Before two in the afternoon we stretched eastward again, and at four a white rock was reported from aloft to be seen ahead.  On approaching nearer it proved to be a ship standing towards us, and we cleared for action, in case of being attacked.  The stranger was a heavy-looking ship, without any top-gallant masts up; and our colours being hoisted, she showed a French ensign, and afterwards an English jack forward, as we did a white flag.  At half-past five, the land being then five miles distant to the north-eastward, I hove to, and learned, as the stranger passed to leeward with a free wind, that it was the French national ship Le Geographe, under the command of captain NICOLAS BAUDIN.  We veered round as Le Geographe was passing, so as to keep our broadside to her, lest the flag of truce should be a deception; and having come to the wind on the other tack, a boat was hoisted out, and I went on board the French ship, which had also hove to.

As I did not understand French, Mr. Brown, the naturalist, went with me in the boat.  We were received by an officer who pointed out the commander, and by him were conducted into the cabin.  I requested captain Baudin to show me his passport from the Admiralty; and when it was found and I had perused it, offered mine from the French marine minister, but he put it back without inspection.  He then informed me that he had spent some time in examining the south and east parts of Van Diemen’s Land, where his geographical engineer, with the largest boat and a boat’s crew, had been left, and probably lost.  In Bass Strait captain Baudin had encountered a heavy gale, the same we had experienced in a less degree on March 21 in the Investigator’s Strait.  He was then separated from his consort, Le Naturaliste; but having since had fair winds and fine weather, he had explored the South Coast from Western Port to the place of our meeting without finding any river, inlet or other shelter which afforded anchorage.  I inquired concerning a large island said to lie in the western entrance of Bass Strait; but he had not seen it, and seemed to doubt much of its existence.

Captain Baudin was communicative of his discoveries about Van Diemen’s land; as also of his criticisms upon an English chart of Bass Strait published in 1800.  He found great fault with the north side of the strait, but commended the form given to the south side and to the islands near it.  On my pointing out a note upon the chart, explaining that the north side of the strait was seen only in an open boat by Mr. Bass, who had no good means of fixing either latitude or longitude, he appeared surprised, not having before paid attention to it.  I told him that some other and more particular charts of the Strait and its neighbourhood had been since published; and that if he would keep company until next morning, I would bring him a copy, with a small memoir belonging to them.  This was agreed to, and I returned with Mr. Brown to the Investigator.