Thus concluded a voyage, the first part of which was enlivened and rendered important by discoveries; the next involved in gloom through the virulent attacks of distemper, and the frequent inroads of death.  Much was certainly performed, and very much was suffered, but from the whole we are authorized to conclude, that the settlement of our countrymen on the new southern continent, must powerfully tend to the improvement of navigation, and the extension of geographical knowledge.  Nor is it necessary, that any ill-omened apprehensions should be excited by the misfortunes of the Alexander and the Friendship.  It may not happen again that ships shall quit Port Jackson so ill prepared with antidotes against the malignant poison of the scurvy:  nor, if they should, is it by any means certain that their visitation will be equally severe.

Latitudes and longitudes of capes, headlands, islands, and shoals, according to the Track of the Alexander, under the Directions of Lieutenant John Shortland, Agent for Transports.

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Chapter XX.

Lieutenant Watts’s Narrative of the Return of the Lady Penrhyn Transport; containing an Account of the Death of Omai, and other interesting Particulars at Otaheite.

5 May 1788-17 May 1788

The Lady Penrhyn, Capt.  Sever, left Port Jackson on the 5th of May, 1788.  In the evening of the 7th, imagining they saw a fire on shore, they sounded, but found no bottom with ninety fathoms of line.  By their observation at noon, on the 9th, they found a current had set the vessel eighty miles to the southward since their leaving Port Jackson.  The scurvy began already to make its appearance amongst them; one man was rendered unfit for duty, and several others complained very much.  The weather in general was squally, with thunder, lightning, and rain.  In the morning of the 14th they saw an island bearing north-east, half north, 18 or 20 leagues distant, which made in two detached hummocks:  At seven in the afternoon, the island seen in the morning was about nine leagues distant, on which they brought to for the night, and next morning made sail and stood for it.  At noon they spoke to the Supply, Lieutenant Ball, who informed them that this island is named Lord Howe’s Island.  During the afternoon and night they stood off and on, and at nine o’clock the next morning a boat was hoisted out, and Lieutenant Watts with a party went on shore in search of turtle, but they could distinguish no traces of any, though the different bays were very closely explored:  about noon, Mr. Watts returned on board.  This disappointment did not deter them from making another effort, as some turtle would have been a very valuable acquisition:  accordingly Mr. Anstis went with a party in the pinnace to try his success in the night.  About noon the next day Mr. Anstis returned without having seen one turtle, but to make some amends, the party had met with great success in fishing, having caught a sufficient quantity to serve the ship’s company three or four days.