The reception accorded the fleet in Australia was wonderful, and it showed the fundamental community of feeling between ourselves and the great commonwealth of the South Seas.

The considerate, generous, and open-handed hospitality with which the entire Australian people treated our officers and men could not have been surpassed had they been our own countrymen.

The fleet first visited Sydney, which has a singularly beautiful harbor.

The day after the arrival one of our captains noticed a member of his crew trying to go to sleep on a bench in the park.
He had fixed above his head a large paper with some lines evidently designed to forestall any questions from friendly would-be hosts: "I am delighted with the Australian people.

I think your harbor the finest in the world.