168 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



lightning ; the ship appeared filled with the electric fluids ; the points 

 of the conductors, the mastheads, and yardarms were illuminated 

 with Corpo Santos; and several of the officers declared that they 

 had felt electric shocks. The gale blew violently, beginning from 

 the northwest, and then shifting to the southwest. During its con- 

 tinuance the thermometer fell seventeen degi'ees. 



For the two following days we had head winds, and a heavy 

 cross sea. 



On the 26th November we made Ball's Pyramid, which appears 

 to be a barren rock rising abruptly from the sea. 



On the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th, we experienced a current setting 

 at the rate of twenty-four miles a day to the northeast. On the 28th 

 it set east-northeast at the rate of twenty-five miles per day. From 

 the latter date the current began to set strongly to the southwest, 

 showing that we had entered the stream which sets in that direction 

 along the coast of New South Wales. 



At sunset on the 29th November, we made the light-house on the 

 headland of Port Jackson. We had a fair wind for entering the 

 harbour, and although the night was dark, and we had no pilot, j'et 

 as it was important to avoid any loss of time, I determined to run in. 

 I adopted this resolution, because, although we were all unacquainted 

 with the channel, I was assured that the charts in our possession 

 might be depended upon, and I stood on under a press of sail, 

 accompanied by the Peacock. At 8 p. M. we found ourselves at the 

 entrance of the harbour. Here a light erected on a shoal called 

 the Sow and Pigs, since the publication of the charts, caused a 

 momentary hesitation, but it was not long before it was determined 

 where it was placed, and with this new aid, I decided to run up and 

 anchor off the Cove. In this I succeeded, and the Peacock, directed 

 by signal, followed the Vincennes. At half-past 10 p. m. we quietly 

 dropped anchor off the Cove, in the midst of the shipping, without 

 any one having the least idea of our arrival. 



When the good people of Sydney looked abroad in the morning, 

 they were much astonished to see two men-of-war lying among their 

 shipping, which had entered their harbour in spite of the difficulties 

 of the channel, without being reported, and unknown to the pilots. 

 Their streets were speedily alive with our officers and men, who were 

 delighted at finding themselves once more in a civilized country, and 

 one where their own language was spoken. 



The Porpoise and Flying-Fish arrived the next day. 



