VOYAGE TO ENGLAND FROM PORT JACKSON
November 1791 to April 1792
-The Supply leaves Port Jackson.--Receives some
damage in a storm.--Doubles Cape Horn.--Passes Staten's
land.--Anchors at Rio Janeiro.--Refreshments procured.--Departure
from Rio Janciro.--Proceeds towards England.--Arrives off the
Lizard.--Particulars respecting
Norfolk-Island.-
Having received orders from Governor Phillip to get the Supply
ready for sea, I had every thing in readiness by the 25th of
November; and early the next morning, we weighed anchor, and
stood out of Sydney Cove, with a moderate breeze at
east-north-east, and pleasant weather.
I had a Kanguroo on board, which I had directions to carry to
Lord Grenville, as a present for his Majesty.
Governor Phillip, accompanied by Captain John Parker, of the
Gorgon, breakfasted on board the Supply the morning of our
departure; and soon afterwards they left us, and proceeded to the
look-out at Port Jackson.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, we lost sight of the land,
and stood to the southward, with a moderate breeze at north-east.
In the forenoon of the 29th, the wind shifted to the southward,
and blew a very strong gale, which brought us under low sail, but
at five o'clock the weather grew moderate.
A vast number of birds were about the ship, and a land bird,
of a singular kind, was caught: our latitude, at noon, was
38° 31' south, and the longitude 154° 23' east.
On the 2d of December, we saw a whale; our latitude, at noon,
was 44° 21' south, and the longitude, by lunar observation,
156° 20' east: the variation of the compass, 10° 00'
east. I now ordered the ship to be well cleaned every day between
decks, being firmly convinced that cleanliness conduces very much
to preserve the health of seaman. On the 4th, we had light,
variable winds, chiefly from the northward: the latitude, at
noon, was 47° 10' south, the longitude, by observed distances
of the sun and moon, 160° 20', and the variation of the
compass 11° 20' east.
In the afternoon, a thick fog came on, with light drizzling
rain, which continued till the forenoon of the 5th, when the fog
dispersed, and the weather cleared up. We saw some rock weed, and
a great number of blue petrels and albatrosses were about the
ship. In the afternoon, we passed more rock weed, and saw a
number of whales. On the 6th, we had a fresh gale from the
southward, and saw a vast number of petrels; albatrosses, etc.
were about the vessel: we passed a great quantity of rock-weed,
and perceiving the water to change colour, we hove to, and
sounded, but got no bottom with 120 fathoms of line. The wind
continued to blow strong from the southward, which brought on a
very high, irregular swell, and occasioned the ship to labour and
work very much: we still passed vast quantities of rock-weed, and
had a number of birds about the ship. The latitude, at noon on
the 8th, was 50° 44' south, and the longitude, by the
time-keeper, 172° 56' east. The ship laboured greatly, which
occasioned her to make water in her top-sides.
Great numbers of petrels, gulls, albatrosses, etc. were
daily seen about the ship, and a whale was seen in the afternoon
of the 10th. The wind continued to blow from the southward,
strong and in squalls, until the 12th, when it shifted to the
northward and westward. The latitude, at noon, was 53° 56'
south, and the longitude, by the time-keeper, 188° 49'
east.
At two o'clock in the morning of the 13th, the ship was pooped
with a very heavy sea, which entirely stove in the two midship
windows of the stern, and filled the cabin with water, great part
of which ran down into the bread-room. In the afternoon of the
14th, a violent squall came on from the westward, which at six
o'clock increased to a perfect storm, with an exceeding high sea;
this occasioned me to keep the ship before it, and I found her
steer very well; indeed, much better than I could possibly have
expected in such a situation.
The weather continued squally, with hail and snow, until the
morning of the 16th, when the wind shifted to the southward, and
the weather grew more moderate. The latitude, at noon, was
52° 58' south, and the longitude 207° 09' east. On the
20th, we passed a large patch of sea-weed; several gulls and
divers sea-birds were at that time about the ship. Portable soup,
essence of malt, and sour krout were now served out to the ship's
company. The weather was thick and foggy, which prevented us from
getting any observation until the 22d, when our latitude, at
noon, was 53° 59' south, and the longitude, by the
time-keeper, 231° 36' east. A number of sheerwaters and
petrels were about the ship. We had frequent squalls, attended
with hail and snow.
On the 24th, the wind shifted to the eastward, and the weather
was more moderate, but on the 27th, it again got to the westward,
blowing strong, and in violent squalls, attended with snow and
hail. A great number of albatrosses, blue petrels, and
sheerwaters were about the ship; a high, irregular sea caused her
to labour much, and she made a deal of water in her topsides. The
latitude, at noon, was 57° 32' south, and 245° 42' east
longitude. On the 29th, the longitude, by the time-keeper, was
259° 16' east, and by account 256° 50' east; at the same
time the latitude was 56° 30' south. The wind was still to
the westward, attended with very heavy rain. In the morning of
the 31st, the wind blew strong from the northward. Great numbers
of gulls were about the ship, and we passed a deal of
rock-weed.
During the 1st and 2d of January, 1792, the wind was variable,
frequently shifting from north-north-west to west-south-west and
south-east by east. At noon on the 3d, we were in 56° 15'
south latitude, and 281° 57' east longitude. The next
forenoon, we saw a seal, and had a number of albatrosses about
the ship: we now had strong gales from the north-east quarter,
attended with snow and sleet. A heavy squall came on in the
morning of the 5th, and in hauling down the main-top-mast
staysail, the brails broke, and the sail was blown in pieces, the
greatest part of which fell overboard before it could be got down
and stowed.
In the afternoon, we saw several gulls, a seal, and some
shell-drakes. At noon on the 6th, we saw Cape Horn, bearing
west-south-west half west, and the northernmost land in sight,
west half south, distant six or seven leagues. At that time, our
latitude was 56° 02' south, and the longitude 291° 45'
east. At eight o'clock in the morning of the 7th, we saw Staten
Land, bearing from north by west to north-west by west half west,
twelve or thirteen leagues distant: at noon, the north point bore
north, a little westerly, distant about eight leagues. In the
afternoon, several whales were seen near the ship, the body of
Staten Land then bore south-south-west. The wind, which for some
days had been to the southward, shifted, in the morning of the
8th, to north-west, with a moderate breeze and fine weather. In
the afternoon, we passed some pieces of sea-weed, amongst which
was a seal; we also saw another seal and some penguins: several
whales and large flocks of blue petrels were about the ship. The
next forenoon, we passed some sea-weed and a number of penguins;
on which we sounded, but got no ground with 100 fathoms of line.
Our latitude, at noon, was 52° 58' south, and longitude, by
the time-keeper, 296° 13' east. We sounded again in the
evening, but got no ground with 145 fathoms of line. At midnight,
we had a calm for about two hours, the weather thick and foggy,
with thunder and lightning to the southward.
Early in the morning, the fog cleared a little, and a light
breeze sprung up from the northward. Many seals and whales were
about the ship; and in the afternoon, we saw a number of
penguins. At eight o'clock in the evening we sounded, and had 96
fathoms of water, over a bottom of fine sand and mud. During the
night, we had moderate breezes from the southward, attended with
small rain. In the forenoon of the 11th, we saw a great number of
whales, and several penguins. During the afternoon and night, we
had strong gales from the southward, attended with frequent
squalls. The next forenoon, we saw several large patches of
sea-weed: the wind still continued to blow very strong from the
southward, which occasioned a high sea; and the ship rolling very
much, occasioned her to make a deal of water in her upper works.
In the morning of the 13th, the weather grew more moderate: we
saw a port Egmont hen, and several pieces of rock-weed. At noon
our latitude was 45° 46' south, and the longitude 302°
49' east.
On the 15th, the weather grew moderate, the wind to the
northward. Some observed distances of the sun and moon on the
16th, gave 305° 46' east longitude; the latitude at that time
was 42° 34' south. In the afternoon of the 17th, we had a
strong appearance of a current, and passed a large number of
whales. The next day, the water being discoloured, we sounded
with 160 fathoms of line, but got no ground. The wind still kept
to the northward, with moderate breezes and fine weather.
Essence of malt and vinegar were served to the ship's company
on the 24th, and every precaution was taken to preserve their
health. In the evening, we had much lightning to the northward:
the wind blew fresh from the north-east, and we had frequent
heavy squalls attended with rain. Towards noon on the 26th, the
wind grew light and variable: the latitude was 32° 20' south,
and the longitude 311° 02' east. In the evening, we had much
lightning to the northward: towards midnight, a fresh breeze
sprung up from the south-east.
The next forenoon, we saw a turtle and several flying-fish;
and at six o'clock in the afternoon, we saw a brig to the
northward, and soon afterwards spoke with her. At six o'clock in
the morning of the 28th, we saw the land bearing from north-west
to west-south-west. We sounded in 26 fathoms of water, over a
bottom of soft mud. At eight o'clock, some high level land bore
west half south, eight or nine leagues distant. I ordered the
jolly-boat to be hoisted out, and we tried the current, which was
found to set north-east by north, at the rate of half a mile an
hour, or nearly. At noon, we had clear soundings in 24, 22, 20,
and 18 fathoms over a bottom of fine brown sand and mud. At six
o'clock, we tacked, the extremes of the land bearing from
south-west to north by east; the nearest land about four miles
distant. During the night, we had regular soundings from 13 to 25
fathoms.
The next morning, we tacked and stood towards the land, with
light variable winds. At noon, the extremes of the land were from
north to south 50° west; the nearest land about ten miles
distant. In the afternoon, we saw a large turtle; and at three
o'clock, we sounded in 19 fathoms, over a muddy bottom. At six
o'clock, the nearest land bore north by west half west, about
three leagues distant. During the night, we had a light breeze
from the westward: we frequently sounded, and had from 17 to 23
fathoms water.
At noon on the 30th, the nearest land bore north 75° west,
eight or nine miles distant. We stood along shore, with a light
breeze at south-south-east; and at sun-set, the land bore from
north 32° west to south 50° west. The next morning, we
steered along the island of St. Catherine; and at four o'clock in
the afternoon, were abreast of the Fort of Santa Cruz.
I sent an officer on shore to the fort, and soon afterwards we
anchored in five fathoms water; the fort of Santa Cruz bearing
north-north-west, and the opposite fort north-east. We saluted
the fort with nine guns, which was returned by an equal number.
The next morning, we weighed, and anchored nearer to the
watering-place; mooring the ship with a cable each way,
(north-east and south-west) in three fathoms and a half, over a
muddy bottom. In this situation, the fort of Santa Cruz bore
north-north-east, the opposite fort, south-east; the point to the
southward of the watering-place south-west, and the
watering-place west, half a mile distant.
We erected a tent on shore for the cooper, who was busily
employed in repairing our casks, and the other hands were
employed in watering and other necessary duties.
As we had now made 310° 43' of east longitude, which is
equal to 20 h. 42 min. 52 sec. of time, we, of course, dropped
one day, and called the 5th of February, Saturday the 4th. This
afternoon I sent two boats on shore for various refreshments,
having nearly completed our water. In the morning of the 5th, the
cutter swamped at her moorings aftern; the oars and tiller washed
out of her, and were lost.
On the 7th, most of our business being finished, we unmoored;
and after standing a little farther out of the harbour, we
anchored with the small bower, in five and a quarter fathoms; the
Fort of Santa Cruz bearing north-north-west, and the opposite
fort, north-east. We completed our water and every other duty on
the 8th, and the next morning weighed and made sail. At eleven
o'clock, we saluted the fort with eleven guns, which was returned
by an equal number: at noon, we were abreast of Santa Cruz
Fort.
With a light breeze from the northward, we were employed in
turning down the harbour; and at seven o'clock, we came to in
five fathoms, over a muddy bottom; the Island Averade bearing
north-east half north, and Santa Cruz Fort south-west by west.
Early the next morning, we weighed and stood out of the harbour,
and the wind being very light, the jolly-boat was sent a-head to
tow the vessel: in the afternoon, a moderate breeze came on from
the eastward.
At noon on the 11th, the land bore from south 57° west, to
north 82° west: the wind being variable, we tacked
occasionally. Our latitude was 27° 19' south, and the
longitude 48° 21' west. 'Till the 17th, we had light winds,
chiefly from the north-east quarter, and fine clear weather; the
wind then shifted to the westward, with frequent squalls and
heavy showers of rain. The latitude, at noon, was 29° 27'
south, and 41° 14' west longitude. On the 20th, we had the
ship well cleaned between decks, and thoroughly washed with
vinegar. The variation of the compass was 4° 40'
easterly.
At noon on the 21st, a severe squall came on, attended with
thunder, and very heavy rain; the wind all round the compass:
this occasioned us to clew up the top-sails, and reef the
foresail; however, towards evening, the weather growing more
moderate we set the top-sails.
We opened a cask of beef on the 22d, which was marked R. H.
N° 72, and was received from the commissary at the
victualling-office, Port Jackson: it contained sixty-six double
pieces, which was four double pieces short of the number there
ought to have been.
During the 23d and 24th, we had light easterly winds, with
intervening calms, and dark cloudy weather, attended with rain.
On the 25th, in latitude 26° 13' south, and 31° 33' east
longitude, we found 1° 22' easterly variation; and on the
27th the variation was 00° 45' westerly; the latitude being
22° 32' south, and the longitude 29° 03' west. I ordered
the cables to be hauled up, the tier to be well cleaned, and
washed with vinegar. The wind now hauled to the westward, with a
moderate breeze and clear weather. On the 28th, the wind shifted
to the northward, and at one o'clock in the morning of the 29th,
a very severe squall came on from north-north-east, attended with
heavy rain: soon after day-light, the weather moderated.
We now had a settled easterly wind and fine weather, until the
morning of the 6th of March, when the wind blew strong and in
squalls, and continued very unsettled till the afternoon of the
7th, when it grew moderate. The latitude was 14° 26' south,
and the longitude 23° 02' west. On the 12th, we were in
02° 11' south latitude, and 25' 16" west longitude, and in
the afternoon we saw a sail to the northward; we bore up and
spoke her; she proved to be the Cleopatra, of Boston, bound to
Calcutta. I ordered the jolly-boat to be hoisted out and sent on
board her; at six o'clock the boat returned, we got her on board,
and made sail.
From the 16th to the 18th, we had squally unsettled weather,
attended with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. Our latitude at
noon on the 20th, was 08° 45' north, the longitude 30°
16' west, and the variation by azimuth 7° 52' west: the wind
blew strong from the north-east, which occasioned a very high
sea.
On the 22d, John Miles was punished for sleeping on his watch,
neglect of duty, and contemptuous behaviour.
In the morning of the 28th, having a strong gale of wind at
east, we clewed up the sails, and kept the vessel before the sea,
whilst the masts were stayed, and the rigging set up; which being
completed, and the weather growing moderate, we made sail. During
the forenoon, we saw a deal of gulph weed. Our latitude was
20° 25' north, and the longitude 37° 06' west.
On the 1st of April, we mustered the ship's company, and read
the articles of war to them: our observation at noon, gave
29° 14' north latitude, the longitude was 39° 05' west,
and the variation of the compass 07° 45' west. On the 5th, we
had 11° 04' westerly variation; our latitude, at that time,
was 35° 39' north, and the longitude, by lunar observation,
36° 16' west. The trade wind had now left us, and we had
strong breezes generally from the north-west quarter. The
variation, by azimuth, on the 13th, was 22° 00' west; the
latitude at noon being 47° 09' north, and the longitude
17° 46' west.
In the morning of the 15th, we saw several vessels standing to
the westward, and at ten o'clock, spoke a sloop from Bristol,
bound to Saint Michael's. At six o'clock in the afternoon of the
17th, we sounded and struck the ground in sixty-five fathoms,
over a bottom of fine sand, mixed with black specks. Our latitude
at noon, on the 19th, was 49° 23', and the longitude, by
lunar observation, 6° 56' west. At four o'clock in the
morning of the 20th, we saw the land, bearing north-north-west,
and at noon the Lizard bore from north-north-east, to north-east
by east, five miles distant.
* * * * *
Transactions at Norfolk Island
The following particulars, respecting NORFOLK-ISLAND, which
comprehend the substance of Lieutenant-Governor King's latest
dispatches, being dated the 29th of December, 1791; and which
were received the 30th of November 1792, by the William and Anne
transport, that ought to have touched at Port Jackson, but was
forced by contrary winds to bear away for England.
The wheat harvest at Norfolk-Island was finished by the 10th
of December, 1791; when about one thousand bushels of wheat were
got in, and well thatched in stacks. The Indian corn had suffered
by a series of dry hot weather ever since the preceding July.
Lieutenant-Governor King finding great inconvenience from the
size and construction of the frame of a store-house, which was 80
feet long by 24 feet wide, as well as from its situation, it
being near the shore, determined to build one, 40 feet by 24, on
the Terrace, at Mount-George: he had also found it necessary to
build a goal, opposite the barrack-yard, and another at
Queensborough.
A good road has been made to the landing rock in Cascade-Bay,
so that now, any thing may be landed with the greatest
safety.
Eighteen copper bolts, six copper sheets, two sixteen-inch
cables, two hundred weight of lead, one fish-tackle fall, twenty
pounds of chalk, three rudder chains, two top-chains, and
iron-work of various sorts, had been saved from the wreck of the
Sirius; the greatest part of these articles, Lieutenant-Governor
King proposed sending to Port Jackson.
Ten settlers, who lately belonged to the Sirius, were doing
exceedingly well, but there was reason to fear that great part of
the marine settlers, when the novelty of their situation was gone
off, would have neither ability nor inclination to improve the
portions of ground allotted them: they had already been extremely
troublesome, and the lieutenant-governor had been under the
necessity of imposing heavy fines on two; the first, for beating
the watch and using inflammatory language, and the second, for
cruelly beating a convict woman.
The convict settlers were all doing very well, and were quiet,
attentive, and orderly: they were increased to the number of
forty; the whole number of settlers on the island were eighty,
and it will be difficult to fix more until the ground is farther
cleared.
A quantity of coral and other testaceous substances, with
different kinds of stones, were burnt forty-eight hours, and
produced a very fine white lime, much superior to any lime made
of chalk, and it proved a very tough cement.
Eighteen convicts, under the direction of an overseer, who is
a settler, were employed in making bricks. A bricklayer was much
wanted, as one who was sent in the Queen, died on the
passage.
Lieutenant-Governor King finding it necessary to discharge Mr.
Doridge, the superintendant of convicts at Queensborough, has
appointed Mr. D'arcy Wentworth to succeed him: Mr. Wentworth had
behaved with the greatest attention and propriety as
assistant-surgeon, which duty he still continued to discharge.
Mr. W. N. Chapman was appointed store-keeper at
Phillipsburgh.
A corporal and six privates were stationed in a house with a
good garden to it, on an eminence commanding Queensborough, and a
serjeant and ten men were fixed in a similar situation at
Phillipsburgh, and they were kept as separate from the convicts
as possible.
The lieutenant-governor had been under the necessity of
appointing a town-adjutant and inspector of out-posts, and he
named Lieutenant Abbott for these duties; he also established
rules and regulations for the observance of every person on the
island, and for keeping a night-patrole: a deputy provost-marshal
was also appointed.
The wreck of the Sirius went to pieces on the 1st of January,
1792, and every thing possible was saved out of her. The same
day, every person on the island went to a reduced allowance of
provisions, but the fish daily caught was sufficient to serve all
the inhabitants three times over.
Some of the settlers were permitted to employ the convicts as
their servants, on condition of maintaining them without the aid
of the public store; and some of the convicts were allowed to
work for themselves, on the same condition.
It will be absolutely necessary to establish a court of
justice, as corporal punishments have but little effect; although
robberies were confined only to a particular class of convicts,
and were by no means general.
By the 15th of January, two hundred and sixty bushels of
Indian corn were gathered in; a number of acres were then in
different states of growth, which were likely to yield about
three hundred bushels more. The wheat thrashed well, and yielded
plentifully. The granary was finished, and every endeavour was
used to keep the wevil out of it.
The End