aking, the Observations contain matter that was afterwards
embodied in the larger Voyage to Terra Australis, and taken from reports
that have been used in the preceding pages. The special purpose of the
book was to be of use to navigators who might sail in Australian waters,
and it is therefore full of particulars likely to guide them. He pointed
out that there might be some errors in the longitude records of the
Norfolk voyage because "no time-keepers could be procured for this
expedition," but he pointed out that the survey was made with great care.
"The sloop was kept close to the shore, and brought back every morning
within sight of the same point it had been hauled off during the
preceding evening, by which means the chain of angles was never broken."
This was, as will be seen later, the method employed on the more
important voyage about to be undertaken.

The task that mainly occupied his attention during these few months in
England, was the making of preparations for a voyage of discovery
intended to complete the exploration of the coasts of Australia. It has
already been remarked that the initiative in regard to the Francis and
Norfolk explorations sprang from Flinders' own eager desire, and not from
the governing authorities. Precisely the same occurred in the case of the
far more important Investigator voyage. He did not wait for something to
turn up. Immediately after his arrival in England, he formulated a plan,
pointed out the sphere of investigation to which attention ought to be
directed, and approached the proper authorities. He wrote to Sir Joseph
Banks, "offering my services to explore minutely the whole of the coasts,
as well those which were imperfectly known as those entirely unknown,
provided the Government would provide me with a proper ship for the
purpose. I did not address myself in vain to this zealous promoter of
science; and Earl Spencer, then First Lord of the Admiralty, entering
warmly into the views of his friend, obtained the approbation of his
Majesty, and immediately set out a ship that could be spared from the
present demands of war, which Great Britain then waged with most of the
Powers of Europe."* (* Flinders' Papers.)

Lord Spencer's prompt and warm acquiescence in the proposition is not
less to be noted than the friendly interest of Banks. His administration
of the Admiralty in Pitt's Government was distinguished by his selection
of Nelson as the admiral to frustrate the schemes