ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. NARRATIVE of a VOYAGE of DISCOVERY, performed in His Majesty's Vessel, the LADY NELSON, of SIXTY Tons Burthen, with Sliding Keels, in the Years 1800, 1801, and 1802, to NEW SOUTH WALES, by LIEUTENANT GRANT, of the Royal Navy. THIS volume is replete with useful information, giving a descriptive account of new discoveries, and displaying, in plain language, the professional talents, and enterprising spirit of the author in the performance of this arduous duty. This important colony has never, hitherto, been associated with the history of Asia; but its geographical position certainly entitles it to that distinction. In its present infant form it presents every advantage to cheer and gratify the labors of its inhabitants. The country is, every where, finely wooded, well watered, and abounding in beautiful and picturesque scenery; the climate healthy, the soil rich, the natives docile in their disposition, and friendly in their manners; we, therefore, take pleasure in laying before our readers, an account of this interesting settlement, venturing to pronounce, that it will, when more matured, hold no inconsiderable rank among the colonial establishments of Great Britain. We cannot avoid expressing our admiration at the zeal and energy with which this officer surmounts the various difficulties incidental to so perilous and uncertain an undertaking. His life, character, and expectations in the service, are all cheerfully embarked on board 'a vessel, whose inferior size, and peculiar construction, deter those who might have assisted his labors from sharing them. All who see her in the river, even the most experienced judges, pronounce her unfit for sea, but the unwearied perseverance of Mr. Grant mocks every obstacle, and accomplishes the object of his mission. The Lady Nelson arrives at Port Jack-plement of fifteen hands, and victuson, in New South Wales, without the loss of a single man, or damage in hull, masts, or rigging. January 13th, 1800, the Lady Nelson takes her departure from the river Thames, with a com alled for nine months. Is nicknamed H. M's tinder box, from the insignificance of her appearance: meets with a hard gale in the downs, with a very heavy swell; many vessels dismasted, and driven ashore; an alarm on board for the safety of the vessel; rides out the storm, and arrives at Spithead; takes in full complement of arms, and stores, when she clears only two foot nine inches, abreast her gangway; every body * 12 ridicules "thumberland, I named Cape "Banks; when the former Cape "bears N. W. b. W. distant eight or nine miles, Shanck's moun "N.b. E. from the vessel, Schank's "mountain loses its table form, ridicules the undertaking; crew murmur; three actually desert, the carpenter among the number; put to sea without one; the India fleet being ready to get under weigh, sail"tains bearing N. and Gambier's in company, towed for some days; discover several leaks, proves to be very negligently fitted out. Nothing" material occurs during the voyage; arrive at the Cape of Good Hope, ordered to remain until the commencement of summer. Mr. Grant makes many excursions into the country, on which, his remarks are equally pleasant and judicious. On the 7th October, the Lady Nelson sailed from the Cape, and on the 2d Dec. following, made land. We have here subjoined the copy of Mr. Grant's journal from that day, till he came to Wilson's promontory: the notes by governor King. 66 "December 3d, at day-light, "made all possible sail, judging myself to be in lat. 38°; S.* at eight, A.M. saw the land from N. "to E. N. E. the part that was "right a-head appeared like un"connected Islands, being four in "number, which, on our nearer "approach, turned out to be two 66 and appears like a saddle. There "does not appear to be an harbour "here, but vessels may find shelter "under Cape Northumberland, " from N. and N. N. W. winds; "as also between Cape Banks and "it, from the E. winds. The "shore is in general a flat, sandy "beach, the sea, at present mak "ing no breach upon it." 4th. We stood along the shore "steering E. saw the land as far "as we could see, bearing S. E. "hauled close up for it; this form"ing a conspicuous cape, I named "it Bridgewater, in honor of the "duke of that title. At seven, "little wind, and heavy sea. The "shore is a sandy beach, from "where we made the land to this Bridgewater, tacked occasionally "and got four oars on the lee side, "which were employed all night, "baffling light winds from S. S. "W. to S. E. with a heavy swell. "At day break, in the morning, we weathered the Cape six or "seven miles, when another Cape appeared, bearing E. b. N. about "fifteen or sixteen miles distant, "forming, with Cape Bridgewater, Ia very deep bay, and to appearance had a shelter for anchorage, though much heavy swell: the "land appeared beautiful, rising " gradually, and covered with wood: "being anxious to examine whether "it was safe to venture in or not, "and apprehensive we could not "clear the shore, I ordered a boat 66 other Gambier's mountain. The "first Cape I called Northumberland, after his grace the duke of "Northumberland, and another "smaller, but very conspicuous "jut of the land, which we plainly saw, when abreast of Cape No Longtitude worked back 141° 20′E. out 66 " 66 "woods. Towards evening saw many fires a little way in land; many seals and porpoises about to-day. At six in the evening, we had a moderate breeze from "S. S. E. Cape Bridgewater bear"ing N. b. E. four leagues, and Cape Nelson E. N. E. distant, "six leagues; got in the boats, "tacked occasionally during the "night, working to windward; at "five A. M. saw another cape, "not unlike the Dedman in the English Channel; it runs a con"siderable way into the sea. When "to the W. it appears like a long out, and took two hands with "me armed; at this time there was "but little wind, but much sea, "and gloomy weather; after get"< ting in shore about five miles, we "found there was not any shelter "from S. winds: the water very deep, and apparently the same "all the way in. The vessel had "now hove too, with a fresh wind "at W. S. W. and being very likely to blow with rain, we put "back. The wind, however, did "not stand while near shore; we "plainly saw several fires: the sea "being still very heavy, and no "wind, we got the launch a-head "to tow. At noon, it was matter "of great doubt whether we should "not be forced to anchor: the bay "being very deep, we could hardly "clear it with a steady breeze, our "latitude was 38° 21′ S. Cape "Bridgewater then bearing N. W. "b. W. twelve or thirteen miles. "I called the other, Cape Nelson, "after the vessel. At one, a light "breeze sprang up, which, with "the boat a-head, got us clear off "the shore." "5th, P. M. light airs, and a very "heavy rolling swell, setting in upon the shore, saw several fires; "being rather too far into the bay, 66 which is deep, I was for some "time very doubtful whether we "should not be obliged to trust to "our anchors: a light breeze springing up, and the boat being a-head, towing, we got our head "to the S. The west Cape I called Bridgewater, as already mentioned, and that to the east Nelson; "this is a very deep bay, and with "S. winds, ought carefully to be "avoided. CapeNelson bears from Cape Bridgewater E. N. E. fif"teen or sixteen miles; the country is beautiful, apparently a good "soil, plenty of grass, and fine. barn, arched on the top, with a "high bluff, and next the sea resembling the gable end of a "house. I named this land, "Sir William Grant's Cape; off "this cape are two small Islands; "the largest appear like two, hav"ing two hummocks joined toge"ther, by a neck of low land, "which is not seen till pretty close. "On approaching, the smaller island "is seen a little nearer the shore; "these I called Lawrence's Islands, "after captain Lawrence,, one of "the elder brethren of the Trinity "House. As they will be an excel"lent mark for making this part, "and save much trouble to those "who have not an opportunity to "keep far enough to the N. to "make Cape Northumberland, "and being very remarkable, na"vigators will know where they 66 are, as they draw abreast of "them, the largest being to the S. "with its two hummocks: its outer "end, from the shore, appears "like a square top't tower, very high, with a white spot in the "middle of it, which I suppose "proceeds from birds; the other "end is also very high. This island appears exactly, as here describ "ed, when it bears N. or N, b. *I 3 W. "W. W. when there is an offing of ten or twelve miles from it. Lawrence's Islands bear from 66 cape Sir W. Grant, S. E. or S. E. "by S. twelve miles distant; and "there appears no danger between "them and the shore. The 'cape 66 now loses its long form, as the "vessel gets to the E. and its particular shape which was dis"cernible when to the W. changes "to a high bluff point, steep and " inaccessible. The land round it "is moderately high, with much "wood; many fires were seen "about this cape. The land from it "runs to the N. as far as the eye "can reach, or discern, from the mast head. I wished much for "the wind from the N. that I might explore the land, as I think there must be harbours in "it, but having it light from the "S. S. E. varying every quarter "of an hour to E. S. E. I could 66 not throw away time in attempting it. The bottom of the bay "is hardly discernible from the mast head. " cape Albany Otway, in honor "of William Albany Otway, esq. captain in the royal navy, and one of the commissioners of the transport board. Another very high and considerable cape, bearing from the last E. S. E. I called "Patton's Cape. It is distant "from Cape Albany Otway .46 66 E. eight or ten miles E.N. E. "I also distinguished the bay by "the name of Portland Bay, in honor of his grace the duke of "Portland. The land is here "truly picturesque and beautiful, "resembling very much that about "Mount Edgcumbe near Plymouth "which faces the Sound. It abounds "in wood, very thick groves, and large trees. It is moderately high, but not mountainous. We "did not see any fires on it, probably from the shore being inaccessible, and much surf breaking "on it. From cape Albany Otway "E. N. E. ten or twelve miles, is "another point of land, which appears M. Black, in the Harbinger, was close in with the land, and describes it nearly the same as lieutenant Grant. P. G. K. ing; but from the number of little juts, and low points of "land, further to the N. and E. "I determined to try if "such place could be got. I never 66 having got sufficient offing, made sail to the eastward. "eight, P. M. Cape Albany Otway bearing W. 18 or 20 miles, we "made a very high and lofty cape "covered with trees to the waters 66 any edge, as is all the country round "it. From this cape the land breaks "short round to the N. when I "lost it. We had now a fair wind, "and might have done a great deal saw a finer country; the valleys "appeared to have plenty of fresh "water meandering through them. "At eleven A. M. I ordered the "boats out, manned and arined; "and went in search of a place to "land on, or anchor in. We got "within a cable's length and a half "of the shore; but finding the "surf breaking heavy, I deemed "it not prudent to attempt landing. "The shore was a sandy beach, "with small rocks interspersed "here and there. In trying for * soundings with a hand lead line, none could be found; so that. "I really think the beach is steep also. I was very much disap"pointed in being so near, and obliged to return on board without setting foot on this beautiful * spot. It resembles the Isle of "Wight as near as possible, in its *appearance from the water; "I therefore called this part of the 66 coast (which falls into the bottom "of the small bay from Cape 66 during the night, but I had my " doubts whether this land, which "fell off to the northward, should "not have been followed, and kept 66 on board; as from a small chart given to me by sir Joseph Banks, "I found, that as far as the coast "had been surveyed, the land "trained off to the northward, in "the same form, nearly as it did "here from Cape Patton, with this "difference, that the cape I allude to, on the chart, had several "islands lying off from it; neither "did the latitude exactly corres"pond, and the land which it laid "down, running to the N. was low "and bushy; whereas that which "I saw was high, with large fo"rests of trees, and no islands near "it. I therefore chose the middle "road, made snug sail, and ran "60 miles E. judging, if it was a bay, I should see the eastern extremity * 1 4 |