Chapter I.
BIRTH AND ORIGINS
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Place of Flinders among Australian navigators—Birth—Flemish origins—Pedigree—Connection with the Tennysons—Possible relationship with Bass—Flinders' father—Donington
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1
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Chapter II.
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA
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Education—Robinson Crusoe—Aspirations for a naval career—His father's wish—John Flinders' advice—Study of navigation—Introduction to Pasley—Lieutenant's servant—Midshipman on the Bellerophon—Bligh and the Bounty mutiny
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11
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Chapter III.
A VOYAGE UNDER BLIGH
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The second breadfruit expedition—Flinders in the Providence—Notes from Santa Cruz—At the Cape—Tahiti—In Torres Strait—Encounter with Papuans—Return to England
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29
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Chapter IV.
THE BATTLE OFF BREST
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The naval war with France—The battle of June 1st, 1794—Flinders as gunner—Pasley wounded—Flinders' journal of the engagement—Effect of Pasley's wound on the career of Flinders
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41
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Chapter V.
AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHY BEFORE FLINDERS
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The predecessors of Flinders—How Australia grew on the map—Mediaeval controversies on antipodes—Period of vague speculation—Sixteenth century maps—The Dutch voyagers—The Batavia on the Abrolhos Reef—The Duyfhen in the Gulf—Torres—The three periods of Australian maritime discovery—Geographers and their views of Australia—The theory of the dividing strait—Cook and Furneaux—The untraced southern coast
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64
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Chapter VI.
THE RELIANCE AND THE TOM THUMB
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Governor Hunter.—Captain Waterhouse.—Flinders' passion for exploring new countries—Joins the Reliance—Hunter on the strategic importance of the Cape—Sailing of Reliance and Supply for New South Wales—Flinders' observations—Arrival at Port Jackson.—George Bass—The Tom Thumb—Exploration of George's River—A perilous cruise—Meeting with aboriginals—The midshipman as valet—Port Hacking—Patching up the Reliance—Voyage to South Africa.
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77
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Chapter VII.
THE DISCOVERY OF BASS STRAIT
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Bass in the Blue Mountains—Supposed strait isolating Van Diemen's Land—Bass's whaleboat voyage—Wilson's Promontory—Escaped convicts—Discovery of Westernport—Return to Port Jackson.
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97
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Chapter VIII.
THE VOYAGE OF THE FRANCIS
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The wreck of the Sydney Cove—Discovery of Kent's Islands—Biological notes—Seals—Sooty petrels—The wombat—Point Hicks
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123
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Chapter IX.
CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF TASMANIA
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Flinders in command of the Norfolk—Bass's association with him—Twofold Bay—Discovery of Port Dalrymple—Bass Strait demonstrated—Black swans—Albatross Island—Tasmanian aboriginals
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133
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Chapter X.
THE FATE OF GEORGE BASS
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Bass's marriage—Part owner of the Venus—Voyages after pork—A fishing concession—South American enterprise—Unsaleable goods—A "diplomatic-looking certificate"—Bass's last voyage—Probable fate in Peru—His missing letters
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145
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Chapter XI.
ON THE QUEENSLAND COAST
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Flinders and the Isaac Nicholls case—Exploration on the Queensland coast—Moreton Bay
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157
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Chapter XII.
THE INVESTIGATOR
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Return to England in the Reliance—Sir Joseph Banks—Marriage of Flinders—Ann Chappell and Chappell Island—The Franklins—Publication of Observations on the Coasts of Van Diemen's Land, on Bass Strait and its Islands—Anxiety about French expedition—The Investigator commissioned—Equipment of ship—The staff and crew—East India Company's interest—Instructions for the voyage—The case of Mrs. Flinders—Sailing orders delayed—The incident at the Roar—Life on board—Crossing the Line—Australia reached
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163
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Chapter XII.
THE FRENCH EXPEDITION
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Origin of Baudin's expedition—His instructions—Baudin's dilatoriness—In Tasmanian waters—Waterhouse Island
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198
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Chapter XIV.
SOUTH COAST DISCOVERY
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The south coast of Australia—Method of research—Aboriginals at King George's Sound—Discovery of Spencer's Gulf—Loss of Thistle and a boat's crew—Memory Cove—Port Lincoln—Kangaroo Island—St. Vincent's Gulf—Pelicans—Speculations on the fate of Lapérouse
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205
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Chapter XV.
FLINDERS AND BAUDIN IN ENCOUNTER BAY
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The sighting of Le Géographe—Flinders visits Baudin—Their conversations—Flinders invites Baudin to visit Port Jackson
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224
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Chapter XVI.
FLINDERS IN PORT PHILLIP
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Grant's discoveries—Murray discovers Port Phillip—King Island—Flinders enters Port Phillip—Ascends Arthur's Seat—The Investigator aground—Cruise in a boat—Ascends Station Peak—Flinders' impression of the port—Arrival in Port Jackson—Healthiness of his crew
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233
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Chapter XVII.
THE FRENCH AT PORT JACKSON: PÉRON THE SPY
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Arrival of Le Géographe at Port Jackson—State of the crew—Hospitality of Governor King—Rumours as to French designs—Baudin's gratitude—Peron's report on Port Jackson—His espionage—Freycinet's plan of invasion—Scientific work of the expedition
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246
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Chapter XVIII.
AUSTRALIA CIRCUMNAVIGATED
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Overhaul of the ship—The Lady Nelson—Flinders sails north—Discovery of Port Curtis and Port Bowen—Through the Barrier Reef—Torres Strait—Remarks on Coral Reefs—The Gulf of Carpentaria—Rotten condition of the ship—Melville Bay discovered—Sails for Timor—Australia circumnavigated—The Investigator condemned—Illness of Flinders—News of father's death—Letter to step-mother—Letters to Mrs. Flinders—Letter to Bass—The end of the Investigator
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265
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Chapter XIX.
WRECKED ON THE BARRIER REEF
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New plans—Flinders sails in the Porpoise—Remarks on Sydney—Wrecked—Conduct of the Bridgewater—Plans for relief—Stores available—Voyage in the Hope to Sydney—Franklin's description of the wreck
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285
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Chapter XX.
TO ILE-DE-FRANCE IN THE CUMBERLAND
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King receives news of the wreck—The Cumberland—Wreck Reef reached—Voyage to Timor—Determination to sail to Ile-de-France—Flinders' reasons—Arrival at Baye du Cap—Arrival at Port Louis
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298
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Chapter XXI.
GENERAL DECAEN
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Decaen's early career—His baptism of fire—War in the Vendée—The Army of the Rhine—Moreau—Battle of Hohenlinden—Moreau and Napoleon—The peace of Amiens—Decaen's arrival at Pondicherry—His reception—Leaves for Ile-de-France—His character and abilities
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308
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Chapter XXII.
THE CAPTIVITY
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Flinders' reception by Decaen—His anger—Imprisoned at the Café Marengo—His papers and books—His examination—Refusal of invitation to dinner—Decaen's anger—His determination to detain Flinders—King's despatches—Decaen's statement of motives—Flinders asks to be sent to France
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321
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Chapter XXIII.
THE CAPTIVITY PROLONGED
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Decaen's despatch—A delayed reply—Flinders' occupations—His health—The sword incident—Anniversary of the imprisonment—Aken's liberation—The faithful Elder
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346
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Chapter XXIV.
THE CAPTIVITY MODIFIED
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Thomas Pitot—Removal to Wilhelm's Plains—The parole—Madame D'Arifat's house—Hospitalities—Flinders studies French and Malay—Further exploration schemes—The residence of Lapérouse—Work upon the charts—King's protest and Decaen's anger—Elder's departure
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357
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Chapter XXV.
THE ORDER OF RELEASE
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Influences to secure release—The order of release—Receipt of the despatch—Decaen's reply—Flinders a dangerous man—Reason for Decaen's refusal—State of Ile-de-France—Project for escape—Flinders' reasons for declining
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367
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Chapter XXVI.
THE RELEASE
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Blockade of Ile-de-France—Decaen at the end of his tether—Release of Flinders—Return to England—The plagiarism charge—Flinders' papers—Work of Péron and Freycinet
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379
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Chapter XXVII.
LAST YEARS AND DEATH OF FLINDERS
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Flinders in London—Prolonged and severe work—His illness—Death of Flinders—His last words—Treatment of his widow by the Admiralty
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391
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Chapter XXVIII.
CHARACTERISTICS
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Personality—Portraits—Flinders' commanding look—Geniality—Conversational powers—Gentleness—Kindness to wounded French officer—Advice to young officers—An eager student—The husband
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402
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Chapter XXIX.
THE NAVIGATOR
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Technical writings—The marine barometer—Variations in the compass—Praise of other navigators—Love for his work
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414
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Chapter XXX.
THE NAMING OF AUSTRALIA
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The name Australia given to the continent by Flinders—The "Austrialia del Espiritu Santo" of Quiros—De Brosses and "Australasia"—Dalrymple and "Australia"—Flinders' use of the word in 1804—His use of it in a French essay in 1810—Persistent employment of the word in letters—Proposes the word "Australia" to Banks—His fight for his word—"Terra Australis"—The footnote of 1814
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420
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APPENDIX A—BAUDIN'S NARRATIVE OF THE MEETING IN ENCOUNTER BAY
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431
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APPENDIX B—PÉRON'S REPORT ON PORT JACKSON
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436
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APPENDIX C—NAMES GIVEN BY FLINDERS TO AUSTRALIAN COASTAL FEATURES
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465
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
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475
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INDEX
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481
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