Wilhems Plains.'] 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
483 
transactions and observations on board the Investigator, Porpoise, the Hope 
cutter, and Cumberland schooner, front sometime in June to Dec. 17, 1803, 
of which I have no duplicate. 
3, Two boxes of despatches. The ouc from His Excellency governor 
King of New South Wales, addressed to His Majesty’s principal secretary of 
state for the colonies ; the other from colonel Paterson, lieutenant-governor 
of Port Jackson, the address of which I cannot remember. 
In truth of which I hereunto sign my name, at Port Napoleon,* Isle 
of France, this 24th day of August 1807. 
Matthew Flinders. 
Late commander of H. M. sloop Investigator, employed on 
discoveries to the South Seas with a French passport. 
Messrs Le Blanc and Stock, the commander and commissary 
of the Wellesley cartel, having a house in the town, I took this 
opportunity of seeing them ; and it was agreed between us, that 
when the cartel was allowed to sail, Mr. Stock should make an 
official request for my embarkation with him. As, however, there 
was much reason to apprehend a refusal, I arranged a great part of 
the books and papers just received, with all the Port-Jackson letters, 
and sent them on board the Wellesley ; writing at the same time to 
Sir Edward Pellew my suspicion, that general De Caen would not 
execute the order he had received from the inarine minister. This 
precaution was not useless, for in the beginning of October the Wel- 
lesly was sent away suddenly ; and although she had been detained 
three months, not a prisoner was given in exchange for those brought 
from India. Mr. Stock left a copy of the letter he had written, as 
was agreed, and of the answer from the general’s secretary ; this said, 
“ the captain-general is very sorry that he cannot allow captain 
“ Flinders to embark in the cartel Wellesley. So soon as circum- 
* Port Louis, after having been changed to Port de la Montague, Port North-West, 
and I believe borne one or two other names, was now called Port Napoleon; Port Bour- 
bon and Isle Bourbon underwent similar changes : such was the inflexibility of French 
republicanism. 
s 
ISO?. 
August. 
September. 
October. 
