ncluding words of the
instruction intimately concern the events which, in the next year but
one, commenced that long agony of imprisonment which Flinders had to
endure in Ile-de-France.

He was also provided with a passport from the French Government, and the
terms in which it was couched are of the utmost importance for the
understanding of what followed. It was issued for the Investigator,
commanded by Captain Matthew Flinders, for a voyage of discovery of which
the object was to extend human knowledge and promote the progress of
nautical science. It commanded all French officers, at sea or on shore,
not to interfere with the ship and its officers, but on the contrary to
assist them if they needed help. But this treatment was only to be
extended as long as the Investigator did not announce her intention of
committing any act of hostility against the French Republic and her
allies, did not render assistance to her enemies, and did not traffic in
merchandise or contraband goods. The passport was signed by the French
Minister of Marine and Colonies, Forfait, on behalf of the First Consul.*
(* A transcript of Flinders' own copy of the French passport is now at
Caen, amongst the Decaen Papers Volume 84 page 133.)

Before the expedition sailed, Flinders became engaged in a correspondence
which must have been embarrassing to him, relating to his wife. He was
married, as has been stated, in April, after he had been promoted
commander, and while the Investigator was lying at Sheerness, awaiting
sailing orders. As the voyage would in all probability extend over
several years, his intention was to take his bride with him to Sydney,
and leave her there while he prosecuted his investigations in the south,
north and east. He had no reason to think that his doing so would give
offence in official quarters, especially as he was aware of cases where
commanders of ships had been permitted to take their wives on cruises
when their vessels were not protected by passports securing immunity from
attack. There are even instances of wives of British naval officers being
on board ship during engagements. During Nelson's attack on Santa Cruz,
in 1797, Captain Fremantle of the Seahorse had with him his wife, whom he
had lately married. It was in that engagement that Nelson lost an arm;
and when he returned, bleeding and in great pain, he would not go on
board the Seahorse, saying that he would not have Mrs. Fremantle alarmed
by seeing him in s