# The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders, R.N.

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THE LIFE OF
CAPTAIN MATTHEW FLINDERS, R.N.
BY
ERNEST SCOTT
PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
AUTHOR OF "TERRE NAPOLÉON" AND "LIFE OF LAPÉROUSE"
With portraits, maps, and facsimiles
SYDNEY
ANGUS & ROBERTSON LTD.
89 CASTLEREAGH STREET
1914
Printed by W. C. Penfold & Co. Ltd., 183 Pitt Street, Sydney
for
Angus & Robertson Ltd.
London: The Oxford University Press
Amen Corner, E.C.
MATTHEW FLINDERS
Aged 27.
From the engraving in the "Naval Chronicle," 1814, after a miniature in file possession of Mrs. Flinders.
CONTENTS
Chapter I.
BIRTH AND ORIGINS
Place of Flinders among Australian navigators—Birth—Flemish origins—Pedigree—Connection with the Tennysons—Possible relationship with Bass—Flinders' father—Donington
1
Chapter II.
AT SCHOOL AND AT SEA
Education—Robinson Crusoe—Aspirations for a naval career—His father's wish—John Flinders' advice—Study of navigation—Introduction to Pasley—Lieutenant's servant—Midshipman on the Bellerophon—Bligh and the Bounty mutiny
11
Chapter III.
A VOYAGE UNDER BLIGH
The second breadfruit expedition—Flinders in the Providence—Notes from Santa Cruz—At the Cape—Tahiti—In Torres Strait—Encounter with Papuans—Return to England
29
Chapter IV.
THE BATTLE OFF BREST
The naval war with France—The battle of June 1st, 1794—Flinders as gunner—Pasley wounded—Flinders' journal of the engagement—Effect of Pasley's wound on the career of Flinders
41
Chapter V.
AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHY BEFORE FLINDERS
The predecessors of Flinders—How Australia grew on the map—Mediaeval controversies on antipodes—Period of vague speculation—Sixteenth century maps—The Dutch voyagers—The Batavia on the Abrolhos Reef—The Duyfhen in the Gulf—Torres—The three periods of Australian maritime discovery—Geographers and their views of Australia—The theory of the dividing strait—Cook and Furneaux—The untraced southern coast
64
Chapter VI.
THE RELIANCE AND THE TOM THUMB
Governor Hunter.—Captain Waterhouse.—Flinders' passion for exploring new countries—Joins the Reliance—Hunter on the strategic importance of the Cape—Sailing of Reliance and Supply for New South Wales—Flinders' observations—Arrival at Port Jackson.—George Bass—The Tom Thumb—Exploration of George's River—A perilous cruise—Meeting with aboriginals—The midshipman as valet—Port Hacking—Patching up the Reliance—Voyage to South Africa.
77
 Chapter VII.
THE DISCOVERY OF BASS STRAIT
Bass in the Blue Mountains—Supposed strait isolating Van Diemen's Land—Bass's whaleboat voyage—Wilson's Promontory—Escaped convicts—Discovery of Westernport—Return to Port Jackson.
97
 Chapter VIII.
THE VOYAGE OF THE FRANCIS
The wreck of the Sydney Cove—Discovery of Kent's Islands—Biological notes—Seals—Sooty petrels—The wombat—Point Hicks
123
 Chapter IX.
CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF TASMANIA
Flinders in command of the Norfolk—Bass's association with him—Twofold Bay—Discovery of Port Dalrymple—Bass Strait demonstrated—Black swans—Albatross Island—Tasmanian aboriginals
133
Chapter X.
THE FATE OF GEORGE BASS
Bass's marriage—Part owner of the Venus—Voyages after pork—A fishing concession—South American enterprise—Unsaleable goods—A "diplomatic-looking certificate"—Bass's last voyage—Probable fate in Peru—His missing letters
145
Chapter XI.
ON THE QUEENSLAND COAST
Flinders and the Isaac Nicholls case—Exploration on the Queensland coast—Moreton Bay
157 ​
Chapter XII.
THE INVESTIGATOR
Return to England in the Reliance—Sir Joseph Banks—Marriage of Flinders—Ann Chappell and Chappell Island—The Franklins—Publication of Observations on the Coasts of Van Diemen's Land, on Bass Strait and its Islands—Anxiety about French expedition—The Investigator commissioned—Equipment of ship—The staff and crew—East India Company's interest—Instructions for the voyage—The case of Mrs. Flinders—Sailing orders delayed—The incident at the Roar—Life on board—Crossing the Line—Australia reached
163
Chapter XII.
THE FRENCH EXPEDITION
Origin of Baudin's expedition—His instructions—Baudin's dilatoriness—In Tasmanian waters—Waterhouse Island
198
Chapter XIV.
SOUTH COAST DISCOVERY
The south coast of Australia—Method of research—Aboriginals at King George's Sound—Discovery of Spencer's Gulf—Loss of Thistle and a boat's crew—Memory Cove—Port Lincoln—Kangaroo Island—St. Vincent's Gulf—Pelicans—Speculations on the fate of Lapérouse
205
Chapter XV.
FLINDERS AND BAUDIN IN ENCOUNTER BAY
The sighting of Le Géographe—Flinders visits Baudin—Their conversations—Flinders invites Baudin to visit Port Jackson
224
Chapter XVI.
FLINDERS IN PORT PHILLIP
Grant's discoveries—Murray discovers Port Phillip—King Island—Flinders enters Port Phillip—Ascends Arthur's Seat—The Investigator aground—Cruise in a boat—Ascends Station Peak—Flinders' impression of the port—Arrival in Port Jackson—Healthiness of his crew
233 ​
Chapter XVII.
THE FRENCH AT PORT JACKSON: PÉRON THE SPY
Arrival of Le Géographe at Port Jackson—State of the crew—Hospitality of Governor King—Rumours as to French designs—Baudin's gratitude—Peron's report on Port Jackson—His espionage—Freycinet's plan of invasion—Scientific work of the expedition
246
Chapter XVIII.
AUSTRALIA CIRCUMNAVIGATED
Overhaul of the ship—The Lady Nelson—Flinders sails north—Discovery of Port Curtis and Port Bowen—Through the Barrier Reef—Torres Strait—Remarks on Coral Reefs—The Gulf of Carpentaria—Rotten condition of the ship—Melville Bay discovered—Sails for Timor—Australia circumnavigated—The Investigator condemned—Illness of Flinders—News of father's death—Letter to step-mother—Letters to Mrs. Flinders—Letter to Bass—The end of the Investigator
265
Chapter XIX.
WRECKED ON THE BARRIER REEF
New plans—Flinders sails in the Porpoise—Remarks on Sydney—Wrecked—Conduct of the Bridgewater—Plans for relief—Stores available—Voyage in the Hope to Sydney—Franklin's description of the wreck
285
Chapter XX.
TO ILE-DE-FRANCE IN THE CUMBERLAND
King receives news of the wreck—The Cumberland—Wreck Reef reached—Voyage to Timor—Determination to sail to Ile-de-France—Flinders' reasons—Arrival at Baye du Cap—Arrival at Port Louis
298
Chapter XXI.
GENERAL DECAEN
Decaen's early career—His baptism of fire—War in the Vendée—The Army of the Rhine—Moreau—Battle of Hohenlinden—Moreau and Napoleon—The peace of Amiens—Decaen's arrival at Pondicherry—His reception—Leaves for Ile-de-France—His character and abilities
308 ​
Chapter XXII.
THE CAPTIVITY
Flinders' reception by Decaen—His anger—Imprisoned at the Café Marengo—His papers and books—His examination—Refusal of invitation to dinner—Decaen's anger—His determination to detain Flinders—King's despatches—Decaen's statement of motives—Flinders asks to be sent to France
321
Chapter XXIII.
THE CAPTIVITY PROLONGED
Decaen's despatch—A delayed reply—Flinders' occupations—His health—The sword incident—Anniversary of the imprisonment—Aken's liberation—The faithful Elder
346
Chapter XXIV.
THE CAPTIVITY MODIFIED
Thomas Pitot—Removal to Wilhelm's Plains—The parole—Madame D'Arifat's house—Hospitalities—Flinders studies French and Malay—Further exploration schemes—The residence of Lapérouse—Work upon the charts—King's protest and Decaen's anger—Elder's departure
357
Chapter XXV.
THE ORDER OF RELEASE
Influences to secure release—The order of release—Receipt of the despatch—Decaen's reply—Flinders a dangerous man—Reason for Decaen's refusal—State of Ile-de-France—Project for escape—Flinders' reasons for declining
367
Chapter XXVI.
THE RELEASE
Blockade of Ile-de-France—Decaen at the end of his tether—Release of Flinders—Return to England—The plagiarism charge—Flinders' papers—Work of Péron and Freycinet
379
Chapter XXVII.
LAST YEARS AND DEATH OF FLINDERS
Flinders in London—Prolonged and severe work—His illness—Death of Flinders—His last words—Treatment of his widow by the Admiralty
391 ​
Chapter XXVIII.
CHARACTERISTICS
Personality—Portraits—Flinders' commanding look—Geniality—Conversational powers—Gentleness—Kindness to wounded French officer—Advice to young officers—An eager student—The husband
402
Chapter XXIX.
THE NAVIGATOR
Technical writings—The marine barometer—Variations in the compass—Praise of other navigators—Love for his work
414
Chapter XXX.
THE NAMING OF AUSTRALIA
The name Australia given to the continent by Flinders—The "Austrialia del Espiritu Santo" of Quiros—De Brosses and "Australasia"—Dalrymple and "Australia"—Flinders' use of the word in 1804—His use of it in a French essay in 1810—Persistent employment of the word in letters—Proposes the word "Australia" to Banks—His fight for his word—"Terra Australis"—The footnote of 1814
420
APPENDIX A—BAUDIN'S NARRATIVE OF THE MEETING IN ENCOUNTER BAY
431
APPENDIX B—PÉRON'S REPORT ON PORT JACKSON
436
APPENDIX C—NAMES GIVEN BY FLINDERS TO AUSTRALIAN COASTAL FEATURES
465
BIBLIOGRAPHY
475
INDEX
481
MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
page
Portrait of Matthew Flinders, aged 27
Frontispiece
Flinders' Birthplace, Donington, Lincolnshire
xviii
Facsimile of Letter to Sir Joseph Banks, 1794
48
Tablet or Memorial erected by Sir John Franklin at Port Lincoln, S. A
64
Memorial on Mount Lofty, South Australia
81
Map of Flinders' Voyages in Bass Strait
102
Bass's Eye-sketch of Westernport
114
Portrait of George Bass
122
Page from Flinders' MS. Narrative of the Voyage of the Francis, 1798
128
Memorial on the Summit of Station Peak, Port Phillip
135
Port Dalrymple, discovered in the Norfolk, 1798
136
Page from Bass's MS. Account of the Voyage of the Norfolk
148
Cairn erected on Flinders' Landing-place, Kangaroo Island, S.A.
164
Portrait of Earl Spencer
181
Tablet at Memory Cove, South Austria
196
View on Kangaroo Island, by Westall
213
Flinders' Chart of Spencer's Gulf, St. Vincent's Gulf, and Encounter Bay
218
Tablet at Encounter Bay, South Australia, commemorating the meeting of Flinders and Baudin
224
View of the Western Arm of Port Phillip, by Westall
240 ​
Flinders' Map of Port Phillip and Westernport
240
View of Sydney Harbour, from Vaucluse, by Westall
257
Flinders' Chart of Torres Strait, also showing Cook's and Bligh's Tracks
270
Flinders' Map of the Gulf of Carpentaria
272
Flinders' Map of Australia, showing his Principal Voyages
272
View on the Hawkesbury River, by Westall
278
Wreck Reef Island, by Westall
295
Flinders' Map of Wreck Reef
300
Portrait of General Decaen
308
View of Port Louis
325
Map of Ile-de-France
354
Page from Flinders' Copy of his Memorial to the French Minister of Marine
360
Portrait of Flinders' in 1808
366
Silhouette of Flinders', made after his Return from Ile-de-France
383
Facsimile of Original MS. Dedication of Flinders' Journal
398
Page from MS. of Flinders' Abridged Narrative
404
Extract from Flinders' Letter-book
406
Flinders' Memorial in Parish Church, Donington
409
Memorial to Bass and Flinders at the Commonwealth Naval Base, Westernport
424
The maps have been copied from Flinders' Atlas, with the omission of a few details, which, on the small scale necessarily adopted, would have caused confusion; it has been thought better to make what is given quite legible to the unassisted eye. All names on the maps are as Flinders spelt them, but in the body of the book modern spellings have been adopted. In the case of the Duyfhen (p. 70) the usual spelling, which is also that of Flinders, is retained; but the late J. Backhouse Walker has shown reason to believe that the real name of the vessel was Duyfken.
CHRONOLOGY
1774 (March 16)
Born at Donington
1789 (October 23)
Enters the Royal Navy
1790 (July 31)
Midshipman on the Bellerophon.
1791-3
Voyage in the Providence.
1793 (September)
Rejoins the Bellerophon.
1794 (June)
Participates in the battle off Brest
1795 (February)
Sails for Australia in the Reliance. Meets George Bass.
1796 (March)
Cruise of the Tom Thumb.
1797 (December)
Bass's Whaleboat voyage.
1798 (January)
Discovery of Westernport.
1798 (January)
Flinders' voyage in the Francis.
1798 (January 31)
Flinders obtains lieutenant's commission.
1798 (October)
Voyage of the Norfolk.
1798 (November)
Discovery of Port Dalrymple.
1798 (December)
Bass Strait demonstrated.
1799
Return to Port Jackson.
1799 (July)
Exploration on Queensland coast.
1800 (March)
Return to England in the Reliance.
1800 (October)
Arrival in England Plan of Australian Exploration.
1800 (December)
The Investigator commissioned.
1801 (January 17)
Publication of Observations.
1801 (February 16)  
Obtain commander's rank.
1801 (April)
Marriage of Flinders.
1801 (July 18)
Sailing of the Investigator.
1801 (December)
Australia reached.
1802 (February)
Discovery of Spencer's Gulf.
1802 (March)
Discovery of Kangaroo Island and St. Vincent's Gulf. ​
1802 (April)
Meeting of Flinders and Baudin in Encounter Bay.
1802 (May)
Flinders in Port Phillip.
1802 (July)
Voyage to Northern Australia.
1802 (August)
Discovery of Port Curtis and Port Bowen.
1802 (November)
In the Gulf of Carpentaria.
1803 (April)
Return voyage; Australia circumnavigated.
1803 (June)
Sydney reached; the Investigator condemned.
1803 (July 10)
Sails in the Porpoise.
1803 (August 17)
Wrecked on the Barrier Reef. Voyage in the Hope to Sydney.
1803 (September 8)
Arrival in Port Jackson.
1803 (September 21)   
Sails in the Cumberland.
1803 (November)
Timon reached.
1803 (December 17)
Arrival at Ile-de-France; made a prisoner.
1804 (April)
Removal to the Garden Prison (Maison Despeaux).
1805
Removal to Wilhelm's Plains.
1806 (March 21)
French Government orders release of Flinders.
1810 (June 13)
Release of Flinders.
1810 (October 24)
Return to England.
1814 (July 19)
Death of Flinders. :
FLINDERS' BIRTHPLACE, DONINGTON, LINCOLNSHIRE.
(From photograph lent by Mr. George Gordon McCrae.)
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1939, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 84 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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