WUhems Plains.'} 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
459 
I have since received despatches from England, containing the letter 
of which a copy is now inclosed, from Mr. Marsden, secretary of the Ad- 
miralty,* therewith transmitting instructions for your release under the 
authority of the French minister of marine, to the captain-general of the French 
establishments. 
I congratulate you most sincerely on this long protracted event ; and I 
trust, if your wishes induce you to proceed to India, that you may be enabled 
to embark with captain Troubridge, for the purpose of proceeding to 
England from hence by the first opportunity. 
x (Signed.) Edward Pellew. 
The admiral’s second letter was a private one, inviting me to 
take up my residence in his house at Madras, until such time as the 
departure of a King’s ship should furnish an opportunity of returning 
to England; and was accompanied by one from captain Troubridge, 
expressing the pleasure he should have in receiving me ; but the 
Greyhound had already been sent away two days ! and nothing 
announced any haste in the general to put the order into execution. 
I then wrote to request His Excellency would have the goodness to 
confirm the hopes produced by these letters ; or that, if they were 
fallacious, he would be pleased to let me know it. It was seven days 
before an answer was given ; colonel Monistrol then said, “ His 
“ Excellency the captain-general has charged me to answer the 
“ letter which you addressed to him on the 24th of this month ; and 
“ to tell you that, in effect, he has received through the medium of 
“ His Excellency sir Edward Pellew, a despatch from His Excellency 
“ the minister of the marine and the colonies of France, relative to 
* Copy. 
The accompanying letter is understood to contain a direction from the French 
government for the release of captain Flinders. It has already been transmitted to the 
Isle of France in triplicate ; but as it may be hoped that the vessels have been all cap- 
tured, you had better take an opportunity of sending this copy by a flag of truce, provided 
you have not heard in the mean time of Flinders being at liberty. 
Admiralty, 30th Dec. 1806. (Signed) William Marsden, 
1807. 
July, 
