2o6 
SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 
Thus began Flinders’ heart-breaking imprisonment at the hands 
of the French Governor, Major-General De Caen, which did not 
terminate until June, 1810. Flinders arrived in England in October. 
On 20th May, 1802, Flinders writes,* from H.M.S. “ Investigator,” 
at Port Jackson, to Banks, giving an account of his voyage so far. 
A more detailed account will be found in Flinders’ reportf to the 
Admiralty, of 11th May, 1802, which, amongst other things, gives 
details of the stopping places of the “ Investigator,” and thus affords 
clues to the collecting grounds of Robert Brown. 
Flinders to Banks, off Timor, 28th March, I803,J gives an account 
of the northern coast of Australia, and of his meteorological and 
astronomical observations. Then follows brief abstracts of letters 
from Flinders to Banks during the imprisonment of the former at the 
Mauritius. The account given by Flinders himself in his work should 
be read in the original; it is a sad history of the enforced idleness of 
an ambitious, able, and indefatigable naval explorer. 
See also Flinders to Banks, Mauritius,! 12th July, 1804. Banks’ 
letter j to the Institute of France, asking its influence to secure the 
liberation of Flinders, then detained at Mauritius, is dated 22nd 
August, 1804. {Supra, page 171.) 
Flinders to Banks, .31st December, 1804,^ notifies from his place of 
captivity in the Isle of France (Mauritius), that he has sent Sir Joseph 
a copy of his general chart of Australia. 
Also 24th February, 1805,** giving an account of his detention, of 
the arbitrary conduct of the Governor, and complaining that no 
attempts to secure his release appear to have been made in England. 
At this place attention may be drawn to the manly and weighty 
letter written on 30th April, 1805,ft by Governor King to the Governor 
of the Isle of France, asking for the release of Captain Flinders, and 
pointing out the very different treatment that the distressed French 
expedition, under Captain Baudin, met at his (King’s) hands, when 
it put into Port Jackson. 
Flinders wrote again to Banks, 16th May, 1805,JJ sending papers 
and charts by Mr. Aken, his fellow-prisoner, who had been released, 
and also enclosing copy of a letter Admiral Linois, Naval Commander- 
in-Chief at the Isle of France, had written on his behalf. 
Banks writes to Flinders, 18th June, 1805,i;§ stating that the bitter- 
ness between England and France had prohibited the exchange of 
prisoners being considered, and therefore the Government could do 
• Hist. Rec., iv, 755. 
t Ib„ 747. 
J /*., V, 77. 
§ Ib., 396. 
]l Ib., 454. 
T Ib., 531. 
•» Ib., 562. 
tt Ib., 612. 
:T Ib., 623. 
§§ Ib., 646. 
