i7 8 7-I OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 7 



leaving the world behind them, to enter on a ftate unknown; and, as 

 if it had been neceffary to imprint this idea more ftrongly on their 

 minds, at the clofe of the evening of the day on which they failed,, 

 they fpoke a (hip from London*. The metropolis of their native 

 country, its pleafures, its wealth and" its confequence, thus accidentally 

 prefented to the mind, failed not to afford a moft ftriking contrail with* 

 the objecl: then principally in their view. 



For feveral days after they had failed, the wind was- unfavourable, 

 and blowing frefh with much- fea, fome time elapfed before they had 

 reached to the Eaftward of the Cape of Good Hope. This having at 

 length accomplished, Captain Phillip, embarking in the Supply, pro* 

 eeeded forward, accompanied by the Scarborough, Alexander,, and 

 Friendlhip tranfports. On board of thefe three mips was the greater 

 part of the male convi&s, whom Captain Phillip had fanguine hopes 

 ©f employing to much advantage, before the Sirius, with that part 

 of the Meet which was to remain under Captain Hunter's direction, 

 fhould arrive upon the coaft. He was alfo attended by Major Rofs, 

 the command ant of the marine detachment (and lieutenant-governor 

 of the fettlement), together with the j adjutant and quarter-matter, in 

 order to co-operate with him in. his intention of preparing, as far as 

 time might allow, for the reception of the reft of the convoy. But 

 when the Sirius anchored in Botany-Bay, Captain Hunter was in- 

 formed that the Supply had preceded him in his- arrival only two days; 

 and the three tranfports, under the agent, Lieutenant Shortland, had 

 gained but one day of the Sirius and her convoy, moft of which be- 

 gan to grow foul long before their arrival, not one of them being 

 coppered. 



Thus, under the blefling of God, was happily completed in eight 

 months and one week (the whole fleet being fafe at anchor on the 20th 

 of January 1788) a voyage which, before it was undertaken, the mind 

 hardly dared venture to contemplate, and 5 on- which it was impoflible 

 to reflect without fome apprehenfion as to its termination. In the 



The Kent, Southero Whaler. 



courfe- 



