158 



Events during the return of the 

 Viucennes. Cape Howe. 



ANTARCTIC CRUISE. Cape Jervis.-Fort Macquarie. 



On the 28th, we found our variation 1 easterly, 

 in the longitude of 131 50' E., latitude 50 30' S.; 

 and in attempting to get a deep-sea sounding of 

 eight hundred and fifty fathoms, we lost our Six's 

 thermometer by the wire parting, The sea was a 

 deep blue ; the temperature 45. We found a 

 current setting west-north-west three-fourths of a 

 knot per hour. The white object was seen at the 

 depth of fifteen fathoms. 



On the 1st of March we had reached the latitude 

 of the Royal Company's Isles, and I continued to 

 run in nearly the same parallel for eight degrees 

 of longitude, without seeing any signs of the sup- 

 posed land. Having sailed far to the eastward of 

 their supposed position, I again hauled to the 

 northward to proceed to Hobart Town, Van 

 Diemen's Land, to fill up our water. We now saw 

 a sail, the first during sixty days, which made us 

 feel as if we were returning to a habitable part of 

 the globe. This night we had a brilliant display 

 of the aurora australis, resembling that seen on 

 the 9th of February, with this difference, that it 

 was seen to the southward, extending from east- 

 south-east to west-south-west. 



On the 5th of March the wind headed us off our 

 course to Hobart Town; I then determined to pro- 

 ceed direct to Sydney, and thus be enabled to 

 communicate as speedily as possible with the 

 United States. The consideration of getting intelli- 

 gence respecting the other vessels, also led to this 

 determination. I felt, in truth, forebodings that 

 all was not well, from not having met any of the 

 vessels at the appointed rendezvous, along the icy 

 barrier ; and 1 was anxious for their safety, after 

 the severe gale of the 28th of January. 



Having reached a lower latitude, the weather 

 had now become pleasant, and we could dispense 

 with our winter clothing, a relief which the whole 

 of the crew seemed to enjoy. It was the reverse 

 with me; I had a feeling of exhaustion and lassitude 

 that I could not account for, and the least exertion 

 caused me much fatigue. 



On the 9th we reached the latitude of Cape 

 Howe, and were seventy miles to the eastward of 

 it. We there experienced a rise in the temperature 

 of the water: six degrees in less than an hour. 



On the 10th, when off Cape Jervis, and about 

 forty miles to the eastward of it, we again changed 

 the temperature from 68 to 73, as we steered in 

 for the land to the northward, but on hauling to 

 the eastward it again fell to 68. A strong 

 southerly current has been long known to exist 

 along this coast ; and I feel well satisfied that the 

 thermometer is a good guide in making the passage 

 from the southward. The coasting vessels, as I 

 was informed at Sydney, had frequently made long 

 passages from Van Diemen's Land and South 

 Australia, which I have but little doubt is owing 

 to the prevalence of this minor Gulf Stream, the 

 position of which the use of the thermometer will 

 clearly indicate. This current will be noticed 

 particularly in the chapter on currents ; its width 

 no doubt varies with the season. 



On the llth of March, at noon, we passed the 

 Heads of Port Jackson, and took a pilot. We were, 

 as a body, in better condition than when we left 

 Sydney three months before. 



In an hour afterwards we dropped our anchor in 

 Farm Cove, off Fort Macquarie. Our reception 

 was flattering ; scarcely was our anchor well down 



before many of our friends came on board to bid 

 us welcome; and we felt tenfold that kind hospitality 

 which on our former visit we had first become 

 acquainted with. They appeared to rejoice in our 

 success as if we had been their countrymen. 



During our absence from Sydney, many improve- 

 ments had taken place. The storehouses for the 

 deposit of grain on an island in the harbour were 

 in rapid progress ; the new government-house 

 nearly completed, and the foundation of an ex- 

 change laid ; besides this, many improvements in 

 town that were then in progress had been com- 

 pleted ; and the rapidity with which these works 

 had been accomplished, strongly reminded me of 

 similar operations at home. 



The country was looking quite green and pretty; 

 indeed, the sail up the noble harbour was truly 

 beautiful ; it wore quite a different face from its 

 former parched appearance, the rains having been 

 abundant during our absence. 



Observations were obtained for the rates of our 

 chronometers, and the magnetic needles again ex- 

 perimented with. 



On overhauling my ship, the fore-topmast was 

 found to be slightly sprung. 



It was with great pleasure I learned the safety 

 of the Peacock ; for that vessel had occupied my 

 thoughts more than the others, on account of the 

 condition in which she left Sydney. All on board 

 of her were well, and the vessel was undergoing 

 repairs in Mossman's Cove, one of the many which 

 this harbour forms. These coves may be termed 

 wet-docks, affording as they do every facility for 

 the repair of vessels of any size. They are more 

 like artificial than natural basins, and are secure 

 against any wind. There is no port in the world 

 that offers so many natural advantages as Port 

 Jackson, for a great naval power. We had many 

 things to relate to each other ; among others, the 

 particulars of the accident that befell the Peacock, 

 that has already been noticed. The return of that 

 vessel to this port now claims our attention. 



On the 28th of January, their sick-list had in- 

 creased to thirteen, more in consequence of the 

 fatigue the men had undergone, than from any 

 disease. 



On the 29th, they experienced strong gales from 

 the north-west, which continued to increase until 

 midnight, after which the weather moderated. The 

 ship during this gale was in latitude 61 20' S., 

 and longitude 1 54 9' E. This gale is remarkable, 

 in consequence of its blowing in a contrary direc- 

 tion to that which the Vincennes experienced on 

 the same day ; while the former had it from the 

 north-west, the latter had it from south-east. Their 

 distance apart was four hundred and fifty miles, in 

 a noi'th-east direction. 



On the 1st of February the weather was stormy 

 until towards evening, when it moderated and 

 cleared off, with the wind to the north-west, and 

 gave them a view of the aurora australis lighting 

 up the southern portion of the horizon. Rays were 

 thrown out in different directions, some reaching 

 an altitude of 30, others of 40, whilst others 

 again almost spanned the heavens. 



On the 2nd, they had another display of the 

 aurora, but contrary to that of the previous day, it 

 was first seen at an altitude of 70, diverging 

 towards the horizon, from east-south-east to the 

 south-west-by-west, before it disappeared. The 



