152 
SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 
gives an account {inter alia) of Cunningham’s adventure on Phillip 
Island in his own words. I also give an account of it from a manuscript 
by an unknown hand, which is in my possession. 
“ On the 10th May, 1830, Mr. Cunningham, the botanist, arrived 
in the “ Lucy Anne,” and on the 21st proceeded in a whaleboat to 
Phillip Island on a botanical excursion, taking with him an overseer 
and two men. The party landed, and the boat returned to the settle- 
ment. On the same night, at a late hour, eleven convicts escaped 
from the camp, broke open the commissariat store, taking away a 
quantity of provisions and wine, forced open the door of the boatshed, 
and made their escape in a whaleboat. They were challenged by two 
sentinels as they were launching the boat. One of the convicts stood 
forward, and said that they were going to Phillip Island for Mr. Cun- 
ningham, and at the same time hastened back to the boat, which was 
immediately launched. The sentry fired, but the boat crossed the 
bar and was soon lost sight of. They proceeded to Phillip Island, 
robbed Mr. Cunningham of his chronometer, a brace of pistols, pro- 
visions, water, and tent, which they converted into a sail, and pulled 
out to sea. At the expiration of six weeks they were picked up in a 
most exhausted state by the “ John Bull,” whaler. In a few days 
their strength returned, and with it their spirit of enterprise ; they 
took possession of the vessel and scuttled her. The whole of them 
landed on Pleasant Island, which, with one exception, thej^ all left 
by whalers. The crew of the “ John Bull ” is supposed to have 
perished. Some of the convicts have since been heard of in England, 
others in America. The one who remained on Pleasant Island became 
a great favourite with the natives for his daring courage, and was 
eventually elected their chief. The murders and outrages committed 
by him on white men were monstrous. He was consequently expelled 
from the Island, and when last heard of was working in irons at Manilla.” 
The Governor of the day refused to replace any of Cunningham’s 
instruments, &c., which were stolen, on the ground that he was an 
Imperial officer, and he had to make them good out of his pittance. 
On his return to Sydney, he botanised about Parramatta (where he 
usually resided), and in December, 1830, he visited Illawarra and 
Broken Bay, the latter expedition for a supply of the beautiful 
GrPA'iUen CnGiii, whose seeds, he remarks, appeared to be a favourite 
food of the black cockatoo. 
On the 6th January, 1831, he made another journey to Cox’s River, 
and then began to make active preparations to depart from New 
South Wales, leave to visit his native land having reached him during 
the previous November. He left Sydney in the “ Forth,” on the 
25th February, and reached London about the middle of July, with 
his health much impaired as the result of the arduous life he had been 
leading. 
