W. side of the Gulph of Carpentaria, being the most interesting part, upon a scale of twelve inches to a degree of longitute.
No. 2. Chart of Torres' Strait, including all the authentic discoveries made there up to the present time, upon a scale of six inches to a degree.
No. 3. A general chart of the Gulph of Carpentaria, Torres' Strait, and the parts adjacent, upon a scale of three inches to a degree of Longitude. These have been constructed with the greatest care, and I hope will be found to possess all the correctness that is to be expected in sea charts. I lament in not having been able to make a proper survey of Torres' Strait, particularly as it offers the greatest advantages in facilitating the commerce with Port Jackson and the Pacific Ocean, as is explained in the memoir chapter VII. But the only ship that could be spared for this service in 1801, proved to be incapable of fulfilling the various objects of my voyage.
Letters from England inform me of attempts that have been made by the Transport Board to obtain my exchange, and also that about twleve months since, the commander of a French frigate, captain Milius who took the

[Page 307]
who took the Geographe to France after the death of Monsiur Baudin, had been released in England and permitted to return to his country upon condition of using his endeavours to obtain my release through the influence of the National Institute of Paris. A ship which sailed from France in February last, bringing various public despatches, has arrived here three weeks since, but no order, or I am informed, is any mention whatever made of me in them; and I am fully persuaded, that not being a prisoner of war, no measures will be effectual to obtain from the government an order for my release, and that of my books and papers, short of a formal demand, made in right of my passport, and the general utility of the service upon which I was employed, without exchange or any other conditions. It is difficult to conceive my situation which should give greater claims to friendly treatment and assistance from the French nation than mine; whether it is my passport which is considered or my employment, - the services rendered to French ships in time of war at the port from which I came, or the distressed situation that obliged me to demand the promised succour. Upon all these points their Lordships will find ample information in the narrative I had the honour of transmitting on July 28. 1806 by Mr Larkins, late commander of the Warren Hastings. If the French government alledge, that I have in any way forfeited my passport, the same narrative will furnish a full reply and confutation to that or any similar assertion.
I have several times begged of general De Caën to send me to France with my books and papers, that an examination may be made of me and of them; that if it is found the Investigator's passport has been violated by me, punishment may ensue, or a restoration to liberty, if the suspicions pretended to be entertained against me are ill founded. I have offered to go to France at my own expense, giving my parole of honour not to stop at any English port or colony by the way; and if my parole was thought insufficient, to furnish the security of several respectable inhabitants of this island for the performance of my promise

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promise. The last answer of the general was, that he was sensible of the hardship of my situation, and desired extremely to receive orders what he should do; that he had written by every occasion to have these orders, but that agreeably to the directions of the marine minister he could make no change in my situtation without them. It has also been repeated to me, that the general has said, "the reason why I was not ordered to be set at liberty was, that the British "government had made no regular demand for it; if therefore I remained so long "a prisoner the French government was not to be blamed for it."
It is now more than three years and a half that my detention has continued. My vessel, the Cumberland tender is laid up until a decision is made, and a part of my books and papers kept in the secretariat of the government. Instead of obtaining an honourable restoration to liberty, it becomes every day more apparent, that I shall at last be obliged to risk my life and fly like a criminal, leaving my books and everything that remains behind me; but I have perhaps already troubled you too much with this subject. I recommend myself to the protection of their Lordships, and have the honour to be, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders

P.S. I inclose also four sketches made by acting lieutenant Murray of the Lady Nelson, made after quitting the Investigator to return to Port Jackson in October 1802.
 
Letter No 198
Recommending
John Elder to
their protection

To the captain or commander of any of His Majestys ships
Wilhems Plains in the Isle of France July 1 1807
Sir
I take the liberty of informing you, that after the condemnation of His Majestys' ship Investigator, late under my command, I embarked at Port Jackson, as a passenger on board His Majestys armed vessel Porpoise, to return to England with the charts and other papers of my discoveries on the coasts of New Holland, but was

[This letter remains incomplete]

Notes

Alder, George, carpenter's mate on the Investigator . He also sailed with Flinders on the Cumberland and was imprisoned with him on Mauritius. He was released in 1805 and sailed on the American ship James.
Aken, John, master of the Investigator. He also sailed with Flinders on the Porpoise and Cumberland. He was imprisoned on Mauritius but was released on parole in May 1805 and left on the American ship James.
Arifat, Madame d' owned the plantation (Le Refuge) at Wilhems Plains in the interior of Mauritius where Flinders lived for the last five years of his captivity.
Arrowsmith, Aaron (1750-1823), cartographer.
Azimuth: vertical arc from zenith to horizon.

Ball, Henry (d. 1818), naval officer on the First Fleet . He also made several voyages to Norfolk Island and Djakarta (Batavia).
Bampton, W., surveyed Torres Strait in 1793.
Banks, Sir Joseph (1743-1820), botanist, accompanied James Cook on his first Pacific voyage. He was instrumental in the foundation of the colony of New South Wales and maintained a deep interest in its progress. He took a special interest in Flinders, becoming his friend and patron.
Baudin, Augustin, brother of French navigator Nicolas Baudin and captain of a Danish ship. He visited Flinders on Mauritius in 1805
Baudin, Charles (d.1854), midshipman on the Geographe under the command of Nicolas Baudin (no relation) during his voyage to survey the Australian coast, 1800-1804. Flinders became acquainted with him at Sydney and met him again on Mauritius in 1806 and 1807.
Baudin, Thomas Nicolas (1754-1803), French navigator, sailed from France in 1800 in command of an expedition to survey the Australian coastline. In April 1802 he met Flinders in Encounter Bay. In June 1802 he visited Sydney for supplies and medical attention for his crew. During their stay there the French were made extremely welcome by Governor King. Baudin died in Mauritius on the return voyage.
Bauer, Ferdinand (1760-1826), botanical artist on the Investigator. He returned to England in 1805 with over 2000 drawings of plants and animals.
Beckmann, Mr, the Danish Consul on Mauritius.
Bentinck, Lord William (1774-1839), governor of Madras, 1803-1807.
Bergeret , Jacques, commander of the French privateer La Psyché. He was a frequent and sympathetic visitor to Flinders at the Maison Despaux until his ship was captured by an English frigate and he was taken prisoner to India. In June 1805 he was returned to Mauritius in an exchange with English prisoners of war.
Binnacle: a box, near the helm, in which the compass is kept.
Bligh, William (1754-1817), commander of the Bounty on a voyage to transport breadfruit plants from Tahiti to the West Indies in 1789. After the celebrated mutiny he sailed an open boat across the Pacific Ocean to Coepang by way of Torres Strait. Flinders joined him as a midshipman on a second breadfruit voyage in the Providence in 1791. Bligh later became the fourth governor of New South Wales.
Boand, Johann, a Swiss mercantile agent.
Board of Longitude: established in 1714 to encourage and reward the invention of an accurate method of determining longitude.
Bougainville, Louis-Antoine de (1729-1811), French navigator, completed the first French circumnavigation of the world, 1766-1769.
Bourbon: an island in the Indian Ocean, now called Réunion.
Brown, Robert (1773-1858), botanist on the Investigator. He returned to England in 1805 with over 3000 species of plants and became librarian to the Linnean Society and to Sir Joseph Banks.

Campbell, John, of Campbell & Co., merchants at Calcutta.
Cartel: a ship employed in the ransom or exchange of prisoners.
Cook, James (1728-1779), navigator, made three important voyages of exploration in the Pacific Ocean. During his first voyage, 1768-1771, he charted the east coast of Australia and claimed it for Britain. On his second voyage, 1772-1775, he circumnavigated the world in the high southern latitudes. The principal objective of his third voyage, 1776-1780, was to find a north-west passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Crosley, John, astronomer on Flinders' voyage in the Investigator to survey the Australian coastline. However ill health forced him to leave the ship at the Cape of Good Hope.
Cumberland. In 1803 Flinders sailed from Sydney in the colonial built schooner Cumberland for England. However the schooner proved to be so unseaworthy that he decided to seek assistance at Mauritius.

Dale, Alfred, midshipman on HMS Dedaigneuse. He was captured by the French and imprisoned on Mauritius with Flinders before being released in July 1805.
Dalrymple, Alexander (1737-1808), hydrographer to the East India Company and to the Admiralty.
Decaën, Charles Matthieu Isidore, Comte (1769-1832), captain-general (governor) of Mauritius.
Desbassayns, Charles, one of Flinders' closest friends on the Isle of France (Mauritius).

Edwards, Edward, naval officer, was sent to capture the Bounty mutineers in 1791. His ship, HMS Pandora was wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef and he took the survivors in open boats to Coepang in Timor.
Elder, John, acting master at arms on the Investigator and Flinders' servant on Mauritius. He was eventually repatriated in an American vessel in 1807.
Entrecasteau, Antoine Raymond de Bruni d' (1737-1793), French naval officer, sailed from France in 1791 in search of La Pérouse.

Flacq: a small defensive settlement on the north-east coast of Mauritius.
Fleurieu, Charles Pierre Claret, Comte de(1738-1810), French geographer, hydrographer and administrator, encouraged French scientific research and exploration in the Pacific.
Flinders, Samuel (1782-1834), Flinders' younger brother and second lieutenant of the Investigator.
Forfait, Pierre-Alexandre-Laurent.
Franklin, Willingham (1779 -1824), Flinders' cousin by marriage and the brother of (Sir) John Franklin who served as midshipman on the Investigator.

Geographe. One of two ships under the command of the French navigator Nicolas Baudin on his voyage to map the coast of Australia, 1800-1804.
Glos, Jacques de, a merchant of Mauritius.

Heywood, Peter (1773-1811), naval officer and one of the Bounty mutineers. He was pardoned and attained post-rank.
Ile de France or Isle of France: now Mauritius.
Inman, James (1776-1859), astronomer, was sent out to Sydney to replace John Crosley on the Investigator but arrived too late to join her.
Investigator: Flinders was given command of the Investigator in 1801 to undertake a voyage to survey the Australian coastline.

Jamison, Thomas (1745-1811), surgeon-general of New South Wales.

King, Philip Gidley (1758-1808), governor of New South Wales, 1800-1806.

Lalande, Joseph-Jérôme de (1732-1807), French astronomer.
Larkins, Thomas, commander of the East Indiaman Warren Hastings which was captured by the French in June 1806 and brought to Mauritius. On his release Larkins secretly carried Flinders' narrative and letters with him to England.
La Pérouse, Jean Francois de Galaup, Comte de (1741-1788), French navigator, commanded a voyage of discovery, 1785-1788. He arrived in Botany Bay in January 1788 and after sailing in March was never seen again. It was not until 1827 that relics from his two ships were found on the Santa Cruz Islands north of Vanuatu.
Linois, Charles Alexandre Léon Durand de (1761-1820), French naval officer, appointed commander of the Indian Ocean Fleet in 1802.
Lord, Simeon (1771-1840) an emancipated convict who built up a successful mercantile career based in Sydney.

Maison Despaux: In March 1805 Flinders was removed to the place where British officer prisoners of war were confined, variously known as the Maison Depaux, the Jardin Despaux or the Garden Prison.
Marsden, William (1754-1836), secretary to the Admiralty and Fellow of the Royal Society.
Maskelyne, Nevil (1732-1811), astronomer royal, established the 'Nautical Almanac", invented the prismatic micrometer and made many important observations.
Milius, Pierre-Bernard, French naval officer, was second in command of the Naturaliste on Nicolas Baudin's voyage of discovery, 1801-1803. Owing to illness he was left at Port Jackson and later took passage to Mauritius where he assumed command of the Geographe following Baudin's death.
Monistrol, Colonel Louis Auguste, aide-de-camp to General Decaen, governor of Mauritius.
Murray, John (b.1775?), commander of the brig Lady Nelson, charted Westernport and took possession of Port Phillip in 1802. In the same year he sailed from Port Jackson in company with Flinders on his voyage in the Investigator but the Lady Nelson proved unfit and Flinders ordered Murray to return.

Napoleon 1 or Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), became first consul of France in 1799 and emperor in 1804.
Naturaliste. One of two ships under the command of the French navigator Nicolas Baudin on his voyage to map the coast of Australia, 1800-1804.
Nepean, Sir Evan (1751-1822), secretary of the Admiralty, was involved in the administration of New South Wales during the colony's early years.
New Holland: the name given to the western half of Australia by Dutch explorers in the 17th century.

Osborn, John, commodore of a British naval squadron blockading Mauritius (Isle of France) during Flinders' imprisonment there.
Palmer, John (1760-1833), commissary-general of New South Wales.
Pellew, Sir Edward (1757-1833), admiral and commander-in-chief in the East Indies, 1804-1808.
Pitot, Edward, brother of Flinders' friend, Thomas Pitot.
Pitot, Thomas (1779-), a merchant in the town of Port North-West on Mauritius. He was a regular visitor to Flinders and the two formed a lasting friendship.
Porpoise. In August 1803 Flinders sailed for England on the Porpoise. Shortly after leaving Sydney she struck a reef and was lost. Flinders sailed her cutter back to Sydney and arranged for the rescue of the rest of the crew who were stranded on the reef.
Port Jackson: the port of Sydney, New South Wales.
Portlock, Nathaniel (1748?-1817), naval officer. After sailing on Cook's third voyage he commanded the King George in a voyage round the world, 1785-1788, and then accompanied Bligh (and Flinders) on the second breadfruit voyage.
Port North-West: the harbour on the north-west coast of Mauritius (in French Port Nord Ouest), previously called Port Louis and later Port Napoleon.
Poudre d'Or: a small defensive settlement on the north-east coast of Mauritius.

Shepherd or Shippard, Major/Colonel, a prisoner at the Maison Despaux with Flinders.
Smith, William, seaman, sailed with Flinders on the Investigator, the Porpoise and the Cumberland and was imprisoned with him on Mauritius.
Smith, Sir William Sidney (1764-1840), English naval officer, was captured by the French in 1796 and imprisoned in Paris. Captain Bergeret, then a prisoner of war in England, was permitted to go to France and endeavour to negotiate an exchange between Smith and himself. He was unsuccessful and honourably returned to captivity in England. Smith managed to escape in 1798 and Bergeret was released.
Society of Emulation: a literary society formed in 1802 by the scientists left on Mauritius by Nicolas Baudin during his voyage to survey the Australian coast, 1800-1804.
Spencer, George, Earl (1758-1834), First Lord of the Admiralty, 1794-1801.
Spring: a line led from a vessel's quarter to her anchor cable so that by hauling in or slacking it the vessel may be made to lie in any desired position.
Standert, Osborne, Flinders' agent in London.

Thetis: British vessel which arrived in Mauritius from Bengal in 1805 to bring French prisoners of war for exchange with the British prisoners of war on Mauritius.
Thistle, John, master of the Investigator. He and seven members of the crew were drowned in Spencers Gulf, South Australia when the ship's cutter they were using was upset.

Vancouver, George (1757-1798), naval officer, sailed on James Cook's second and third voyages. In 1791 he sailed on a voyage of discovery during which he surveyed the south-west coast of Australia, New Zealand and the north-west coast of America.
Vashon, James (1742-1827), naval captain (later admiral), under whom Flinders' cousin, John Flinders, served in the 1780s.

Warren Hastings: an East Indiaman captured by the French frigate, La Piémontaise in June 1806 and taken to Mauritius.
Wellesley, Richard, Marquis (1760-1842), governor-general of India, 1797-1805.
Wilhems Plains: an area in the interior of Mauritius where Flinders lived for the last five years of his captivity.

Glycine Rubicundum
May 17,1827
Glycine Rubicundum
May 17,1827

[Page 1]
Botany

[Page 2]

[Page 3]

1 Descriptions

Siliquosa Cruciform. Calyx composed of four linear leaves green edged with purple. Style, Stigma Piotyl & Filaments greenish white. Anthera saggittate & yellow Corolla Pink, Purple, White or varigated Inferior. Complete

Pentafutalous Petals oval Calyx form'd of fine greenish leaves Germ. round. Stile crimson white; stigmae crimson. Filaments white & silvery Anthera uniform salmon colour'd. Corolla white with spots of yellow & crimson. Complete - Inferior

Five unequal Petals, the highest of which is Helmet shaped inverted & obtuse, concealing the pectaria which are two-piped, nodding, & sitting on long pedureles The lateral pair of petals are orbiculate & converging The lowest pair are oblong & looking downwards Stamina white &sububated. Antherae orbiculate
Three germs Pistills size of the stamina - Corolla purple - [undecipherable
words crossed out] - Incomplete - Naked

Disk. golden yellow - Rays, white tinged with pink on the underside - Calyx composed of several green leaves Complete. Superior -

Cruciform. Filaments blue, Anthers oblong, stile slender - Stigma round - Calyx consists of four lanceolate leaves - petals a fine blue vein'd with indigo a white rim in the centre of the corolla - Complete Inferior-

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English names	Genera	Classes	Orders
6		Enneandria	Monogynia
7 Lime tree Linden- Tree	Tilia	Polyandria	Monogynia
8 Hair-bells Hyacinth grape	Hyacinthus Hyacinth	Pentandria	Monogynia
9 Candy-tuft Sciatica Cress. Candy Tuft- -tree	Iberis	Tetradynamia	Siliculosa
10 Wood-wind flower Wood anenome. Noble liver-wort. Wind flower	Anenome Hepatica Pasque Flower	Polyandria	Polygynia

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2 Descriptions

Corolla composed of one petal divided into nine bright yellow oblong Petals segments. Filaments yellow - Anthers Linear & yellow - Germ green & in shape resembling a Melon - Style short - Stigma crown shaped & yellow - Calyx form'd of one leaf divided into nine subulate segments - Complete - Inferior Found on the rocks on the Somersetshire side of the River Avon opposite Clifton July 7th. 1824

Pentapetalous, Petals yellowish white & oblong - germ, green & round - stile thick - stigma small - Filaments green. Anthers yellow - Calyx composed of fine semi-transparent orbiculate leaves - Complete - Inferior

Monopetalous - Corolla Campanulatous of a fine blue - Germ White -Stile blue - Stigma when ripe divides into four - Stamens yellow - Calyx green divided into five subulate segments Complete - Inferior -

Description the same as Stock July flower except that the petals are pale pink - the anthers oblong & the size & manner of growing like [indecipherable word] -
Corolla composed of eight white narrow oval patals, veined with purple on the under side; filaments, silvery white antherae yellow, circular, & compressed, with an indentation down the centre. Germ green & hidden by the pistyllae; which are green also; stile hidden. Stigmae obtuse, and large. Naked. Inferior

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11 Primrose Auricula. Bear's ear Cowslip. Paigles. Pagils	Primula	Pentandria	Monogyonia
12 Lilac Pipe-tree Persian Jas- -mine	Syringa	Diandria	Monogynia
13 Currant	Ribes	Pentandria	Monogynia
14 Heartsease Herb - Trinty. Three faces under a hood. Trinity herb. Violet. Pansey	Viola	Syngeneria	Monogynia
15 Tulipa	Tulipa	Hexandria	Monogynia

[Page 7]

3 Description

Monopetalus. Corolla Aubular, pale brimstone coulour; bottom of the tubus transparent. Germ green, globular; stile green, rather long; stigma crown-shaped, & green. no filaments, antherae yellow, long and as in Syringa, fixed in the tubus. Calyx palish green, monopetalous divided into 5 sagittate segments; Inferior. Corolla divided into 5 fissate segments. Complete.

Consists of one petal, divided at top into four. ovate leaves segments. Curled at the edges, coulour purple or white. Calyx very small. of four pointed one green leavesf in four segments. Style very small, thicker at top. where two stigmata are placed, yellow and curled. style white. at bottom, yellow at top. Germ green. No filaments, anthers (as in Primula) fixed in the tubus. yellow. tubus white at the receptacle. Complete. Superior.

Monopetalous, dividedat top into five hammer-shaped segments; and between each is a gomphoid projection. Corolla & pistli green. Stile thickish, stigma bifid: anthers yellow, filaments green. No Calyx, Naked, superior

Corolla Pentapetalous, irregular, petals generally tricoloured, oval, marked with purple; a horn-shaped neetarium, behind the flower; calyx Pentaphyllous green, filaments yellow, anther red, stigma green & orbiculate, stile short, germ round & green. Complete. Inferior

Six oblong short petals. Germ imperceptible, stile thick & short, stigma trifid. Pistil white. filaments & anthers same size; lanceolate. No calyx. Corolla white, red variegated, &c. &c. Naked. Inferior.

[Transcribed for the State Library of New South Wales]