CAPTAIN FLINDERS AND ROBERT BROWN 235 



accommodation of the Naturalists. Captain Flinders will 

 meet with thanks and praise, for every sacrifice he makes 

 to the improvement of natural knowledge which is com- 

 patible with the execution of his orders. 



" The seeds you sent by the ship that brought your 

 letters came safe and in good order. They are all sown 

 in Kew Gardens, and much hope is built on their success, 

 which will create a new epoch in the prosperity of that 

 magnificent establishment by the introduction of so large 

 a number of new plants. . . . 



" I very much approve of your employing yourself 

 when in harbour, rather in making descriptions and 

 enlarging your observations than in attempting to make 

 copies or to prepare anything to be sent home. Without 

 you the specimens or descriptions you might dispatch 

 would lose much of their value. ..." 



Captain Flinders sailed homeward in the Porpoise in 

 company with the Bridgewater and the Cato, two small 

 trading vessels. They took the eastern side of New 

 Holland. All went well for a few days, and then disaster 

 fell upon them. The Porpoise and the Cato struck upon a 

 coral reef, and speedily went to pieces. The precious 

 garden was lost. Most of the ships' company were left 

 under temporary shelter upon a sand-bank, while Captain 

 Flinders returned to Port Jackson in the Porpoise's 

 cutter. Westall, and Allen the miner, were also bound 

 for home, and were among the stranded sailors on the 

 reef. 1 During his absence of about six weeks, the ship- 

 wrecked party sowed the seeds of maize, oats, pumpkins, 

 etc. The young plants were coming up when the schooner 

 Cumberland hove in sight, with Flinders on board. In 

 company with this vessel was a trader bound to China. 

 Westall and young Franklin elected to go home via 



1 Among Westall's fine illustrations to Flinders's published story, 

 there is a good picture of this scene. 



