to act as tender to the Investigator, but she was so unsuited to the work that Flinders lost patience and sent her back to Sydney, where she did a great deal of surveying in the exploration of the Hunter River and its vicinity.  Grant went home, and cut a much better figure as a fighting officer, was promoted commander, and died in 1838.  On his way home he took a box of King’s despatches to convey to England, and when the despatch-box was opened it was found to be empty.  King, writing of this matter, said:—­

“I do not blame Lieutenant Grant so much for the [Sidenote:  1802] villainous transaction respecting the loss of my despatches as I deprecate the infamy of those who had preconcerted the plan.  Before the vessel he went in left the colony, it was told me that such an event would happen, and the master’s conduct prior to his leaving this fully justified the report.  I would not suffer the vessel to leave the port before a bond of L500 was given that neither Lieutenant Grant or the despatches should be molested.  Under these circumstances and Lieutenant Grant’s knowledge of the master, he ought to have been more guarded, as I gave my positive directions that the vessel should be seen a certain way to sea, and the box was not given from my possession before the vessel was under way.  However, the plan was too well laid and bound with ill-got gold to fail.  Let the villain enjoy the success of his infamy.  As to any publication of Mr. Grant’s, I believe nothing new or original can arise from his pen without the aid of auxiliary fiction.”

Lieutenant Murray, of the Porpoise, relieved Grant in the Lady Nelson, and Murray and his mate.  Lieutenant Bowen, further explored Bass’ Straits and the Victorian coast, their chief achievement being the discovery of Port Phillip.

The Lady Nelson was off the heads of Port Phillip on January 5th, 1802, but the weather was too bad to enter, and Bowen was sent to examine the bay in one of the brig’s boats.  This he did, and the Lady Nelson entered, and anchored off what is now the quarantine station on February 15th.  Murray took possession of the place on March 9th, naming it Port King, and Surveyor Grimes made a survey of it.  They left on March 12th.  The Frenchman Baudin, with the Geographe and Naturaliste, eighteen days later ran along this coast and claimed its discovery, although the Englishmen, Flinders in particular, had already surveyed and named nearly all his discoveries; but Baudin was gracious enough to admit that Port Phillip, which he had only sighted, had been first entered by the Lady Nelson.  Flinders sailed into the bay on April 26th, thinking that he had made a new discovery, until, on his arrival at Port Jackson, he heard of the Lady Nelson’s prior visit, and that Governor King, with modesty and regard for his old chief, had altered Murray’s name of Port King to Port Phillip.