234 A VOYAGE TO [East Coast. 
July WSS * nva ^ed ' so tnat fourteen men were required to complete 
my small ship's company. Mr. John Aken, chief mate of the ship 
Hercules, was engaged to fill the situation of master, and five men, 
mostly seamen, were entered ; but finding it impossible to fill up the 
complement with free people, I applied to the governor for his per- 
mission to enter such convicts as should present themselves, and could 
bring respectable recommendations. This request, as every other I 
had occasion to make to His Excellency, was complied with ; and 
when the requisite number was selected, he gave me an official docu- 
ment, containing clauses relative to these men, well calculated to 
insure their good conduct. As this document may be thought curious 
by many readers, it is here inserted ; premising, that the men therein 
mentioned, with the exception of two, were convicts for life. 
" By His Excellency Philip Gidley King, Esq., 
captain-general and governor in chief, in and 
over His Majesty's territory of New South 
Wales and its dependencies, &c, Sec, &c. 
" Whereas captain Matthew Flinders, commander of His 
Majesty's ship Investigator, has requested permission to receive on 
board that ship the undermentioned convicts as seamen, to make up 
the number he is deficient. I do hereby grant 
Thomas Toney Thomas Martin Joseph Marlow 
Thomas Shirley Joseph Tuzo Richard Stephenson 
Thomas Smith Francis Smith Charles Brown 
permission to ship themselves on board His Majesty's ship Investi- 
gator ; and on the return of that ship to this port, according to cap- 
tain Flinders' recommendation of them, severally and individually, 
they will receive conditional emancipations or absolute pardons, as 
that officer may request. 
" And in the interim I do, by virtue of the power and authority 
in me vested, Grant a provisional-conditional emancipation to the 
said Thomas Toney, &c. ; for the purpose of their being enabled to 
