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des secours si généreux et si puissans." Time made the
geographical larceny as idle as the disingenuous compliment. Baudin had nothing to do with them. He died at
the Mauritius before Flinders was imprisoned there. Flinders proceeded on his voyage, entered Port Phillip, and
gave various names, which he waived when, on arriving at
Sydney, he found that Murray had preceded him, under
King's instructions. Like Murray, Flinders praised the
appearance of the country at Arthur's Seat. On the 1st
May 1802 he ascended Station Peak and deposited in a pile
of stones on the top of the Peak the name of his ship.
Unlike Murray, he had only friendly communication with
the natives whom he saw. In Sydney he accepted the
opportunity of treating the officers of the Geographe and
the Naturaliste with the most brotherly kindness.
tells us that " every means were used by the Governor and
the principal inhabitants of the colony to make them forget
both their sufferings and the war which existed between
the two countries." A few days after anchoring at Sydney
Flinders applied for permission to ship two aborigines
"having before experienced the utility of their presence in
bringing on a friendly communication with the inhabitants
of other parts of New Holland." Permission was granted,
and Flinders, although the Investigator was found to be
unsound, pursued his voyage, Lt. Murray accompanying
him with the Lady Nelson. After naming Port Curtis and
examining other portions of the east coast, the bad sailing
qualities of the Lady Nelson induced Flinders to send her
back to Sydney from the Barrier Reef, while he proceeded
with the Investigator and explored the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Although his vessel, was so leaky that he was compelled to
repair it, and in doing so, found to his dismay that few of
the timbers were sound, he continued his survey until want
of provisions, ill-health amongst his crew, and the unseaworthiness of his ship, necessitated his sailing to Timor,
and thence to Sydney, where he arrived in June 1803,[1]
The Investigator being there absolutely condemned, and no
other vessel being available, Flinders with a heavy heart
proceeded as a passenger by the Porpoise; but being
- ↑ Eleven convicts formed part of the crew of the Investigator.