ports de la Republique, tant in Europe que dans les autres parties du monde, soit qu’ils soient forces par le mauvais tems d’y chercher un refuge, soit qu’ils viennent y reclamer les secours et les moyens de reparation necessaires pour continuer leur voyage.  Il est bien entendu, cependant, qu’ils ne trouveront ainsi protection et assistance, que dans le cas ou ils ne se seront pas volontairement detournes de la route qu’ils doivent suivre, qu’ils n’auront commis, ou qu’ils n’annonceront l’intention de commettre aucune hostilite contre la Republique Francaise et ses allies, qu’ils n’auront procure, ou cherche a procurer aucun secours a ses ennemis, et qu’ils ne s’occuperont d’aucune espece de commerce, ni de contrebande.

Fait a Paris le quatre Prairial an neuf de la Republique Francaise.  Le Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies (signed) FORFAIT.

Par le Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies
(Signed)
CHes.  M. JURIEN.

Signalement de la corvette.

La corvette l’Investigator est du port de 334 tonneaux.  Son equipage est compose de 83 hommes, outre cinq hommes de lettres.

Son artillerie est de 6 carronades de 12.
                      2 ditto de 18.
                      2 canons de 6.
                      2 pierriers.

Le soussigne, commissaire du gouvernement Francais a Londres, certifie le signalement ci-dessus conforme a la note qui lui a ete communiquee par le ministre de Sa Majeste Britannique.

Londres le 4 Messidor an 9.

(Signed) OTTO.

In consequence of this passport, I received directions from the Admiralty “to act in all respects towards French ships as if the two countries were not at war; and,” it was added, “with respect to the ships and vessels of other powers with which this country is at war, you are to avoid, if possible, having any communication with them; and not to take letters or packets other than such as you may receive from this office, or the office of His Majesty’s secretary of state.”

From His Grace the duke of Portland, I carried an order to the governor of New South Wales to place the brig Lady Nelson under my command, on arriving at Port Jackson; and also one from the Admiralty, directing the governor, in his quality of senior naval officer, not to take the Investigator from the purposes of the voyage; but to assist me with all the means in his power to put them into execution.

So soon as my sailing orders were received, demands were sent on shore for provisions to replace what had been consumed at Spithead; and they came on board next morning, when the ship was unmoored.  We were able to stow a proportion of provisions for twelve months, bread excepted, of which only seven months could be taken, including a part in flour.  Of salt meat I took for eighteen months, knowing that little reliance could be had upon the colony in New South Wales for that article; and further to guard against any detriment to the voyage from a want of provisions, I left an application to the Admiralty for a general supply, for twelve months; to be sent after me, and lodged in the store houses at Port Jackson for our sole use.