Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/313

Grant's incapacity as a marine surveyor appears to have been noticed by King thus early, for he sent Ensign^[1] Barrallier to help him. He also gave him minute instructions. As to the wide space between Cape Schanck and Cape Otway, where Grant had not seen the coast, he was to explore it carefully on all sides. In case it should "turn out to be the entrance of a large river or deep gulf, or you should in the further prosecution of these instructions discover any considerable river or deep gulf, you are to navigate up the same as far as the brig or sloop can proceed with safety." A small sloop, the Bee, was sent with the Lady Nelson. Two other vessels, the Harbinger^[2] and Margaret, had passed from the Cape of Good Hope through Bass's Straits soon after Grant, and he was to examine the land sighted by them, and then to sail to King George's Sound; and, returning thence, to examine the whole coast from that place to Wilson's Promontory, going to the head of every bay as far as possible.

Grant performed little service. At Western Port, Barrallier made a more complete survey than had been made before; but Grant failed to explore what he had called Governor King's Bay, and after two months' absence the Lady Nelson returned to Sydney in May 1801.

Until Flinders arrived, Barrallier was, as much as possible, entrusted with the responsibility of surveying in the Lady Nelson. She could not be used in a survey in winter on the turbulent south coast, and was sent in June to explore the Hurter, Barrallier again conducting the survey. The incompetency of Grant was confessed by himself. The tidings of the appointment of Flinders to the command of an exploring ship afforded an occasion for Grant's retirement.^[3]