324 
A VOYAGE TO 
[ East Coast 
1803. 
September. 
lieutenant Fowler and yourself to avoid the accident, and I am equally 
satisfied with your account of the exertions of the officers and men after the 
loss of the ships, both for the preservation of the stores and maintaining order 
in their present situation ; nor can I sufficiently commend your voluntary 
services and those who came with you, in undertaking a voyage of 700 miles 
in an open boat, to procure relief for our friends now on the bank ; and I 
hope for the honour of humanity, that if the Bridgewater be safe, the com- 
mander may be able to give some possible reason for his not ascertaining 
whether any had survived the shipwreck, as there appears too much reason 
to believe he has persuaded himself all perished. 
No time has been lost in prevailing upon the master of the Rolla, bound 
to China, to take on board the officers and seamen now on the reef, belong- 
ing to the Porpoise and Investigator, and carrying them to Canton whither 
he is bound ; on the conditions expressed in the agreement entered into 
with him by me, and which you have witnessed. For that . purpose I have 
caused a proportion of all species of provisions to be put on board at lull 
allowance, for seventy men for ten weeks from the reef ; I shall also give 
to lieutenant Fowler the instructions for his conduct which I have com- 
municated to you, and direct him to consult with you on the measures to be 
adopted by him for executing those instructions, as far as situation and events 
may render them practicable. 
And as you agree with me that the Cumberland, colonial schooner of 
twenty-nine tons, built here, is capable of performing the voyage to Eng- 
land by way of Torres’ Strait, and it being essential to the furthering His 
Majesty’s service that you should reach England by the most prompt con- 
veyance with your charts and journals, I have directed the commissary to 
make that vessel over to you, with her present furniture, sails, &c. ; and to 
complete her from the stores of the Investigator with such other articles as 
you may require, together with a proportion of provisions for six months, for 
ten officers and men. And on your arrival at Wreck Reef you will select 
such officers and men as you may judge necessary, lieutenant Fowler having 
my orders on that head. 
After having given every assistance to get the people and as many 
stores as can be taken on hoard the Rolla, and given the commander of the 
Francis schooner such orders as circumstances may require, for bringing 
those who may choose to be discharged from the service and as many stores 
