The Logbooks of the Lady Nelson

NG OF PORT

on left Sydney on October 15th, 1804, in H.M.S. Buffalo. The Lady Nelson went with her as tender, as the Navy Board had notified Governor King that their Lordships wished the brig to accompany the Buffalo while on survey, and for this reason 15 supernumerary seamen were allowed to the f

the Integrity remained with the king's ship until the end of the storm, when both vessels lost sight of her. The Lady Nelson, having split her fore-and-aft mainsail, bore up for Twofold Bay to refit. On the 21st she again put to sea only to meet with another storm of still greater violence, which stove in her bulwarks, washed overboard her boats, compasses, and many articles belonging to the Government. The ship consequently returned once more to Twofold Bay to effect repairs. In lieu of a boat, a raft was rigged up to carry the men on shore to obtain water, and at the same time the carpenter was sent to cut spars from "Ruff trees." On November 3rd, after having made a fruitless attempt to face the gale, she weighed and sailed out of the bay. At the entrance she met the George, schooner, f

or Hunter had named it after Alexander Dalrymple.) The Lieutenant-Governor was saluted with 11 guns by the flagship as he landed, and a Royal Salute was fired when the Union Jack was hoisted. On the 13th the general disembarkation took place from the Buffalo and Integrity at a spot called Outer Cove, where Lieutenant-Governor Paterson had fixed his camp. Its surroundings were delightful, the harbour extending inland for many miles without interruption. A party of Tasmanian natives on the 14th were encountered by some of the colonists in the bush. At the sight of the white men they gave a furious s

with him, and penetrated some distance into the surrounding country. Several places were named, and land suitable for cultivation was seen. The pasturage was very luxuriant. Fresh water too was found in sufficient abundance and, added to these natural advantages, good stone and timber were plentiful, the latter growing on the high ground. In surveying the country the Lieutenant-Governor found a more suitable site for a settlement "at the head of the Western Arm" between two "runs " of fresh water which were named by him Kent's Burn* (* Discover

to the Western Arm. The mud flats proved rather an obstacle in the way of the vessels' progress, and we read that more than on

nant-Governor until January 11th in order that Lieutenant Symons might assist in carrying out furthe

on at Port Dalrymple will be found recorded in

F THE LAD

R IN SYD

Lieutenant a

d provisions for 6 months. Received order from Governor King to act as Lieutenant and Co

.

o Port D

t 8 fresh breezes: came to with the small bower i

. got under way: made sail occa

ly with heavy rain. Cape Dromedary bear

Fresh breezes and cloudy: land

mpany: set main top-gallant sail: saw t

e to. At 11 lost sight of the Buffalo-at 8 made sail and bore away

o with the small bower on the east side of Twofold Bay: g

ved a heavy gale coming on westward, up courses: shortened sail. At 11 strong ga

ckle, 3 oars, 1 boat-hook, 2 brass guns, one cask of rice, 3 chests belonging to passengers and several things belonging to Mr. Piper and 4 sows, the property of Government, and washed overboard the binnacle, 2 compasses and lamps. At half-past 3 carried away main sheet and broke the tiller, down main-sail: bore up and set the f

P.M. close reefed top-sail...carpenter and people employed stop

ober. At 8 A.M. bore

outh shore with small bower anchor. A.M. At 6 rigged a raft to go on shore: at 9 sent casks on shore for water: sent carpenter to cut spars from

esh breezes: carpenter em

.

ke up the raft and got under

th. At 2 squally with rain: bore up for Twofold Bay...at

ooner, of Sydney bound to the Derwent: got from her a boat's compass and sundry articles: made all

h breezes and hazy. At noon

all sail set: at 8 squally: the main top-s

ember. P.M. At 4

s and bad sea. At 8 blew the fore stay-sai

linders' Isle bearing south-west by sout

t 8 clear weather, made Cape Barren and beat in through

in Kent's Bay with small bower anc

ore. Mary Poor died suddenly: carpenter made coffin: at 12

. Sent carpenter to put bil

ezes: hove up best bower and got all clear for getting und

zes and fine: at 2 bore away for Waterhous

.

lson to Por

ith northernmost of Waterhouse's Islands: 12 W

Dalrymple: fired a gun for the Francis to bear down: at 8 came to anchor in the River in 27 fathoms of water: at 9

ent officers, soldiers, pri

Employed landing bricks and

.

ple on board the Buffalo endea

ant-Governor came on board from Buffalo: Ensign Piper, Mr. Mountgarrett; five soldiers and 5 boat's crew. At 5 weighed and proceeded up

overnor and Company: at 3 beat up the River: at 9 came to with a

ay, at 11 ran aground and sent out kedge to get off ship. Lieutenant-Governor wen

f a mile below the Cataract River and moored head and stern in 2 fathoms. At 8 A.M. sent off boats with Lieutenant-Governor

P.M. Light airs, making

December. Empl

ng the River to the southwards* (* The South Esk.) and country, at 6 A.M. got under way

d, at 4 got under way, at 6 ran on shore on a mud flat, at 11 got afloat at 6 A.M.

2 P.M. got afloat; at 1 came to anchor in Channel-a

y: at 8 came to: at 6 A.M. got under way: at 9

rocks, carried out kedge and got off: at 10 came to anchor in Snug Cove: at 5 A.M. boats went on shore with Lieutenan

shore on a mud flat in the mouth of the west arm, at 2 A.M. hove off and rode by kedge

turned with Lieutenant-Governor: at 3 left

or and made sail. At 10 came to abreast Storehouse Island. At 6

ant-Governor came alongside and the Ca

.

People taking in bricks

the Western Arm, landed passengers, bricks and baggage: at 1

g up the River for ballast: at 11 c

t on board, took ground on mud flat: at 5 proceeded down R

At 5 under way and came to

got into a cove abreast the Settlements i

.

. At 10 A.M. the Francis

A.M. Got ballast on boar

. Carpenter employed making

805. P.M. Light breezes

y. P.M. Fresh breezes:

y. A.M. at 7 laid dow

. P.M. Carpenter mak

ight breezes and cloudy. A.M.

nuary. At 9 clo

ight breezes. All hands

esh breezes. At A.M. hauled th

oms and getting water. A.M. Got on board a spa

eived on board dispatches. A.M. Light breezes getting ready for s

rymple t

e to abreast the Green Island: at 9 worked out of Harbour, Government boat assisting: at 10 made all sail: at no

3 leagues, wind dying away came to in Kent's Bay, Cape Barren. A.M. At 6 under wa

south-south-west 7 leagues, at 8 Cape

of land at 6. At 6 A.M. saw the land ag

hip and stood off the land: at noon we f

.M. At 3 lost sight of the

January. P.M. At

e north-north-west 3 leagues. A.M. At noo

Saw the land of Cape Dromedary

4 close in with land-at 8 Cap

e land, hauled off at 11, saw Port Aikin.* (* Por

s. At 2 came to anchor abreast of Camp Cove. A

uary. At 4 came to a

.