Port Jackson .] 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
325 
as she can bring, you will then proceed to England by the route you may 
judge most advisable and beneficial for His Majesty’s service. On your 
arrival in London you will deliver my letters to the Admiralty and the prin- 
cipal secretary of state for the colonies. 
In case any unforeseen circumstances should prevent the accomplish- 
ment of the voyage in the Cumberland, you will take such measures as may 
appear most conducive to the interest of His Majesty’s service, either by 
selling the vessel, or letting her for freight at the Cape or elsewhere, if any 
merchants choose to send proper officers and men to conduct her back ; and 
in the event of your being obliged to dispose of her, you will account with 
Ilis Majesty’s principal secretary of state for the colonies for the proceeds. 
1803. 
September. 
I am, &c.. 
Signed) Philip Gidley King. 
The small size of the Cumberland made it necessary to stop 
at every convenient place on the way to England, for water and 
refreshment; and I proposed Coepang Bay in Timor, Mauritius, the 
Cape of Good Hope* St. Helena, and some one of the Western Isles ; 
but governor King objected to Mauritius, from not wishing to en- 
courage any communication betw r een the French colonies and Port 
Jackson ; and also because he had understood that hurricanes often 
prevailed in the neighbourhood of that island, about the time of 
year when I should be passing; he' left this matter, however, to be 
decided by necessity and my judgment, and gave me two letters for 
the governor of Mauritius, to be forwarded from the Cape, or by 
the best opportunity. At those places in the Indian Seas where I 
might stop, he requested me to make inquires into the facility of 
obtaining cattle for his colony, with the price and the traffic with 
which they might be best procured ; and to send this information 
by ally ship hound to Port Jackson. 
Every thing being prepared for our departure, I sailed out ol 
the harbour in the Cumberland on the 21st at daylight, with the Wednes 21. 
Holla and Francis in company. Mr. Inman, the astronomer, had 
