Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/329

 to complain of thegi*asping nature of the Governor's claims. ^The Sffvprise started on her curtailed cruise, and was lost. In May 1802, just after the arrival of the NatuniUste, the Governor had said he would immediately form a settlement at Port Phillip, but that he had no person who could be spared or entrusted with the command. " When more officers come oot, perhaps I may be able to select one wha would answer for that situation, which wiU require & person of aome abih'ties and perseverance. Unless I lin«i it absohitely neceaaary I sliall not take this step without your (^race's approval. . ., I am the more LeoHeitoua rcBpecting forming this acttlement from the prohahilifcy of the Ifrench having it in conteTupIation to nuike a settleuienfcj . . » which I cannot help thinking is a principal object of their rcseaiThes.'' Writing to Lord Hobart (9th Nov. 1802), while llie Geographe and NataraUste were still at Sydney, King said^ — '** Notwithetanding the collection he baa made in every branch of natural history, , , . yet I am inclined to think that collecting alone ia not the ' principal object of Moiieieur Bandings niisaiouj as it haJ3 very forcibly atrnck me that ihey liave an intention of looking for a place proper to make a P similar establiahment to this on the W, or N. W. coast. It has also occurred to me thjit they ma}- hav^e .^ome intention of laying ckinj to Van Diemen's Land now it is known to be insulated from New Holland. My only reason for this supposition i& the length of time, and the v^ery accurate and extensive survey Jie has taken of what ia called by us * Storm Bay Passage,' and by the French 'Le Canal d*Entrerra$teaux/ to whom they attribute the discovery of that passage. How far either or both theae conjectures may be probable I caimot aay, but I judge it necessary to com- municate nty thoughts thereon, and to requeat instructions for my C[>nduct in case the latter conjecture ahould be veritiod. I have already stated my ideas respecting the policy of forming a aettlement at Port Phillip in Bass's iStraits and in Storm Bay Passage, or Derwent River, and reflection Ion this subject confirms me in the necessity of forming a .settlement at one pr both those places. Unfortunately I have no person I can at present name to such a sitmition. Should one oirer equal to that charge I ahaU take it upon me to settle one or both those placea, for the reasons given in jny former letter." Colonel Paterson thought more of botanical collectiona than of extending thtt cords of British sovereignty. Tho coolness between himself and the Governor may have partly contributed to his reticence when he heard and did not inform King, during the stay of the French, that they intended to form a colony at Van Diemen's Land, It is certain that as soon as the French ships sailed (17th Nov. 1802) the Governor was informed by the acting principal Burgaon that CoL Paterson was in possession of information