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  for the conveyance of 400 convicts, and numerous emigrants of both sexes, to New South Wales, from whence it was directed that she should bring home a cargo of timber for ship-building.

A short time previous to the Glatton’s arrival at Port Jackson, two French frigates under Commodore Baudin had taken a survey of the S.E. coast of Van Diemen’s Land; which circumstance, and some private information received by the colonial government, led to the belief that our late enemy intended forming an establishment in that neighbourhood. To prevent this being done, and avoid all discussion as to right of sovereignty, Governor King resolved to take formal possession of the island; but he was unable to carry that intention into execution at the moment, by the dissensions which existed between himself and the military officers stationed in New Holland. In this state of affairs. Lieutenant Bowen gladly seized the opportunity of offering his services, which the Governor as readily accepted.

The subject of this memoir, now metamorphosed into a “Lieutenant-Governor and Commandant,” immediately proceeded to the river Derwent, where he disembarked with the embryo of the present flourishing colony of Van Diemen’s Land on the 12th Sept. 1803. The establishment then under his controul consisted of an officer and 30 soldiers belonging to the