Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/318

 The competency of the commander of the Lad^ Nelson became of little moment in 1802, King being directed to make her a teDder under the orders of Flinders* Flinders* ship was the Investigator, S40 tons. He made true friends, though he did Bot wear his heart upon his sleeve, and was perhaps less popular than many less deserving. Posterity has done him the justice denied by contemporary inferiors. King always supported him ; and Sir J. Banks, the com- panion of Cook in 1770, the President of the Royal Society in England, a member of the National Institute in France,*^ was warmly interested in the young explorer. He wrote privately to Bang that Lord Spencer had ** promised to make Flinders a commander, and in case he does the business he is entrusted th well, to make him Post on his return. Two French ships sailed from Havre in October (1800) for the avowed purpose of surveying the N,W- coast of New Holland. . . • They have a passport from the Admiralty," The importance of Flinders' voyage was well known* Ambition and patriotism spurred him on. Eeaehiog Cape Leeuwin in Dec. 1801, he refitted his ship in Princess Royal Harbour J King George's Sound, and made an inland excursion. Leaving King George's Sound, he examined the coast, and after passing the Australian Bight, affixed [names to the previously unseen land. From Fowler's Bay (named after the first lieutenant of the Investifiaior) to Encounter Bay, working sometimes on land and sometimes on shore, losing a boat's-crew and the sunken boat at Catastrophe Bay, naming Moimt Brown after the celebrated botanist who accompanied him, explor* uig Spencer's Gulf and Gulf St- Yincentj naming Mount Lofty (near the present town of Adelaide), marvelling at the manner in which the kangaroos did not attempt to flee from their destroyers on Kangaroo Island, Flinders passed on, having surveyed the territory which afterwards became known as South Australia. f Evan Napean told the Governor that iu consequence of the impOBitian the Admiralty would not allow him to paea for an officer at any fut ure period." '' 1802.
 * attempted to Imj practise d, Murray would receive no commission, and