INTRODUCTION. 
XXV 
west, and the western shores remained, 
therefore, to be explored ; and in the year 
1817, among the numerous voyages of sur- 
vey and discovery upon which a part of the 
navy of Great Britain was so honourably 
and so usefully employed, these Coasts of 
Australia were not forgotten. An expe- 
dition for the purpose of completing the 
survey of its North and North-west Coast 
was planned, under the joint direction of the 
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and 
the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to 
the command of which I had the honour of 
being appointed. 
The arrangements for providing me with 
a vessel and crew were made by the latter 
department; and the Governor of New 
South Wales was instructed to give up to 
my use any vessel in the colonial marine es- 
tablishment that should be deemed capable 
of performing the service ; or, in the event 
of there being none fit for the purpose, to 
