Garden Prison. ] 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
411 
“ serve against France or its allies, until after having been legally 
“ exchanged that is, as a prisoner of war. 
It seemed doubtful whether this permission had been granted 
from motives of humanity, from forgetfulness, or from some new 
plan having been adopted; the general might possibly have received 
orders, permitting him to dispose of us as he should think proper, 
and have no objection to getting rid of me also, as a prisoner of war, 
provided an application gave him the opportunity. In this uncer- 
tainty of what might be his intentions, I wrote to colonel Monistrol, 
requesting him to state tjie length of my imprisonment and ill health ; 
and to move His Excellency to let me depart on parole, or in any 
other way he should judge proper; but it appeared after waiting 
several days, that the colonel foreseeing the request could answer 
no purpose, had not laid it before the captain-general. I then re- 
solved to make good use of the opportunity presented by Mr. 
Aken’s departure, and from this time to that of his sailing, was fully 
occupied in making up my despatches ; and Mr. Aken’s health being 
improved, he took up his residence in the Garden Prison for the pur- 
pose of giving his assistance. 
Besides a general chart of Terra Australis, showing the whole 
of my discoveries, examinations and tracks in abridgment, this packet 
for the Admiralty contained nine sheets upon a scale of four inches to 
a degree of longitude, and three sheets of particular parts in a larger 
size ; also five chapters of a memoir explanatory of their construction, 
of the changes in the variation on shipboard, &c. ; an enlarged copy 
of my log book, with remarks and astronomical observations from 
the commencement of the voyage to quitting the north coast of 
Terra Australis in March 1803; and a book containing all the 
bearings and angles which entered into the construction of the 
charts. The time keeper, with the mathematical and nautical in- 
struments belonging to the Navy Board were also sent ; and in fine, 
either the original or a copy of every thing in my possession which 
related either to the Investigator or the voyage. 
1805 . 
May. 
