HAYES. 1794.

Captain JOHN HAYES, of the Bombay marine, visited Storm Bay and D’Entrecasteaux’s Channel, with the private ships Duke and Dutchess from India, in 1794.  He went much further up the Riviere du Nord, than the boat from the French ships had done, and gave it the name of the DERWENT RIVER.  This name is likely to efflace the first appellation, and with some degree of propriety; both from the superior extent of captain Hayes’ examination, and from North River being an equivocal term for a stream at the south end of Van Diemen’s Land.

That captain Hayes had some intimation of the French discovery is evident, but not knowing the distinctive appellations given, he took upon himself to impose names every where.  Succeeding visitors have gone with his sketch in their hands, whilst the charts of D’Entrecasteaux were unknown in that part of the world; from whence, and still more from those names having now become familiar to the settlement established in the Derwent River, it will be difficult, if not impossible in many cases, for the original discoverer to be reinstated in his rights.

The head of the Derwent is the sole part where captain Hayes’ sketch conveys information, not to be found much more accurately delineated in the charts of D’Entrecasteaux.

PRIOR DISCOVERIES IN TERRA AUSTRALIS.

SECTION IV

EAST COAST, WITH VAN DIEMEN’S LAND.

PART II.

Preliminary Information. 
Boat expeditions of Bass and Flinders. 
Clarke. 
Shortland. 
Discoveries of Bass to the southward of Port Jackson;
of Flinders;
and of Flinders and Bass. 
Examinations to the northward by Flinders. 
Conclusive Remarks.

PRELIMINARY INFORMATION.

The year 1788 will ever be a memorable epoch in the history of Terra Australis.  On Jan. 18, Captain (now vice-admiral) ARTHUR PHILLIP arrived in Botany Bay, with His Majesty’s brig Supply; and was followed by the Syrius, captain John Hunter, six sail of transports, and three store ships.  The purpose of this armament was to establish a colony in New South Wales, over which extensive country Captain Phillip was appointed Governor and Captain-general.  Botany Bay proved to be an unfavourable situation for the new colony; it was, therefore, abandoned in favour of PORT JACKSON, which lies three leagues to the northward, and was found to be one of the finest harbours in the world.