The Cumberland sailed from Sydney on the 23rd November 1802, and on the 8th December fell in with Baudin at Sea Elephant Bay, on the east coast of King Island. Peron, the naturalist of the French Expedition tells us what followed:[1] He says:—
"Just as we had made these arrangements for the safety of our ship we saw the little schooner the Cumberland appear. She had come from Port Jackson and had on board Mr. Grimes, Engineer-in-Chief of the English establishment, who came by order of the Government to make a declaration to us which was as singular in form as remarkable in its object. 'It being reported,' wrote Mr. King to our commander, 'that you propose to leave some men either in Diemen's Land or on the western coast of New South Wales in order to form there a French colony, I think it my duty to declare to you, M. le Commandant, that, in virtue of the Act of 1788 for taking possession, solemnly proclaimed by England, all these countries form an integral part of the British Empire; and that you cannot occupy any part of them without breaking the bonds of friendship which have been so recently re-established between the two nations. I shall not even attempt to dissemble, for such is the nature of my special instructions with regard thereto, that I must oppose by all means in my power the execution of the project you are suspected of being about to execute. In consequence of which H.M.S. Cumberland has received orders not to leave you until the officer who commands her is satisfied that your operations are foreign to any kind of invasion of British territory in these parts.'" [pp. 5, 6.]
Having delivered their message, and made the exploration of King Island noted in the Journal, the Cumberland sailed on her mission to Port Phillip, which they entered on the 20th January 1803. The Journal and chart show how faithfully Grimes carried out his instructions. He was undoubtedly on this occasion the discoverer of the river on which Melbourne now stands; but, excepting the notice of his survey by the generous Flinders, his meritorious services to Australia have met with almost total neglect.
Grimes's report of the nature of the country seen round Port Phillip was considered unfavorable, and was sent home to England by the Glatton. Before the information reached the Government, however, Collins had been despatched—27th April 1803—to form a penal settlement at the place which had been described by Murray as resembling the scenery of Arthur's Seat and Greenwich Park.
- ↑ Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Axistrales, sur les corvettes le Geographe, le Naturaliste, et la goëlette le Casuarina pendant les années 1800-4. Par F. Peron et L. Freycinet. Paris, 1807-16. 2 vols. 4to; cartes, royal 4to.
