Page:Early History of the Colony of Victoria by Francis Peter Labilliere.djvu/19



CHAPTER I.

EARLIEST DISCOVERIES.

First Discovery of Australia uncertain — Cook first sights the coast of Victoria—Captain Hunter s douhts as to Tasmania being a peninsula — Vancouver proposes to ascertain the fact — His despatches to Lord Grenville on the subject — Mungo Park volun- teers to explore in Australia — Letter of Sir Joseph Banks communicating the offer to the Government.

has had no Columbus. It Is even doubtful if the first navigators who reached her shores set out with any idea of discovering a great south land. At all events, it would seem, their achievements were so little esteemed by themselves and their countrymen, that no means were taken to preserve their names in connexion with their discoveries. Holland long had the credit of bringing to light the existence of that island-continent, which until recent years was best known by her name.

In 1861, however, Mr. Major, to whom we are indebted for more recent research upon the subject, produced VOL. I