Exclusive of these, the 'Salamander', (Captain Nichols) who, of 155 men lost only five; and the 'William and Anne' (Captain Buncker) who of 187 men lost only seven, I find most worthy of honourable mention.

In the list of convicts brought out was Barrington, of famous memory.
Two of these ships also added to our geographic knowledge of the country.
The 'Atlantic', under the direction of Lieutenant Bowen, a naval agent, ran into a harbour between Van Diemen's land, and Port Jackson, in latitude 35 degrees 12 minutes south, longitude 151 degrees east, to which, in honour of Sir John Jervis, Knight of the Bath, Mr.Bowen gave the name of Port Jervis.

Here was found good anchoring ground with a fine depth of water, within a harbour about a mile and a quarter broad at its entrance, which afterwards opens into a basin five miles wide and of considerable length.
They found no fresh water, but as their want of this article was not urgent, they did not make sufficient researches to pronounce that none existed there.* They saw, during the short time they stayed, two kangaroos and many traces of inhabitants.

The country at a little distance to the southward of the harbour is hilly, but that contiguous to the sea is flat.
On comparing what they had found here afterwards, with the native produce of Port Jackson, they saw no reason to think that they differed in any respect.
[*Just before I left the country, word was brought by a ship which had put into Port Jervis, that a large fresh water brook was found there.] The second discovery was made by Captain Wetherhead, of the 'Matilda' transport, which was obligingly described to me, as follows, by that gentleman, on my putting to him the underwritten questions.
"When did you make your discovery ?" "On the 27th of July, 1791." "In what latitude and longitude does it lie ?" "In 42 degrees 15 minutes south by observation, and in 148 1/2 east by reckoning" "Is it on the mainland or is it an island ?" "It is an island, distant from the mainland about eight miles." "Did you anchor ?" "Yes; and found good anchorage in a bay open about six points." "Did you see any other harbour or bay in the island ?" "None." "Does the channel between the island and the main appear to afford good shelter for shipping ?" "Yes, like Spithead." "Did you find any water on the island ?" "Yes, in plenty." "Of what size does the island appear to be ?" "It is narrow and long; I cannot say how long.

Its breadth is inconsiderable." "Did you make any observations on the soil ?" "It is sandy; and many places are full of craggy rocks." "Do you judge the productions which you saw on the island to be similar to those around Port Jackson ?" "I do not think they differ in any respect." "Did you see any animals ?" "I saw three kangaroos." "Did you see any natives, or any marks of them ?" "I saw no natives, but I saw a fire, and several huts like those at Port Jackson, in one of which lay a spear." "What name did you give to your discovery ?" "I called it, in honour of my ship, Matilda Bay." November, 1791.