that was now our only security, we could not venture to remove more than a few sheets from those parts which appeared the most suspicious, under all of which we found the nails so defective, that we had reason to fear we might start some planks before we reached Port Jackson, the consequence of which would unquestionably be fatal to the vessel and our lives. All that we could do to remedy the defect, was to caulk the water-ways and counter, and to nail an additional streak of copper a foot higher than before This further temporary repair was finished by the 30th; but we were detained until the 5th of October before the tide rose high enough to float the cutter. By the 8th, every thing being embarked, we made preparations to quit this place (Careening Bay), which had afforded us the means of repairing our damage, and stopping for the present the progress of an injury which had been every day assuming a more serious aspect.
“Oct. 11 th, – “Our people were now all laid up with sores upon their feet and legs, from cuts and bruises received in scrambling over the rocks; and several were affected by ophthalmia. Besides this, the rainy season was approaching; it commenced last year about the 18th of October, and as the weather was now close and sultry, and daily getting more unfavorable, the change was evidently at hand. We therefore determined upon quitting the coast as soon as possible. In beating out of the river (Prince Regent’s) the cutter leaked a good deal, which shewed that our late repair at Careening Bay had not placed us without the pale of danger. This made me decide upon instantly returning to Port Jackson: but it was with great regret that I found it necessary to resolve so; for the land ta the westward appeared so indented, as to render the necessity of our departure at this moment particularly vexatious.
“Dec. 2d, – We were off Mount Dromedary; and the wind blew strong from the east, the weather assuming a threatening appearance. The next day we passed the heads of Jervis Bay, at the distance of three or four leagues, and the course was altered to North and N.b.W. parallel to the coast. At noon, an indifferent observation for the latitude, and a sight of the land, which for a few minutes was visible through the squalls, shewed that our situation was very much nearer to the shore than we had expected, a circumstance that was attributed to a current setting into the bight to the northward of Jervis Bay. The wind from the eastward was light and baffling, and this, added to the critical situation we were in, made me very anxious to obtain an offing before night, for there was every appearance of a gale from the eastward.
“Dec. 4th, – From an unusually westerly current, we found ourselves, very nearly to our destruction, considerably out of our reckoning. At 2-40 a.m., by the glare of a flash of lightning, the land was suddenly discovered dose under our lee: we hauled to the wind immediately; but the breeze at the same moment fell, and the swell being heavy, the cutter made but little progress. Sail was made as quickly as possible, and as the cutter headed N.N.E., there was every likelihood of her clearing the