NEW SOUTH WALES. 293 



land. It would be impossible to mention all those to whom we feel 

 indebted for various kindnesses and attentions, or even to cite those 

 from whom the Expedition received many accessions to its collections. 

 Notwithstanding I have mentioned many things that have struck us 

 as requiring great reform, yet the whole impression left on my mind 

 is, that it is a glorious colony, which the mother country, and the 

 whole Anglo-Saxon race, may well be proud of, and that it ought to 

 claim much more attention than it apparently does, from the home 

 goA r ernment. 



After writing our farewell letters, we took our Christmas dinner 

 with many of our friends, and on the morning of the 26th December, 

 at six o'clock — the very day that had been set apart for my departure, 

 before sailing from the United States — we weighed our anchors and 

 stood down the bay. The day was fine, the breeze light and con- 

 trary, and we did not get to sea till the afternoon. When we were 

 about passing the Heads, our worthy consul, and some others of our 

 countrymen, took their leave, and by way of dispelling the gloom that 

 was naturally felt at parting, and to show the good wishes entertained 

 for their welfare, we gave them at parting several hearty cheers, and 

 then bore away on our course. 



It falling calm, the Vincennes and tender were obliged to anchor 

 between the Heads. The Peacock and Porpoise succeeded in getting 

 outside, and when the tide made, we weighed and stood after them. 

 On getting to sea, although every search had been previously made 

 by the master-at-arms, I learned that there were two strangers on 

 board, who had contrived to evade his watchfulness, and on beating 

 to quarters, and mustering the crew, they were among the forth- 

 coming. Their appearance was any thing but convict-like ; but I 

 felt, after all the attentions heaped upon us, it was seemingly but an 

 ungrateful return, to appear to have committed an infraction of their 

 laws, and this after I had received intimation that an attempt would 

 be made, through us, to effect desertion among the troops. From 

 their appearance and carriage I thought they showed the drill of 

 soldiers, and at once told them and the assembled crew, that they 

 were mistaken if they expected to be harboured as siich, and that in 

 my return from the south, I should send them back to Sydney to be 

 delivered over. I then entered them on the rolls for provisions only, 

 until I ascertained whether they were entitled to receive compensa- 

 tion ; and after telling the men they must look forward to a hard and 



vol. ii. 74 



