the Guinea fowl, which were found at Norfolk Island, were seen here also in great numbers.  The bill of this bird is red, and very strong, thick, and sharp-pointed.  Innumerable quantities of exceeding fine turtle frequent this place in the summer season, but at the approach of winter they all go to the northward.  There was not the least difficulty in taking them.  The sailors likewise caught plenty of fish with a hook and line.

Chapter XVIII.

July 1788 to August 1788

Concise account of Lieutenant Shortland—­His various services—­Appointed agent to the transports sent to New South Wales—­Ordered by Governor Phillip to England, by Batavia—­Journal of his voyage—­New discoveries.

We have been induced to subjoin in this place a concise account of Lieutenant Shortland, as well because his experience as an officer has been great, as from the consideration that his journal has been deemed, by those who best know its value, of very serious importance.

Lieutenant John Shortland very early in life had a strong predilection for the Navy, and in 1755, at the age of sixteen, he entered into his Majesty’s service, on board the Anson, a sixty gun ship, which went out in the fleet under the command of Admiral Boscawen.  On the Banks of Newfoundland this fleet fell in with, and took the Alcide and Ly’s, two French ships, of seventy-four guns.  On his return from this expedition, he went on board the Culloden, a seventy-four gun ship, and was in the fleet under Admiral Byng, off Minorca.  Shortly afterwards, he went into the Hampton Court, commanded by Capt.  Harvey, in which ship he was present at the taking of the Foudroyant and Arpe.  On his arrival in England, he went on board the Vanguard, Commodore Swanton, to the West Indies, in the fleet under Admiral Rodney, and was present at the reduction of Martinique, the Grenades, and the other islands which were then captured.  In 1763, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant by Admiral Swanton; since which period he has always been employed in active and important services.  During the late war, and for some time afterwards, he was chiefly employed in going to and from America, except in the year 1782, when he was appointed to command the transports with the 97th regiment on board, destined for the relief of Gibraltar, under convoy of his Majesty’s ships Cerberus and Apollo:  he was not only successful in getting all the transports in safe, but he also landed the men without any loss.

On Lieutenant Shortland’s return home from this service, in endeavouring to get through the Gut of Gibraltar in the night, he was chased by a squadron of Spanish frigates, who took three of the transports in company, but he was so fortunate as to escape in the Betsey transport, and arrived safe in England, without either loss or damage.  In the year 1786, he was appointed Agent to the transports sent by Government to New South Wales, at which place he arrived in January, 1788.  After remaining six months at the new settlement at Port Jackson, he was ordered to England by way of Batavia, by his Excellency Governor Phillip, who honoured him with the official dispatches for Government, and he arrived in England on the 29th of May, 1789.