114 FIRST SKTTLEMKNT AT DERWENT. 



Fiemming's The Cumherlini'i sailed the same day (23rd November). 



She had on boai'd Mr, Charles Grimes* (Acting Sur- 

 vey or-Genoral), M'Callum (the surgeon), Jas. Flemming 

 (the gardenei), and throe marines; Avith the crew, 17 

 persons. In the journal t kept by Flemming, the 

 gardener, who was sent to report on the soil and pro- 

 ductions of the almost unknown regions to which they 

 were going, we have a ciironicle of their proceodings.;}: 

 They had a quick run of two days to Cape Howe, but, 

 baffled by contrary winds and calms, were nine days more 

 in reaching Kent's Grouji, and it was not until the 8th 

 December — a fortnight after leaving Port Jackson — that 

 they made Sea Elephant Bay, on the east coast of King's 

 Island. Here they found the French ships lying at 

 anchor, and at 5 o'clock on that summer evening the 

 little Cumberland drojjpcd anchor alongside them. The 

 Naturaliste was on the point of sailing for France. 

 Captain Robbins boarded the (Ttograyhe, announced his 

 mission, and delivered to the Commodore the Governor's 

 letter. It was short, and friendly in tone. King begins 

 by remarking that his intention to send a vessel to the 

 southward to iix on a place for a settlement was already 

 known to Baudin himself. He then mentions the report 

 that had led to the departure of this vessel being hastened, 

 and goes on to say that, while wholly disbelieving that 

 the French commander had any thought of such a design 

 as had been imputed to him, yet it seemed but j)r(>per that 

 he should be informed of the I'unioui-, and of the orders the 

 caj)tain of the Cumberland had received in consequence. 

 The version of the Governor's letter given by Peron in 

 his history uf the expedition represents it as couched in 

 more forcible and less conciliatory terms. Peron says 

 that hardly had they anchored at King's Island when 

 the little schooner Cund)crland wrvwctX from Port Jackson, 

 bringing Surveyor-General (Jrimes, who had been sent 

 by Governor King to make a declaration, as singular 

 in its form as it was remarkable in its object. " A 

 report having reached me," wrote Mr. King to our Com- 



* Grimes was one of the first, if not the first, to cross Tasmania 

 from north to south. — Sef i'linners' Chart, 1807. 



t Flcmniin^'s Journal wan flisinterrcil fntin the Hooonls in the 

 ('(tlonial Secretary's Oftice, Syflncy, l>y Mr. J. J. Sliilliii^'Iaw, in 

 1877, and was jirintfd in that (^entlenum's ''Historical Hccords of 

 Port Philli).;' .Melbourne, 187». I 7/W, pii. 15-30. 



