1 79i.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 155 



was prevented by bad weather from getting more. Thefe fhips 

 failed again immediately, and both ran down the coaft as far to the 

 fouthward as 36 0 30', and returned without killing a fifh. The 

 mafters attributed their bad fuccefs to currents ; and, giving up all 

 hopes of a fifhery there, they determined to quit the coaft. The two 

 other fhips returned with the like ill fortune. The mafters were all 

 now of one opinion, and alike difinclined to try the coaft any longer. 

 It muft be remarked, however, that the whalers were not out of port 

 at any one time long enough to enable them to fpeak with any great 

 degree of precifion either for or againft the probability of fuccefs. 

 They feemed more defirous of obtaining a knowledge of the har- 

 bours on the coaft : the William and Ann had been feen in Broken 

 Bay ; others had vifited Botany Bay and Jervis Bay ; the Salamander 

 had remained long enough in Port Stephens (a harbour to the north- 

 ward, until then not vifited by any one), to take an eye-fketch of the 

 harbour and fome of its arms ; and Port Jackfon was found to have 

 its conveniences. After a well-manned and well-found whaler fhould 

 have kept the fea for an entire feafon, the probability of fuccefs 

 might be determined. 



The tranfport having returned from Norfolk Ifland, with the Lieu- 

 tenant-Governor and the officers and foldiers of the marine corps, 

 who were to take their paffage to England in the Gorgon, the greater 

 part of the marine detachment embarked on board of that fhip on 

 the 13th. Thofe who did not embark were left for the duty of the 

 place until the remainder of the New South Wales corps fhould arrive. 

 The Gorgon failed on the 18th. 



The marines who now left Port Jackfon, had gone there in the firft 

 fhips, and were as valuable a corps as any in his Majefty's fervice. 

 They had ftruggled in that country with greatly more than the com- 

 mon hard fhips of their duty ; and were now quitting it, after having 

 opened and fmoothed the way for their fucceflbrs, and from which, 

 whatever benefit might hereafter be derived muft be derived by thofe 

 who had the eafy tafk of treading in paths previoufly and painfully 

 formed by them, 



x 2 The 



