The Logbooks of the Lady Nelson

NDING O

ch vessels had made a lengthy stay in port. The Geographe entered the Heads on June 20th, 1802, during the absence of the Lady Nelson at the Hawkesbury, and for that reason we fi

ilors were most hospitably received by the Governor, although England and France were still supposed to be at war, and many of the French officers were soon on friendly terms with the chief residents and officials. The news that pea

the results of the explorations of Grant and Murray in the Lady Nelson, for up to the time of the arrival of the French at Sydney, only

from its recalling that of the founder of a colony in which we met with succour so effective and so liberally granted." Louis de Freycinet also states that the entrance to the Port was seen by those on board the Geographe. A drawing of Port Phillip afterwards appeared under the name Port du Debut on his own charts.* (* Through the kindness of M. le Comte de Fleurieu some extracts from Baudin's journal have been placed in the writer's hands. From these it would appear that the Geographe passed Western Port without recognising it, and in continuing to voyage westward saw a port which those on board imagined to be Western Port, but which possibly was Port Phillip.) Freycinet denied that the map had been plagiarised, as was generally believed in England, by the unlawful use of Flinders' chart

that of Cape Marengo, and Cape Schanck (of Grant) that of Cape Richelieu. Portland Bay, also named by Grant, became Tourville Bay; Montaigne Cape took the place-name of Cape Solicitor; Lady Julia Island became Fourcroy Island; Lawrence's Island, Dragon Island; and Cape Bridgewater, Cape Montesquieu. In this manne

mania. Although Bass and Flinders had in 1798 circumnavigated the island, adding extensive discoveries to those already made by Furn

York to South Cape in Tasmania.) Baudin's enquiries elicited as much from Governor King at Sydney. It was natural therefore that after the departure of the French ships, when King heard a rumour that they intended to take possession of a port in Tasmania,* (* Baie du Nord.) he should send Acting-Lieutenant Robbins in the Cumberland after the

still name after you) proofs of the period at which we visited it." This insinuation evidently raised King's ire, as he made a note on the margin of the letter, "If Mr. Baudin insinuates any claim of this visit the island was first discovered in 1798* (* King writes 1799 in the chart.) by Mr.

eared in his passing certificate at the Cape of Good Hope, in consequence of which he has been superseded in the command of the Lady Nelson and goes home a passenger in the Glatton. He promises himself being able to clear the point up to their Lordships' satisfaction. Should he be able to accomplish this, I consider it but doing common justice to his perseverance and good conduct while in command of the Lady Nelson to say that his future services in that vessel would be very acceptable to

storical Records of New South Wales volume 4 pages 734 and 764.) which left Sydney on March 29th, 1802, and we know that they reached Whitehall safely. After his arrival in England, Murray seems to have been able to clear up s

of Lieutenant Richard Bowen, R.N., Admiralty Agent on board the Atlantic, which visited New South Wales in 1792.) the Commandant of the new establishment, as well as several other persons chosen by Governor King to accompany him, left Sydney early in June, while the Porpoise followed a few days later. Both ships returned without being able to make their port of destin

two ships the Duke of Clarence and the Duchess, visited Tasmania in 1793. The name was given in honour of Mr. William Bellamy Risdon, second officer of the Duke of Clarence. Captain Hayes also named the River Derwent.) The people were safely landed, but unfortunately much of the stock in the vessels was injured during the gale that raged after leaving Sydney. Many eligible places for a settlement presented themselves, and the Commandant eve

ADY NELSON I

URTOYS,

0 convicts and 3 soldiers for Van Dieman's Land: at 6 A.M. hove short; 1/2 past fired

squally, bore up for Twofold Bay the wind seeming to

h best bower and moored ship 1/2 cable's length from the shore. Employed making

Down long top-gallant

une. Sent empty

ting up the lower and top-mast r

offing standing in to the Bay made sig

d shoved further out. A.M. Strong breezes; made signal fo

d out of the Bay; at 3.30 reefed top sails: at 11.30 sa

clear: running along-shore; at

ghed and made sail up the harbour. Came on board the Pilot: at 5 got on shore on Bennilong's Poi

oudy: at 5 got under weigh, tacked occasio

reezes and cloudy weather. 3.2

cloudy; at 4 carried away the fore t

cloudy; at 11 saw the land about the Eddys

er. Fresh breezes an

2 handed the top sail and hove to, at 11 set the fore

ps out: carried one of them away. At 7 came to with the kedge in 29 fathoms, the ti

m, out sweeps to pull ahead: at 8 a breeze, made all sail

me to in Ralphes Bay in 8 fathoms.* (* Relph's Bay was named by Captain John

cloudy: sail-maker making a main top-mast stay-s

athoms 1/2 past 3 breeze from the eastward, weighed and made sail

cloudy weather: at 4 made sail for Risdon

Captain Bowen from the Albion sent the lon

tores belonging to the colony on shore: the

Moderate and cloudy weathe

s and top-gallant mast. A.M. Fresh breezes

ezes and cloudy. Supplied the colony w

. A.M. fresh breezes and cloudy with rain: 1/2 past 5 weighed and ma

th heavy squalls of rain: 1/2 past 1 a heavy

: up lower yards, set the rigging up, moored:

on Risdons Island, shortened sail: 1/4 before 12 a breeze

ng gales and clear weather: at 6

rong gales and cloudy. At 10

: 1/4 before 8 strong gales with heavy s

vy swell from south-east: at 1 the Pilot came on bo

Light breezes and cloud

.

ing and made sail out of the cove: at 10 the S

spoke her, found her to be the Resource from Wreck Reef: at 10 cam

t 2 came abreast the Wash in 4 fathoms: moored. Down

h thunder, lightning and rain: came on board ca

at 4 furled sail. Hauled alongside wharf

ght breezes and clear. Re

her with heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. A.M. At 8 mad

weighed and made sail: at 4 came t

11 weighed and towed down the river. A.M. Calm and fogg

d hot sultry weather, 1/2 past 12

d down the river, at 4 came to. A.M. Calm and

Up top-gallant yards, at 7 came to in Pitt's Water. A.M. Light breezes and

at 2 all sail set, standing out of the Bay at 4 ditto weather: at 9 came to in Sydney Cove: f

and water. Delivering the iron and wine received for

) GEORGE

m the Royal Navy and settled down at the island of Timor,* (* The Sydney Gazette (1814) says that the ship Morning Star, Captain Smart, brought the above news concerning Captain Curtoys to