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 Gulf, and our landing upon Depuch Island. The latter was a great disappointment to us, on account of the description which M. Feron gives of the island, in his historical account of Baudin’s voyage, from the report of M. Ronsard, who visited it.

“On our passage to the north coast, we saw the Imperieuse and Clerke’s shoals, and also discovered a third, the Mermaid’s.

“On the north coast, we found some deep bays and excellent ports, and at the bottom of the great bay of Van Diemen we discovered several rivers, one of which we ascended for forty miles. Mr. Cunningham made a very valuable and extensive collection of dried plants and seeds; but, from the small size of our vessel, and the constant occupation of myself and the two midshipmen, we had neither space nor time to form any other collection of natural history than a few insects, and some specimens of the geology of those parts where we had landed.”

On the 14th Feb. 1810, the Mermaid returned to Port Jackson, from whence Lieutenant King sent home an account of his late proceedings, the receipt of which was duly acknowledged as follows:–

“Admiralty Office, 11th Dec. 1819.

“Sir,– I have received the letter which you addressed to me from Sydney on the 23d February last; and, having communicated it to my