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KING'S LETTERS TO BAUDIN.

Privately, King wrote to Baudin that all Van Diemen's Land and the south-west coast of New South Wales were proclaimed part of the British Empire in 1788, and could not be occupied by the French without breach of the friendly relations recently entered into between England and France. King was bound to oppose, with all the means at his disposal, any such project as was imputed to the French. On the same day he sent full details to the Secretary of State, announcing that he had lost no time in putting His Majesty's claims beyond dispute. He had ordered Robbins to communicate with Baudin if he could fall in with him in Bass's Straits,

"and whatever may be in contemplation, it cannot be performed by him. How far he may have recommended it to the French Government I do not know. It seems by Colonel Paterson's information that they intend it. It is my intention, as soon as the Porpoise arrives, to despatch her with a small establishment to the most eligible place at Storm Bay Passage, and one at Port Phillip or King's Island. Your Lordship's instructions on these points I shall be glad to receive as soon as possible."

Proud of his mission, Robbins sailed in quest of and found the French at Elephant Bay in King's Island. He had no sooner delivered his despatches (including some sent by King to Mr. Thomson, Staff Surgeon, who had been allowed to go as a passenger in the Naturaliste^[1] on his way to England) than he landed, reared the English flag, and with a rattle of musketry and loud cheers renewed the claim of his country to the invaded territory. Baudin, though offended, maintained a courteous demeanour. He wrote officially:^[2]

"Monsieur le Gouverneur,

"L'arrivée du Cumberland m'aurait surpris par le contenu de la lettre que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'écrire, si M. Robbins qui le commande, n'avoit par sa conduite fait connoitre le véritable motif pour lequel il a été si précipitament expedié, mais peut-être il est venu trop tard,

↑ King to Lord Hobart, 9th Nov. 1802: "As I considered it necessary to preclude Captain Flinders' present surveys from the most distant possibility of their falling into other hands, I shall defer sending them . . . but as your Lordship may expect some account of his progress, I shall relate his verbal communications to me." Thomson carried this despatch.
↑ "New South Wales Correspondence," 26th Nov. 1803. Vol. ii. Dated 'A Bord la Corvette la Géographe, Isle King, le 3rd Nivose an 11me. 23rd Dec. 1802. Le Commandant en chef l'expedition de découvertes à Monsieur le Gouverneur King au Port Jackson."

[1] King to Lord Hobart, 9th Nov. 1802: "As I considered it necessary to preclude Captain Flinders' present surveys from the most distant possibility of their falling into other hands, I shall defer sending them . . . but as your Lordship may expect some account of his progress, I shall relate his verbal communications to me." Thomson carried this despatch.

[2] "New South Wales Correspondence," 26th Nov. 1803. Vol. ii. Dated 'A Bord la Corvette la Géographe, Isle King, le 3rd Nivose an 11me. 23rd Dec. 1802. Le Commandant en chef l'expedition de découvertes à Monsieur le Gouverneur King au Port Jackson."

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