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 XXXVIL Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



YOYAGE OF DISCOVERY. 



It will be remembered that some time in the spring of 

 1802, the ship named the Investigator was completely fitted 

 up in the Thames, and amply stored and provided, and put 

 under the command of captain Flinders, in order to proceed 

 to the South Sea for the purpose of exploring the coasts and 

 the interior of New Holland ; and that, besides the officers 

 and crew, there were embarked persons skilled in practical 

 astronomy, natural history in all its departments, and others 

 accomplished in the art of drawing and painting. 



By a Danish ship arrived very lately at Dover, letters 

 have been received from Canton, in China, by which it ap- 

 pears that the Investigator arrived at Port Jackson on the 

 5th or 6th of June last year, after having finished a part of 

 the intended survey of New Holland; by which time she 

 had received such injury in the course of her voyage, and 

 was so rotten, that, on examination then made, she was 

 condemned as unfit for further service. 



The same accounts further add, that the Porpoise, a small 

 armed vessel then at Port Jackson, under the direction of 

 governor King, was pitched on to complete this voyage of 

 discovery : but that, being surveyed, she was also found unfit 

 for so dangerous a service. It was then determined that the 

 Porpoise should proceed to England with the officers of the 

 Investigator. To the men of science an offer was made of 

 either stopping at Port Jackson till captain Flinders should 

 return from England with another ship, or v taking a passage 

 home, as many as could be accommodated, in the Porpoise; 

 the rest to follow by the first proper conveyance that might 

 offer. 



The Porpoise sailed from Port Jackson about the 10th of 

 August 1803, having under her convoy the merchantmen 

 Cato and Bridgewater, bound to Batavia. The intended 

 track was through Forrest's Straights, between the north 

 coast of New Holland and New Guinea, and so, getting 

 into the Indian seas, to follow the usual track of the In- 

 diamen, instead of the circuitous route by Cape Horn. 



The public has lately been informed of the unfortunate 

 result of this voyage. The accounts now received are to 

 the following purpose : — About 10 o'clock at night, on the 

 17th or 18th of August 1803, the Porpoise being a little 

 a-head of the Cato and Bridgewater, who were on the lar- 

 board and starboard quarter, breakers were suddenly seen 



from 



