Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/400

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GEORGE BASS.

coast of this island. Taking for granted the existence of such an island, I shall proceed with my proposal." He would load the Venus with the salt, sail to Batavia, and

"under favour of your Excellency produce (to the Governor there) some paper from you, signifying that I was an adventurer upon no other than a voyage of lawful commerce. From Batavia I would load the Venus back to this colony with rice, sugar, arrack, coffee, and Java horses. . . . . I cannot be ignorant of your Excellency's unremitting exertions[1] to prevent the excessive importation of spirits into this colony, nor am I ignorant that you find the necessity of importing certain quantities of common spirit occasionally for the use and due support of the labouring people. Now, the quantity of arrack to be by me imported I would leave to your Excellency's judgment, and upon its arrival here, after the government's necessities are supplied, I shall most cheerfully submit to your will in the disposal of the rest, as to time, quantity, and persons, so that no ill consequences may be likely to ensue from an improper issue."

He would sail to the westward through that strait "which I had the good fortune to discover in 1798, and which through the favour of his late Excellency Governor Hunter bears my name." He would lay his journals and charts before King on his return, but added: "I cannot here refrain from remarking that my unwillingness to exhibit to your Excellency the journal and sketches of the discoveries I have made during my late voyage arises from no other cause than the unparalleled neglect I have met with from the British Government for my services in this country formerly."

Looking forward to a safe return, after extending his voyage to South America to procure guanacos, he carved out a new career for himself. On the 30th Jan, 1803 he wrote again to the Governor. By his recent voyage to the Society Islands he had enabled King to issue meat from the public stores at greatly diminished cost, "thus furthering your arduous exertions and producing to myself a profitable though very moderate return." He wished to do more with the same view. "I have every proof short of actual experiment that fish may be caught in abundance near the south part of the south island of New Zealand or at the neighbouring islands, and that a large quantity might be

  1. ↑ The letter of Bass, clearly written in ink still black, comes like testimony from the grave to refute the statements which have so long been circulated, by maliciousness or mistake, as to the importation of spirits during the government of King.
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