Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/325
enter the port, King replied: "Je m'empresse de vous donner les assurances que rien ne manquera de fournir à tous vos besoins autant que cette colonie est capable. J'ai donné les ordres que votre frégate seroit mouillée a l'entrée de Cove, et en attendant le plaisir de vous recevoir, j'ai l'honneur," &c.
The friendly reception thus opened was continued. All that the stores permitted was afforded. There was much sickness amongst the French, and the sick were taken into the colonial hospital. Flinders records that when the Geographe arrived in June 1802 only twelve men out of 170 were capable of duty. It is due to Baudin and to Hamelin to state that on their parts they heartily testified to the kindness they received. It is unnecessary, therefore, to accumulate instances to prove it.
Captain Hamelin saw Flinders arrive in May 1802, and hearing from him of the Geographe, determined to cruise on the coast until Baudin might appear there also, as he had led Flinders to expect. Baudin, in piteous plight, arrived in June 1802. News of the Peace of Amiens had just preceded him, but King sent him word at once that "a continuance of the war would have made no difference in my reception of your ship. I beg you would give yourself no concern about saluting. When I have the honour of seeing you, we will concert means for the relief of your sick." The manner in which one of the officers of the New South Wales Corps was constrained to apologize to the French has been noticed. Baudin applied for permission to hold "un jure" on board "pour prendre connoissance du vol qui a été fait." King accorded it—"pourvu que cette séance soit tenue, jugement prononcée et mis en execution abord votre corvette. A French gunner and a soldier were condemned to the chain on board; and four convict accomplices were sentenced on shore to be flogged and otherwise punished.
Permission to careen the Geographe for repairs was given in July. The officers landed freely, and were hospitably entertained. Peron speaks with admiration of the establishment of the Rev. S. Marsden, and the managing energy and kindness of the owner. It appears also that the French officers did not shrink from association with those