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94 not to be repressed by any obstacles, nor deterred by danger." Bass and his midshipman friend conferred many a night on these schemes, and formed the grand resolution of completing the examination of the east coast of New South Wales, by all such opportunities as the duty of the ship and procurable means would admit. "Projects of this nature," says Flinders, "when originating in the minds of young men, are usually termed romantic, and, so far from any good being anticipated, even prudence and friendship join in discouraging, if not in opposing them." So the two friends indeed found. Their schemes, when they disclosed them, were laughed at, and their zeal regarded as a sort of harmless mania. This being the case, it may be supposed that they could obtain little aid in carrying out their plans; but, having obtained some leisure for the purpose, they determined at once to start on their explorations with such scanty preparations as were within their reach.

The only boat which their slender means enabled them to obtain was a diminutive craft of only eight feet long, which they called the "Tom Thumb," and their crew consisted simply of themselves and a boy, whom they hired to accompany them. With this equipment they proceeded from Port Philip to Botany Bay, and, ascending George's River, explored its winding course about twenty miles above where Governor Hunter's survey had been carried. The sketch which they made of the river, and presented to the governor, with their favourable report of the land on its borders, induced the latter to examine the locality himself shortly afterwards, and led to his establishing there a new branch of the