BY JAMES BACKHOUSE WALKER. 219 



It is the more inexplicable that the country on which Calcutta's 

 Melbourne now stands was not examined, as the Calcutta ^°^> ^'^^^ 

 proceeded up the Harbour and anchored in Hobson's J^Qg ^° ^ ^^^' 

 Bay off the present site of WilHamstown, actually 

 taking in 55 tons of water from the River Yarra. Yet 

 although the ship was away for some ten days no attempt 

 was made to explore the shores of that river. 



On the 13th December the Ocean returned from 

 Port Jackson, and with her the Francis schooner 

 bringing despatches from Governor King. The appear- 

 ance of the Ocean was hailed with delight, and the 

 satisfaction of Collins was shared by all when they learnt 

 the news of Bowen's settlement at the Derwent, and that 

 the Ocean had been chartered to remove the people 

 thither, or wherever the Lieut.-Governor thought proper, 

 Collins' pleasure was rather damped by Capt. Woodriff's 

 informing him that as the Ocean had arrived to remove 

 the Colony, the Calcutta, in accordance with the 

 Admiraltj'^ instructions, must immediately proceed to 

 Port Jackson, where a cargo of timber for the use of 

 the navy was awaiting her, and that she could give no 

 assistance in removing the settlement. This would 

 render it necessary to divide the convicts, the military 

 and civil establishments, and the stores into two detach- 

 ments, as the Ocean could not take them all at once. 



Collins immediately set to work to prepare for removal. 

 He set the people to build a temporary jetty, 500 feet 

 long, over the flats, and soon had all hands busily at 

 work loading the Ocean. As to his ultimate destination 

 he was still in much perplexity, and for some weeks it 

 was doubtful whether the Tamar or the Derwent would 

 be the site of the principal settlement in Van Diemen's 

 Land. Indeed, in those days the ignorance of the different 

 localities was so great — being limited to the information 

 acquired by Flinders in his flying visits — that the data 

 upon which to base a decision were wanting. By the 

 Calcutta, which left him on the 18th December, he 

 writes to King that he will not come to a decision on a 

 point of so much importance until Port Dahymple 

 had been examined by Wm. Collins, who was leaving 

 in the Francis for that purpose. He will, in deference 

 to King, give the northern port the preference, though 

 he himself inclined to the Derwent. King in reply tells 

 him that a schooner which had just arrived from Port 

 Dalrymple reported the entrance and channel very 

 dangerous, and the natives troublesome, and advises 

 him to give up the idea of going there, and to decide for 

 the Derwent. 



