Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/208

 196 who first explored unknown and distant regions. In close proximity to the collections are the works of celebrated voyagers and navigators extending over a period of 350 years, and including those of Tasman (Dutch edition), of which a very complete translation appears in the third volume of Burney's Voyages, Dampier, Funnell, Cook, the volumes bearing upon that celebrated navigator's voyages numbering twenty-four, Anson, Sparrman, Vancouver, and Flinders, as well as the French voyages of Bougainville, De Gennes, Chabert, Dumont d'Urville, Sonnerat, Marion, La Perouse Baudin, who commanded the celebrated voyage of Peron and Freycinet, down to those of Lady Brassey and the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos, which were performed in far more luxurious style. In connection with the voyage of Flinders, I would draw your particular attention to what, in my opinion is the most valuable and, at the same time, unique treasure in the library. I refer to the collection of original pencil and water colour drawings by William Westall, A.R.A., who proceeded as landscape painter with that celebrated expedition of discovery and survey on the coasts of Australia during the years 1801 and 1802.

The sketches comprise views of King George's Sound, Port Lincoln, the head of Spencer's Gulf, Kangaroo Island, Port Phillip, Port Jackson, the Hawkesbury River, Keppel Bay, Port Bowen, Shoal Water Sound, Thirsty Sound, and the Gulf of Carpentaria; besides sketches illustrative of the natives, the flora, and fauna. The collection is one of the greatest historic interest, forming the entire existing series of the sketches made by the artist during the expedition, and having been drawn from nature on the spot. There are two remarkable illustrations of pictorial representations by the aborigines themselves—one in the interior of a cave in Cavern Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, with drawings of turtles, sword-fish, &c., and another of grotesque human figures and a kangaroo in a cave near Memory Cove, at the entrance of Spencer's Gulf. Before Mr. Westall accepted the appointment of landscape painter to the expedition, he stipulated that his original drawings should be returned to him after the requirements of the Admiralty had been fulfilled. The authorities returned them accordingly, and they have been in the possession of the family up to the time of their acquirement by the Institute, in November, 1889. Some of the drawings show signs of their partial submersion in the "Porpoise" (in which vessel the expedition embarked for England), when she was lost on Wreck Reef,