296 
A VOYAGE TO 
[East Coast, 
1803 , 
July. 
parts of these chapters are to be attributed ; and this being premised, 
I resume the narrative of our prepartions for returning to England. 
On July 20, lieutenant Fowler quitted the Investigator, with 
the crew selected for him, and took the command of His Majesty’s 
armed vessel Porpoise ; and on the following day I went on board 
with the rest of my officers and people, to go with him as passengers. 
Amongst other preparations for the voyage, a green house was set 
up on the quarter deck of that ship ; and the plants collected in the 
Investigator from the south, the east, and north coasts of Terra 
Australis were deposited in it, to be conveyed to His Majesty’s bo- 
tanical garden at Kew ; and as we bad had the misfortune to lose the 
gardener of the expedition, and Mr. Brown, the naturalist, remained 
behind, a man from Port Jackson was engaged to take care of the 
plants during the passage. 
The examination of Torres’ Strait was one of the most im- 
portant articles of my instructions which had been executed only in 
part; and although I could not pretend to make any regular surve 
in the Porpoise, it was yet desirable to pass again through the strait, 
and lay down as many more of its dangers as circumstances would 
admit ; and this being represented to governor King, the following 
paragraph was made an article in lieutenant Fowler’s orders. “ The 
“ objects which captain Flinders will have to finish in his route 
“ through Torres’ Strait, requires that he should be assisted with boats, 
“ people, and have the entire direction of the ship as to the courses 
“ she is to steer, making and shortening sail, anchoring, and every 
“ other prompt attention to his directions as connected with his sur- 
“ vey. You are therefore further required to comply with every 
“ direction he may give you, to enable him to execute the orders of 
“ my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty ; and as it will be 
“ necessary that the most expeditious route should be followed, for 
“ the purpose of ascertaining the length of time it will take to make 
“ the voyage from hence to England, by Torres’ Strait, and to enable 
“ captain Flinders to be in England as early as possible, you will 
