( wrc mAn with an officer and crew. The ships were blown to sea. On the 7th they vainly searched for their *' malheureux com- pagnons/' On the night of the 7th the Natuntliste lost her consort. Baiidin continued the search on the 8th. On the 9th he was ill, but charged his heutenant, Freycinet,
- d*executer la recherche demandee par Tequipage et Tetat
major.** **Toute la journee du 9 Mars y fut conaacree. pendant huit heures. M* Freycinet (Peron writes) manceuvra le long de ces cotes effrayants, avec une audace, un sang- froid, et une precision egalement dignes d eloges.*' Sach was the occupation of the French explorers on the day when, in obedience to the orders of precision of Governor King, the master's mate of the Porpoise, in a brig of 60 tons hoisted the Englieh flag on the shores of Port Phillip. The Frencli reached Western Port on the 29th March, and not knowing that they had been anticipated by the Ladij Nelson^ wrote (Peron) *Mci tinissent les travaux des navigateurs glois, A ce meme point commence notre longue et penible exploration/' On the 29th March King reported to the Adniii'alty the performances of iBLady Ndson. On the 11th March the Lady Nehoii weighed anchor. *' With a strong tide running out we got into the entrance . . , we then fell into such a ripple that we expected every moment it would break on board . . . we, however, got clear out/* After a rough cruise Port Jackson was reached (24th March 1802), and Murray gave glowing accounts of the land and harbour he had seen. On the 29th King reported the important discovery to the Admiralty, which, with previous surveys, he hoped would " conv^uoe their Lordahipa that that higlily uBeftil ve8a©l» the Lady Neljtoii^ has not be«n idle since under my dkection, and although Mr, Murray unfortunately doe« not possess the qutilitiea of an astronomer and surveyor, yet I trust his efforta and succesa will, in proportion to his abilities and conduct aa a. seamfin and officer, reoonun^nd him to their Lordships' notice, he having p^^^ed for a lieutenant at the Cape of Good Hope, a copy of which certificate and of my appointmeat for hun to command the Lady Nehon I have the honour to enclose, and respectfully submit hia aervicea to their Lordships' consideration." ^* « Previous misconduct on Murray's part prevented him from profiting by King's recommeDdation. It was ascertained at the Admiralty that he hatl not told the truth when he passed the examination at the Cape of Good Hope. He had imposed upon the examiners by alleging that he had served in 1789 in a vesael which was not in commiBaion at tlie time* Sir
