[Footnote C:  An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson, etc., etc., by John Hunter, Esq., Post-Captain R.N. (London, 1793.)]

In September, 1788, Hunter sailed from Port Jackson [Sidenote:  1788] for the Cape of Good Hope, to obtain supplies for the half-starving colony.  On the voyage he formed the opinion that New Holland was separated from Van Diemen’s Land by a strait, an opinion to be afterwards confirmed in its accuracy by Bass.

The poor old Sirius came in for some bad weather on the trip, and a glimpse of Hunter’s character is given to us in a letter written home by one of the youngsters (Southwell) under him, who tells us that Hunter, knowing the importance of delivering stores to the half-famished settlers, drove the frigate’s crazy old hull along so that—­

“we had a very narrow escape from shipwreck, being driven on that part of the coast called Tasman’s Head in thick weather and hard gales of wind, and embay’d, being twelve hours before we got clear, the ship forced to be overpressed with sail, and the hands kept continually at the pumps, and all this time in the most destressing anxiety, being uncertain of our exact situation and doubtful of our tackling holding, which has a very long time been bad, for had a mast gone, or topsail given way, there was nothing to be expected in such boistrous weather but certain death on a coast so inhospitable and unknown.  And now to reflect, if we had not reached the port with that seasonable supply, what could have become of this colony?  ’Twould have been a most insupportable blow, and thus to observe our manifold misfortunes so attemper’d with the Divine mercy of these occasions seems, methinks, to suggest a comfortable lesson of resignation and trust that there are still good things in store, and ’tis a duty to wait in a moderated spirit of patient expectation for them.  ’Tis worthy of remark, the following day (for we cleared this dreaded land about 2 in the morning, being April the 22nd, 1789), on examining the state of the rigging, &c., some articles were so fearfully chafed that a backstay or two actually went away or broke.”

Soon after came the end of the old ship.  She had been sent to Norfolk Island, with a large proportion of the settlers at Port Jackson, to relieve the strain on the food supply.  The contingent embarked with a marine guard under Major Ross in the Sirius and the Government brig Supply, and sailed on the 6th of March, 1790.  Young Southwell, the signal midshipman stationed at the solitary look-out on the south head of Port Jackson, shall tell the rest of the story:—­

[Illustration:  CAPTAIN JOHN HUNTER.  From an engraving in the “Naval Chronicle” for 1801.] To face p. 96.