ur
fleet, gave it as his opinion, that if a reception could be secured,
emigrations would take place to New South Wales, not only from the old
continent, but the new one, where the spirit of adventure and thirst for
novelty were excessive.

CHAPTER VII.

The Passage from the Cape of Good Hope to Botany Bay.

We had hardly cleared the land when a south-east wind set in, and,
except at short intervals, continued to blow until the 19th of the
month; when we were in the latitude of 37 deg 40 min south, and by the
time-keeper, in longitude 11 deg 30 min east, so that our distance from
Botany Bay had increased nearly an hundred leagues since leaving the
Cape. As no appearance of a change in our favour seemed likely to take
place, Governor Phillip at this time signified his intention of shifting
his pennant from the Sirius to the 'Supply', and proceeding on his
voyage without waiting for the rest of the fleet, which was formed in
two divisions. The first consisting of three transports, known to be the
best sailors, was put under the command of a Lieutenant of the navy;
and the remaining three, with the victuallers, left in charge of Captain
Hunter, of his Majesty's ship Sirius. In the last division was the
vessel, in which the author of this narrative served. Various causes
prevented the separation from taking place until the 25th, when several
sawyers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and other mechanics, were shifted
from different ships into the 'Supply', in order to facilitate his
Excellency's intention of forwarding the necessary buildings to be
erected at Botany Bay, by the time the rest of the fleet might be
expected to arrive. Lieutenant Governor Ross, and the Staff of the
marine battalion, also removed from the Sirius into the Scarborough
transport, one of the ships of the first division, in order to afford
every assistance which the public service might receive, by their being
early on the spot on which our future operations were to be conducted.

From this time a succession of fair winds and pleasant weather
corresponded to our eager desires, and on the 7th of January, 1788, the
long wished for shore of Van Diemen gratified our sight. We made the
land at two o'clock in the afternoon, the very hour we expected to see
it from the lunar observations of Captain Hunter, whose accuracy, as
an astronomer, and conduct as an officer, had inspired us with equal
gratitude and admiration.

After so long a confinement,