The Logbooks of the Lady Nelson | Page 8

arrived from England with despatches from the
Admiralty. She had narrowly escaped capture by a French man-of-war
which gave chase to her after she had parted from her convoy, but
fortunately she had been able to beat off the enemy and to effect her
escape. The instructions brought to Grant from the Duke of Portland
directed him to sail to Sydney through Bass Strait instead of sailing
round the South Cape of Van Diemen's Land (as Tasmania was then
called).*
(* The following extract is from the letter from the Duke of Portland to
Grant:--
"WHITEHALL, 8th April, 1800.
"SIR, Having received information from Port Jackson in New South
Wales that a navigable strait has been discovered between that country
and Van Diemen's Land in latitude 38 degrees, it is His Majesty's
pleasure that you should sail through the said strait on your way to Port
Jackson. I am, etc., PORTLAND.")
No ship had yet sailed through this strait, which had been discovered
only a little more than a year before by Dr. George Bass. Grant was
also instructed to take particular notice of the Australian coast, and
especially of the headlands visible on either side of the strait. During
his stay at the Cape numerous volunteers offered to accompany him to
Sydney, many from on board the ships in the bay. He says that he
declined them all except a carpenter and an eccentric person named Dr.
Brandt, who might, he thought, be useful as a scientist, and who came
on board accompanied by his baboon and his dog. To oblige Sir Roger
Curtis, he also consented to take a Dane sentenced to transportation.

On the 7th of October the Lady Nelson left the Cape and proceeded on
her voyage to New South Wales. Soon after leaving port bad weather
set in and continued until the 12th, but, on the 14th at noon, when the
ship was in 38 degrees 1 minute latitude, the sea moderated and the
bedding was again brought up on deck while the cabins and berths were
washed with vinegar. On the 24th the weather turned extremely cold
with snow at times. A heavy cross sea was running, which gave the
little brig another opportunity of displaying her good qualities. On the
28th at noon she was in 38 degrees 54 minutes south, and towards
evening on the following day she encountered a heavy gale which
obliged her commander to heave her to. Violent gusts with showers of
sleet blew continually, and the seas were so heavy that often in striking
the bow they threw the ship so far over as "to expose her beam." A
drag-sail was then used in order to steady her, and it answered
remarkably well. The fore-top-sail yard was also got on deck and eased
the ship wonderfully; fortunately little water was shipped, as, owing to
her small draught and flat bottom, she rose like a piece of cork on the
top of every wave.
On November 1st, in accordance with expectations, the island of
Amsterdam was sighted. The Lady Nelson steered a lonely course
along its high, inaccessible shores, and beyond seeing that it was
covered with grass, those on board could observe little. A flagstaff with
a flag flying came into view, but not a single human being could be
seen through the telescope, although a party of sealers was known to
visit the place frequently. As the ship left the coast a boat's thwart with
a piece of rope wound round it was observed floating in the water, and
its presence caused some curiosity on board. Within the next few days a
shoal of whales known to sailors as the Right whale was sighted, and
later in the month several other whales of various species with two
threshers at work upon one of them were seen.
On the 23rd Vancouver's track was crossed, and then Grant gave orders
for a strict look-out for land to be kept from the masthead by night and
day.
Still the Australian coast remained invisible.

On the 29th the sea was so calm that there was not a ripple on its
surface, and nothing worth noting occurred until December 1st, when a
large spermaceti whale passed, and at 3 P.M. a seal. At 5 P.M. another
appeared; this seal swam after the ship for some time, gazing after it in
a curious way and shaking its head as it leapt from the water. On
December 2nd the birds which till then had followed the ship
disappeared, and in the evening a horse-fly settled on the main-sail and
showed that land was near. The same night heavy squalls arose and
blew until morning. At 8 A.M., to the great joy of all on board, land
was sighted from the masthead. It appeared to take the