N E W S O U T H W A L E S. 137 
there to appoint each fliip a place of rendezvous in cafe ^j^^ti/" 
of feparation. This necelTary ftep, which ought to have ' 
been previoufly taken, had been prevented by the hurry 
of preparation ; the Alexander not having been able to 
join the other tranfports till the evening before their de- 
parture. Even then, the boats, booms, and fpare an- 
chors, were flowed loofe between decks, in a manner 
which muft have produced the moft dangerous co fe- - 
quences, had the lliip been expofed in that condition to 
the heavy fea w^hich it was likely flie would meet w^ith 
off the fliore. To tlie very lafh moment, therefore, the 
men and officers were mofl bufily employed in pro- 
viding againft this danger ; and as foon as the wea- 
ther appeared tolerably favourable for working out of 
the harbour. Lieutenant Shortland made the fignal to 
the mailers of the other tranfports to get under way, 
without waiting for his fhip. When the tranfports 
had cleared the harbour they were obliged to carry a , 
prefs of fail in order to get off the coafl, the vefTels being- 
very light, and a powerful fwell then fetting in upon the 
lliore. The wind w^as at the fame time flrong from the 
fouth-eail, and continued fo for two days, with the 
fame heavy fwell, which made it very difficult to keep 
the iliips off fliore. At eight, A.M. on the i6th of J^^'y '^^t^:. 
July, the rocks off the entrance of Port Stephens bore 
north-vv^efl by v/efl diflant three leagues. Lieutenant 
Shortland very much regretted that this place had not 
B b 2 been 
