The Logbooks of the Lady Nelson

t is according to nautical reckoning, i.e. the day beginning at noon before the civil reckoning.) returned again to Western Port and next day, at 4 A.M. he sent M

he harbour which was "a most noble sheet of water." He also reported that he saw no natives but only

nt a quarter of a mile to the south-west. He named a high mountain Arthur's Seat; a cluster of islands where black swans

at and Watering Place apparently are the only names placed on it by Murray* (* It is preserved at the Admiralty.) as Swan Pond and "Point Repear" are in a different ha

OWING THE TRACK OF THE L

Paterson, and Point Nepean, and the fact that it bears the date January 1802 seems further evidence that it is the first chart of Port Philip d

es describe his com

heavy squalls and rain. By 9 A.M. it turned into a clear gale and a very high sea up which makes us labour a good deal. Had altitude longitude by then 143 degrees 13 minutes 40 seconds, these agree with the dead reckoning within 3 or 4 miles. Latitude 39 degrees 12 minutes 33 second

Cape Albany. I now judged it prudent to send our boat down to overhaul for a channel into the harbour mentioned in the Log of the 5th of this month, accordingly stood in for it and by noon Cape Shanks bo

explore the channel of the western harbour before mentioned. I went on shore in the gig. Found the well as we left it full of fine clear water and our board of directions hanging at the entrance of the pathway. At 4 A.M.* (* It will be seen that Bowen left to explore Port Phillip at 4 A.M. of January 31st and not on February 1st.) I sent the launch with Mr. Bowen and 5 men armed with 14 days' provisions and water down to the westward giving him particular instructions how to act both with respect to the harbour and natives should he fall in with any, the

te cockatoos of perhaps 100 were often seen. At Lady Nelson's Point we saw 20 or 30 swans in the salt-water lagoon...one and all of the birds we have seen were so shy that...we did not shoot one (a s

hours steady as numbers towards sundown came in to drink. The plan had the desired effect, 4 pigeons were shot, a dozen of parrots; t

ay to the well I nearly trod on a snake about 6 feet long, the

d into this new harbour, water from 10 fathoms to 6 and about a mile and a half broad, and according to his accounts it is A MOST NOBLE SHEET OF WATER larger even than Western Port, with many fine coves and entrances in it

picuous) it would be unpardonable in me not to give this new harbour a strict overhaul, in the meantime as it was calm and no appearance of getting out, at 8 A.M. hove up and towed the vessel up to Lady Nelson's Point in order to send the boat up the river for bi

h we found in good order. A.M. Sent the launch with the First Mate and 4 hands armed up the river to try and shoot some birds, it ought to be obse

w water and up as far as the boat could be pushed between the boughs of the fallen trees. At A.M. took up our kedge, weighed our anchor, made sail for Elizabeth's Cove and at half-past 6 A.M. ca

sultry. By 3 P.M. secured everything for sea intending to sail in the morning, t

gave the shore a strict search at low water and plainly perceived that a company of 6 or 8 men would not run any hazard of being starved here for several months from the vast

evening a snake 6 feet long was

anything, it however kept constantly falling calm and then a light air would spring up for a few

y the kedge, by this time it fell calm and our hopes of getting to sea vanished, needless to observe this kind of weather is as destructive to the intent of this cruise as gales at sea. I took a walk along the beach far enough to

rbour or Port north by east 8 miles distant; by noon the island at entrance of harbour bore north half a mile distant. At this time we had a view of this part of the spacious harbour, its entrance is wide enough to work any vessel in, but, in 10 fathoms

icular there is one very high mountain which in the meantime I named Arthur's Seat from its resemblance to a mountain of that name a few miles from Edinburgh...to the north-east by north, about 5 miles from the south shore lies a cluster of small rocky islands and all round them a shoal of sand; plenty of swans and pelicans were found on them when the boat was down, from which I named them Swan Isles. To the north-east by east there is an opening, an

eral hundred acres of ground. Young grass we found springing up over all the ground we walked; the only birds we saw were a few parrots. We found some shells on the beach and returned on board. I have named this harbour Port King* (* Governor King afterwards renamed the harbour Port Phillip in hon

if we set out of question the houses and gardens of the latter. The hills and valleys rise and fall with inexpressible elegance. We discovered no water nor any new wood of consequence, but it is impossible that a great want of water can be here from the number of native huts a

ers were caught and some rock fish. At sundown a native fire was seen about a mile inland, in the morning early I sent Mr. Bowen and Bond armed to speak them, neither fell in with them. At 9 A.M. hove up our Bower with a light air at north-east and dropped a few miles further up the Port. We now saw th

nd a friendly intercourse took place with dancing on both sides-in an hour the boat returned. Mr. Bowen had dressed them in our white shirts and invited them on board, this however they declined, but exchanged for all this. Got a basket of straw neatly enough made. They were all clothed in the skins of opossums and each had a bundle of spears, a stone mogo and one basket. They wished much to

ll the crew consisting of 5 men and the boy, Mr. Brabyn, went up with their dinners in their hands and sat down in the midst of them (18 in number) and began to eat showing the natives how to eat bread, etc., and gave them anything they chose to ask for. Mr. Bowen gave them all the things I had sent as well as several of his own things-str

even to the last shirt; by this time our people had nearly finished their dinners and Isaac Moss having the boat in charge got up and was walking slowly down to her. At this time the Boy Brabyn happened to turn his head towards the wood and saw a man in the very act of throwing a spear at Moss as well as a large body (not before seen) behind a large fallen tree with their spears all in readiness for throwing. The boy immediately cried out to Mr. Bowen who was at that very time in the act of serving out bread to all the party he was sitting among that he would be speared, but before the words wer

another piece was fired Mr. Bowen laid hold of one of their number and held on till three of our people came up and also grappled him, strange to tell he made such violent struggles as to get away from them all nor did the conten

hite shirts and the officer had tyed the wrists of it with string, which hindered his getting it off-him we plainly saw from the vessel pass the roots of black trees with such speed as more to resemble a large white bird flying than a man. To increase their panic as they passed al

n it answered their purposes or inclination. When it did not they could be dull enough. They were all clothed in opossum skins and in each basket a certain quantity of gum was found. Not the least sign of a canoe has been seen. I conclude they live entirely inland, and if we may judge from the number of th

ning the launch went with Mr. Power and a party well armed to sound for a channel round which the vessel

I took a long range through the woods attended with an armed party. We discovered nothing new but found several of the things we gave the natives which in their fright they had dropped. The ground we

(not before mentioned) was found. Numbers of native tracks, fires and huts

of use, the trees being almost invariably oak and other wood quite common at Sydney. A red waistcoat of Mr. Brabyn's was found with some bread in each poc

with the vessel I sent the launch over the western side to examine

a large size without wasting one charge of shot, which by-the-bye is now become a scarce article, not above 3 or 4 pounds being in the vessel; however from the report made of this place it may lead to something of more consequence. I shall after the survey of the Port is completed give it

fine sand, further out perhaps a deeper channel may exist (this will be ascertained in the survey). Afterwards we walked through the country some distance, foun

middle and latter parts it blew a hard gale at south-west with squalls at intervals. We held on although a

at the foot of Arthur's Seat and on the western side of the port, hauled our seine several times along the shore ne

turned her up and set our carpenter to work on her, she leaking so much as to keep a hand constantly ba

nd the eastern and western shores of the Port have been seen these two days past. Sent Mr. Bowen and Mr. Brabyn in the gig to get the Latitude of the north e

ES OF ACTING-LIEUTENANT JOHN MURRAY IN THE LA

tern Port, Port Philip, and King Island. It should be noted that Flinders' Island is named Grand Capuchin. This is on

Paterson, and Point Nepean, and the fact that it bears the date January 1802 seems further evidence that it is the first chart of Port Philip d

h. Gave some of the p

ed away and the tide ran so rapid as to sweep the vessel on a shoal of sand with only 5 feet of water on it, as it was perfectly smooth we immediately hove her off without her sustaining the least damage and dropped ba

board with a turn of water, it was found that a bank of sand lay from shore to the distance of a mile or a mile and a quarter with only, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 feet on it at low water and it extends nearly 4 miles along shore. When

d a channel for vessel of any draught of water though she stood well out from the shore to at best 3 mile

at about a mile and a half from the spring at which to-day I loaded the boat with water and examined it. As far as we are judges it is most excellent water as clear as crystal-lies from the beach about 10 or a dozen yards and plenty of it to water the Grand Fleet of England; it is nearer the entrance than the foot of Arthur's Seat by about 2 miles, and can easily be found out by the land which for a few miles befo

and upper works. A.M. I went in the launch over to the sheet of water* (* Mentioned on 22nd.) (as I intended) with an armed boat's crew and by noon got to its entrance. This day has been so clear that we are abl

0 feet in breadth with 9 feet to 2 1/2 fathoms water in, but of no use as it shoals to a couple of feet before you get in. The soil of the land all round the extensive place is good and its appearance exceeds in beauty even the southern shores. The number of large swans seen almost exceeds

tions, and accordingly at 8 o'clock in the morning the United Colours of the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland were hoisted on board and on Point Paterson, and at one o'clock under a discharge of 3 volleys of small arms and artillery the Port was taken possession of in the name of his Sacred Ma

d decayed, along with what the swans and other birds have eaten, we are rather short, even what we have left is very bad, therefore it will not be in my power at this time to prosecute the object of our cruise much further. It is in vain I regret so little being

s great numbers of native fires have been seen all roun

9 to 16 fathoms water, we then fell into such a ripple that we expected every minute it would break on board-got clear and by half-past the point of entrance bore

.

tant 4 or 5 miles. At 4 P.M. passed Bradley's Head, at 6 passed Garden Island and by half-past 6 P.M. came to an anchor in Sydn

e whole of Bass Strait without meeting the Geographe, his boats having visited Western Port* only a month after Murray had left there. (* French Island preserves the memory of their visit, but Murray's Chart shows that the English (contrary to Peron's assertions) knew that this island was separated from the mainland before the coming of the French.) Finding his provisions exhausted, in his extremity the French Commander, although he knew that France and England were at war, steered to Sydney. The English, we are told, received him wi

tory of the Colony, for Murray gives the names of the different reaches in the river, and it would be interesting to know whether these old place-names are still used. Murray does not tell us of the arrival of the Naturalis

then the ship was put into preparation for a voyage of explo

AY'S

e to the H

A.M. (We having the Cumberland in company) cleared the heads of Port Jackson, and at half-past 8 parted with Cumberland, leaving her with a fine moderate breeze at south-south-east, and by ha

oat passed us, and in a little time after we hailed and brought alongside a fishing boat with three soldiers in her

iver-came to in Mangrove Reach, set as usual an armed watch with an of

er as far as the first branch and there from the darkness of the night

d up the River, by 11 A.M. passed the upper branch and by noon gained two

half-past 9 P.M. got under weigh and gained Portland Reach. At 10 A.M. got under weigh

he river-by 4 P.M. came to in the Reac

and began to take in wheat and by sundown got in 311 bushels. At daylight again bega

bury to Sy

drop down the river. At 6 A.M. mad

River to

ver but the wind blew so strong in our teeth that we were ob

n the river and by 5 P.M. got down to the lowest settlers. At 8 P.M. fired a gun and set an armed w

strength of the wind were obliged to com

tried to tow down but immediately obliged to bring up from wind blowing

P.M. we came to, at midnight on the turn of tide again hove up and towed

in Barbin Reach-towed down till half-past 4 A.M., at half-past 9 A.M. again got under weigh

nd cut down a few cabbage trees for the people. At half-past 7 two boats passed us going to the Hawkesbury. Half-past one A.M.

e sail down as far as Flint and Steel Cove and then came to; at 9 A.M., in boats, and hove up, made sail out of Broken B

P.M. when we entered the Heads, kept working up the Port and by 7 P.M. go

.

went and other gentlemen. At 2 P.M. they returned on board and we tacked and stood up for Sydney again, at half-past 2 P.M. the breeze dying away His Excellency and the

e to the H

s, hove up and made sail down the Port. At noon the Commander-in-Chief with a company

Lookout Bay where the Commander-in-Chief and party went on shore. At 4 P.M. weighed an

.

e to Hawke

at 7 weighed and made sail and by 8 cleared the heads, at 9 the head of Port Jackson bore south-west by west distant 3 1/2 miles,

at 5 P.M. came to in Lay Island Reach, perceived a fresh to be in the river. At 2 A.M.

River and by 7 P.M. came to in Bow Reach. At 5 A.M. weighed an

e sail proceeding up the river-at half-past 7

8 P.M. passed the second branch, at 10 came to, a

e A.M. came to among the lower settlers. At 9 A.M. hove up and got a couple of reaches higher when

pped the settlement and at daylig

livery of the provisions and began to

for sailing with a gun, by noon we finished loading havin

River to

rop down and at 9 A.M. hove up and began to tow do

s being done. At 3 P.M. hove up and got down a couple of reaches when we grounded on a mudbank, h

Portland Reach. At 8 A.M. hove up and by

river, at 3 P.M. came to and at 9 A.M. hov

up and proceeding down the river

hove up and attempted to work d

nd lulls we were obliged to bring up. At 10 A.M. the Cumberland passed us bound up. At 10 A

hes when we were obliged to bring to. At 11 A.M. hove up and by noon near

ow Mangrove Reach, 6 A.M. hove our small b

t Long Island; at 10 A.M. weighed and made sail down the rive

s weighed and stood up the river; at noon

thoms water. At 6 A.M. hove up and made sail down the bay, at 7 A.M. passed Pittwater, at 8 go

ered the heads and at half-past 7 P.M. came to at Garden Isl