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Chap. II.]
ARRIVE AT PORT JACKSON.
35
1841.
Cape Howe at the time bearing N. 29° W. distant about seventeen miles: the temperature at that depth being 49·7°; that of the surface and of the air being 59°.
On the following day, when in latitude 37° 20′ S. July 12.long. 151° 36′ E., we had no soundings with five hundred and fifty fathoms, the temperature of the sea at that depth being 46·2, whilst that of the surface was 60°.
On the morning of the 14th we were off the July 14.extensive and celebrated opening called Botany Bay by Captain Cook, and arrived between the narrow heads of Port Jackson at noon. Here a pilot came off to us; and, the wind dying away to a perfect calm, we lowered our boats, and towed the ships up one of the most magnificent harbours in the world. A boat from the shore brought me a kind note of welcome from His Excellency Sir George Gipps, with the offer of every assistance in his power to promote our objects; and immediately that our ships were anchored between the government demesne and Garden Island, Commander Crozier and I went on shore to pay our respects to the governor, from whom we experienced the most cordial reception. I obtained permission from him to put up our observatories on Garden Island, a convenient and retired place, where we could uninterruptedly pursue our work. I should have preferred making our observations at Fort Macquarie, on the exact spot where Lieutenant Wilkes had obtained his, during the visit of the