By His Excellency Philip Gidley King, Esq., captain-general and governor in chief, in and over His Majesty’s territory of New South Wales and its dependencies, etc., etc., etc.

“Whereas Captain Matthew Flinders, commander of His Majesty’s ship Investigator, has requested permission to receive on board that ship the undermentioned convicts as seamen, to make up the number he is deficient.  I do hereby grant Thomas Toney, Thomas Martin, Joseph Marlow, Thomas Shirley, Joseph Tuzo, Richard Stephenson, Thomas Smith, Francis Smith, and Charles Brown permission to ship themselves on board His Majesty’s ship Investigator, and on the return of that ship to this port, according to Captain Flinders’ recommendation of them, severally and individually, they will receive conditional emancipations or absolute pardons, as that officer may request.

“And in the interim I do, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested, grant a provisional-conditional emancipation to the said Thomas Toney, etc.; for the purpose of their being enabled to serve on board His Majesty’s said ship Investigator, whilst in the neighbourhood of this territory; which conditional emancipation will be of no effect, in case any of those named herein do individually conduct themselves so ill, as to put it out of captain Flinders’ power to recommend them for a conditional or absolute pardon on his return to this port.

“Given under my hand and seal at government house Sydney, in New South Wales, this 15th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1802. (Signed) Philip Gidley King, (L.  S.)”

Several of these men were seamen, and all were able and healthy; so that I considered them a great acquisition to our strength.  With respect to themselves, the situation to which they were admitted was most desirable; since they had thereby a prospect of returning to their country, and that society from which they had been banished; and judging from the number of candidates for the vacancies, such was the light in which a reception on board the Investigator was considered in the colony.  When the master was entered, one of the men, being over the complement, was sent to the Lady Nelson, with a reserve of the privilege above granted.

I had before experienced much advantage from the presence of a native of Port Jackson, in bringing about a friendly intercourse with the inhabitants of other parts of the coast; and on representing this to the governor, he authorised me to receive two on board. Bongaree, the worthy and brave fellow who had sailed with me in the Norfolk, now volunteered again; the other was Nanbaree, a good-natured lad, of whom Colonel Collins has made mention in his Account of New South Wales.