124 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



is to leave out enough to reduce it to reasonable proportions. In 

 this difficult matter of condensation, I gratefully acknowledge my 

 indebtedness to Professor Scott. 1 



Flinders was the son of a physician in Donington, Lincolnshire, 

 where he was born on i6th March, 1774. From his earliest youth, 

 he developed an invincible inclination towards maritime pursuits. 

 The patron so necessary in these days was opportunely found for 

 him in Captain (afterwards Admiral) Sir Thomas Pasley, through 

 whose influence he entered the Royal Navy in 1789, and was rated 

 as "Lieutenant's Servant" on the " Seller ophon" on 3ist July, 

 1790. In 1791, he joined the "Providence" under Captain 

 William Bligh, on his second voyage for the transport of the 

 breadfruit tree to the West Indies. This mission was successfully 

 accomplished, the plants being delivered at their destination near 

 the end of 1793. By this time, Britain was at war with France. 

 The only existing account of the voyage of the " Providence " 

 and her tender, the " Assistant" is that given by Flinders in the 

 introductory chapter of his great work. 



On his arrival in England, Flinders (then nineteen years of age), 

 eagerly embraced the opportunity of rejoining the " Bellerophon" 

 and Admiral Pasley, who had received a good report on his conduct 

 from Captain Bligh, made him his aide de camp. In the great 

 battle off Brest, Pasley's active career was ended by the loss of a leg. 

 Afterwards, although he received promotion and honours, he was 

 only fit for administrative duties, and therefore Flinders left the 

 " Bellerophon" after exactly five days' experience of naval warfare 

 (28th May to 1st June, 1794). 



In 1788, the British colony of NEW SOUTH WALES was inaugu- 

 rated by CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, who sailed from England in the 

 " Sirius" commanded by CAPTAIN JOHN HUNTER (who succeeded 

 him in the governorship in 1794). In March, 1794, the " Reliance " 

 and " Supply " were commissioned to convey Hunter to Sydney, 

 and Flinders was a midshipman on the first-named vessel. Sydney 

 was reached on 7th September, 1795. 



On the voyage out, a close friendship had sprung up between 

 Flinders and GEORGE BASS, the Surgeon of the " Reliance" The 

 two friends had no sooner landed than they concerted measures for 

 the exploration of the coast of New South Wales. Having secured 

 the best boat available, the " Tom Thumb," eight feet in length, 

 they, and a boy, visited Botany Bay and the St. Georges River before 

 the end of 1795. In a second boat of the same name, they left 

 Sydney on 25th March, 1796, and explored the coast of the Illawarra 

 district to the south and Port Hacking to the north, returning to 

 Sydney on 2nd April. 



A British protectorate of the Cape of Good Hope had by this 



i The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders, R.N. By Ernest Scott, Professor of History 

 in the University of Melbourne. Sydney, 1914. 



