Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/209

 Rh situate to the westward of the southernmost point of the Great Barrier Reef. A few show indications of damage by small indentations. These marks were caused by the lively young midshipmen (one of whom afterwards became famous as Sir John Franklin), who amused themselves by driving the sheep that were saved from the wreck over the drawings, when they were spread out to dry on the coral sands of Wreck Reef.

The collection is also interesting to South Africans, as it includes several pencil drawings of Table Mountain and its vicinity, the "Investigator" having touched at Table Bay and Simon's Bay on her voyage to Australia.

There is also a set of water colour drawings of headlands and coast scenery, which were prepared (after the artist's arrival in England), for the purpose of being engraved in the published volume of charts of the expedition which accompanies Flinder's narrative. In connection with these engravings, it may be mentioned that after the celebrated voyage of the "Adventure" and "Beagle" (1826-1836), Captain King expressed to the artist his personal obligations for the artistic accuracy of his work. It appears that on the first approach to Australia of those vessels, during a heavy gale, there was some doubt as to whether they could venture to make King George's Sound, but, as they neared the coast, the entrance was so readily recognised by aid of the illustrations that both ships were enabled to sail in without hesitation, instead of beating about at sea.

The collection comprises 144 sketches, and at the time of its acquirement by the Council of the Institute, excited a considerable amount of interest, delegates being appointed in several instances by the Colonial Governments to inspect and report upon the collection, which has been described as the most beautiful and truthful which has ever been executed of the scenery of Australia. The announcement that these drawings had been acquired by the Institute caused Mr. William Essington King, a grandson of Governor Philip King, to present a water colour drawing of Government House, Sydney, painted by William Westall in 1802, which has been added to the collection. I have devoted considerable space to the collections, as well as the individual voyages, on account of their importance as affecting the whole of the Colonial Empire, and will now briefly refer to the other sections of the library. There are many works of an important character bearing upon the survey of the coasts of Australia, including Grant's narrative of the