Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Matthew Flinders - Memorial to the Comte de Fleurieu, 1805
A1590

No 88
Matthew Flinders Esq. Commander of His Britannic Majestys ship the Investigator, - a prisoner in the Isle of France to Monsieur Fleurieu, Councillor of State &c. &c. &c. at Paris

March 11. 1805

Sir
Your well known zeal in the cause of geography and nautical science, so well proved by your useful and interesting labours for nearly half a century, embolden 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 entreat 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 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 now stand by them, and I only request, that they may be interpreted with candour.

After mentioning the leakiness of the vessel, the 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 a good place for me to touch at in the future part of my voyage."* It is to be observed, that I was a 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,

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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 find 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.*

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 a man who was a stranger to European politics for twelve months would naturally think of, and such as Mons. Bougainville had foreseen on putting in at Cajili, a Dutch settlement 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 circumstance 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 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 it was possible there might be some man who would so far forget what was due to our neutral occupation, to justice, and to humanity, as to take advantage of the letter of the 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. Let me however do him justice; - the officer at the south end of the island seeing a shabby-looking fellow appear

* See the annexed extract of his orders in paper No.1
** See the extract from the passport in paper No. 2
*** See an extract of a letter from captain Baudin to his friend in the Isle of France in paper No. 3

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-pear 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 accept 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 afterwards wrote to the general, expostulating 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 has been unjustly deprived of his liberty, may be supposed to do. For fifteen months past I have been kept in close confinement notwithstanding my ill health,* and been treated with many indignities, the particulars of which I at present pass over. I bore with my misfortunes in 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 impartial 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, où ayant appris sa déclaration, il douta lui "même, que le passe port qui lui avait été accordé par le gouvernement Français "dans l’an pût lui servir." "Ce passe port etait exclusif pour la Corvette "l’Investigator dont il portait le signalement, et ce n’est pas sur l’Investigator qu’il "a été arrèté, mais sur le Cumberland. Le même passe port ne donnait accès "dans les colonies Francaises à Mr. F., qu’autant qu’il ne se détournerait pas de "sa route pour y accéder; et Mr. F. reconnaît dans son journal qu’il s’en est "détourné volontairement, (car l’isle de France n’etait point sur son passage.") "On lit dans son journal, d’une part, qu’il soupçonnait la guerre, et de l’autre, "qu’il avait pris le parti de relacher à l’isle de France autant dans l’espérance d’y "vendre avantageusement son batiment, que par le desir de connaître l’état "actuel de cette colonie, et l’utilité dont elle et ses dependances a Madagascar "pourraient être au Port Jackson." "Comme le passeport que le gouvernement "Français avait donné à Mr. F. etait 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 relacher." The reasons here assigned for imprisoning me (arrèter) 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 * See the annexed paper No. 4

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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 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 inquiries; 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 have 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 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 in route from Timor to the Cape, and therefore avoids the mention of these two places, by which he increases the difficulty of detecting his misrepresentation

It was for the sake of the expedition that I hazarded a passage 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 inquiries 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 and a grenadier with fixed bayonet, in a dirty room, where were two truckle beds without curtains. Can you be surprised, Sir, that I refused to dine with general De Caën 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 at 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 alterations, 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, 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

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in the Moniteur, to shew that my intentions have been misrepresented. I trust you will see that I have not come here with any evil intention, 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 reparations 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 imminent dangers, and a considerable expense; these were not to be risked too far, and I had determined to risk them no further than 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 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.**

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 seized, 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, in 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 they 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 Caen 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

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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, may know my true situation here. If either through negligent inattention on the part of the French government, through national hatred, or the intention of appropriating my discoveries to the Geographe and Naturaliste, I am left 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
        most 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 au 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.

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No. 90 Papers referred to in the letter addressed to M. Fleurieu, Councillor of State

No.1. Extract from Governor Kings orders* to me                         September 17. 1803

        ..... 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 of His Majestys service that you should reach England by the most 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 unforeseen 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

* General De Caen saw these orders, and I believe took a copy of them

No.3. Extrait d´une lettre adressé par le capiatiane Baudin, commandant en chef L´expedition de découvertes à son ami
Abord du Geographe, 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 depart de Timor, je me suis rendu au Port Jackson pour passer le tems de l´hivernage. Le scorbut avait à cette époque fait des progrès si

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Paper No. 3 continued

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 funestes que la premiere, quoique la cause n´en fut pas moins grave. Je ne puis passer sous silence un trait d´humanité auquel notre situation a donné lieu: Voici le fait

à notre arrivée au Port Jackson au nombre de cent soixante personnes, les resources 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 eloignée, n´etait pas une circonstance heureux 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 aussitot 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 goëlette de 30 tonneaux qui &c.....

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 the 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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No. 4 continued

de sa détention. 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 resources de la societé.

J´ai visité aussi Monsieur Aken, autre prisonnier Anglais, officier sur le navire de Mr. Flinders. Cet individu a été malade àl´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 ètre for[t] attachée l´une à l´autre; et leur liaison cimentée par une longue habitude, et une communauté de dangers et de peines dans une voyage de découvertes, 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

At the time this certificate was presented to the general De Caen, the master of the Investigator and myself 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 on the stomach from want of exercise, much hastened it; these being removed, it has much recovered.

On first arriving in this island, I was in a very weak state, and had scorbutic ulcers on my feet and ankles. Mons. Chapotin, a skilful young surgeon, attended me near three months, and by his care and a vegetable diet I recovered. So soon as I was able to walk, he spoke to the general to let me 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 a certificate of the necessity of taking air and exercise, nor do I know in what terms he made the representation, but I have his word that an application was made and refused. Before 4 months Mr. Aken and myself were removed, at the kind application of captain Bergeret,* to the maison Despaux, where the officiers, prisoners of war, were confined. Here we had a piece of ground to walk in, and the society of several of our countrymen; and here we have remained 11 months, except when Mr. Aken has been at the hospital, as he is at present.

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Paper No. 5. Extract from a letter written to His Excellency governor King, from Wreck Reef, before the pumps of the Cumberland were very bad
Cumberland at sea Sept. 24. 1803

..... From per 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 washes over the cabin floor, but I believe it is wholly owing to the straining. We have been hitherto 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 much wish 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 laid aback, but this is only in strong breezes; 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 quitting 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 28o.S. Longitude 155o 1/2E.

Oct. 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 their expressions of 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..

* 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.

[Transcribed for the State Library of New South Wales]