Gulf, and our landing upon Depuch Island. The latter was a great disappointment to us, on account of the description which M. Feron gives of the island, in his historical account of Baudin’s voyage, from the report of M. Ronsard, who visited it.
“On our passage to the north coast, we saw the Imperieuse and Clerke’s shoals, and also discovered a third, the Mermaid’s.
“On the north coast, we found some deep bays and excellent ports, and at the bottom of the great bay of Van Diemen we discovered several rivers, one of which we ascended for forty miles. Mr. Cunningham made a very valuable and extensive collection of dried plants and seeds; but, from the small size of our vessel, and the constant occupation of myself and the two midshipmen, we had neither space nor time to form any other collection of natural history than a few insects, and some specimens of the geology of those parts where we had landed.”
“The construction of the charts of the preceding voyage, together with the equipment of the vessel, fully occupied me until the month of December; when, having some time to spare before we could leave Port Jackson on our second voyage to the north coast, in consequence of its being the time when the westerly monsoon prevails, I acquainted His Excellency the Governor, of my intention of surveying the entrance of Macquarie Harbour, which had lately been discovered on the western coast of Van Diemen’s Land. To make my visit there as useful aa possible to the colony, a passage was offered to Mr. Justice Field, the judge of the Supreme Court, who was at that time about to proceed to Hobart Town, to hold his court; and, as it was probable that his business would terminate about the time of our return, it was arranged that the Mermaid should also convey him back. We left Sydney Cove on the 24th December, but did not clear the beads of the port until the following morning.”
On the 14th Feb. 1810, the Mermaid returned to Port Jackson, from whence Lieutenant King sent home an account of his late proceedings, the receipt of which was duly acknowledged as follows:–
