Produced by Sue AsscherTHE LIFE OFCAPTAIN MATTHEW FLINDERS RNBYERNEST SCOTTPROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNEAUTHOR OF TERRE NAPOLEON AND LIFE OF LAPEROUSEWITH PORTRAITS MAPS AND FACSIMILESSYDNEYANGUS  ROBERTSON LTD89 CASTLEREAGH STREET1914PREFACEThe subject of this book died one hundred years ago Within his fortyyears of life he discovered a very large area of what is now animportant region of the earth he participated in stirring events whichare memorable in modern history he applied a vigorous and original mindto the advancement of knowledge with useful results and he was thevictim of circumstances which however stated were peculiarlyunfortunate and must evoke the sympathy of everyone who takes thetrouble to understand them His career was crowded with adventures warperilous voyages explorations of unknown coasts encounters withsavages shipwreck and imprisonment are the elements which go to make uphis story He was withal a downright Englishman of exceptionally highcharacter proud of his service and unsparing of himself in the pursuitof his dutyYet up to this time his biography has not been written There are it istrue outlines of his career in various works of reference notably thatcontributed by Sir JK Laughton to the Dictionary of National BiographyBut there is no book to which a reader can turn for a fairly full accountof his achievements and an estimate of his personality Of alldiscoverers of leading rank Matthew Flinders is the only one about whomthere is no ample and convenient recordThis book endeavours to fill the gapThe material upon which it is founded is set forth in the footnotes andthe bibliography Here the author takes pleasure in acknowledging theassistance he has received from several quarters A previous book broughthim the acquaintance of the grandnephew of that Comte de Fleurieu wholargely inspired three famous French voyages to Australiathose ofLaperouse Dentrecasteaux and Baudinall of which have an importantbearing upon the subject The Comte A de Fleurieu had long been engagedin collecting material relative to the work and influence of hisdistinguished granduncle and in the most generous manner he handed overto the author his very large collection of manuscripts and notebooks tobe read noted and used at discretion Even when a historian does notactually quote or directly use matter bearing upon his subject it is ofimmense advantage to have access to documents which throw light upon itand which enable an inandout knowledge of a period and persons to beobtained This book owes much of whatever value it may possess tomonsieur de Fleurieus assistance in this respect and the author thankshim most warmlyThe Flinders papers of which free use has been made were presented tothe Melbourne Public Library by Professor WM Flinders Petrie They aredescribed in the bibliography The transcripts of family and personaldocuments were especially valuable Although they were not supplied forthis book Professor Flinders Petrie gave them in order that they mightbe of use to some biographer of his grandfather and the author begs tothank him and also Mr E La Touche Armstrong the chief librarian inwhose custody they are and who has given frequent access to themThe rich stores of manuscripts in the Mitchell Library Sydney have beenthoroughly examined with the assistance of Mr WH Ifould principallibrarian Mr Hugh Wright and the staff of that institution Help fromthis quarter was accorded with such grace that one came to think givingtrouble was almost like conferring a favourAll copies of documents from Paris and Caen cited in this book have beenmade by Madame Robert Helouis The author was able to indicate thewhereabouts of the principal papers but Madame Helouis developing aninterest in the subject as she pursued her task was enabled owing toher extensive knowledge of the resources of the French archives to findand transcribe many new and valuable papers The author also wishes tothank Captain Francis Bayldon of Sydney who has kindly given help onseveral technical points Miss Alma Hansen University of Melbourne whowas generous enough to make a study of the Dutch Generale Beschrijvingevan Indienno light taskto verify a point of some importance for thepurpose of the chapter on The Naming of Australia and Mr EAPetherick whose manuscript bibliography containing an immense quantityof material the fruit of a long lifes labour has always beencheerfully made availableProfessor Flinders Petrie has been kind enough to read and make someuseful suggestions upon the personal and family passages of the bookwhich has consequently benefited greatlyThe whole work has been read through by Mr AW Jose author of TheHistory of Australasia whose criticism on a multitude of points someminute but all important has been of the utmost value The help givenby Mr Jose has been more than friendly it has been informed by a keenenthusiasm for the subject and great knowledge of the originalauthorities The authors obligations to him are gratefully acknowledgedIt is hoped that these pages will enable the reader to know MatthewFlinders the man as well as the navigator for the study of themanuscript and printed material about him has convinced the author thathe was not only remarkable for what he did and endured but for his ownsake as an Englishman of the very best typeMelbourne June 1914CONTENTSCHAPTER 1 BIRTH AND ORIGINSPlace of Flinders among Australian navigatorsBirthFlemish originsPedigreeConnection with the TennysonsPossible relationship with BassFlinders fatherDoningtonCHAPTER 2 AT SCHOOL AND AT SEAEducationRobinson CrusoeAspirations for a naval careerHis fathers wishJohn Flinders adviceStudy of navigationIntroduction to PasleyLieutenants servantMidshipman on the BellerophonBligh and the Bounty mutinyCHAPTER 3 A VOYAGE UNDER BLIGHThe second breadfruit expeditionFlinders in the ProvidenceNotes from Santa CruzAt the CapeTahitiIn Torres StraitEncounter with PapuansReturn to EnglandCHAPTER 4 THE BATTLE OFF BRESTThe naval war with FranceThe battle of June 1st 1794Flinders as gunnerPasley woundedFlinders journal of the engagementEffect of Pasleys wound on the career of FlindersCHAPTER 5 AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHY BEFORE FLINDERSThe predecessors of FlindersHow Australia grew on the mapMediaeval controversies on antipodesPeriod of vague speculationSixteenth century mapsThe Dutch voyagersThe Batavia on the Abrolhos ReefThe Duyfhen in the GulfTorresThe three periods of Australian maritime discoveryGeographers and their views of AustraliaThe theory of the dividing straitCook and FurneauxThe untraced southern coastCHAPTER 6 THE RELIANCE AND THE TOM THUMBGovernor HunterCaptain WaterhouseFlinders passion for exploring new countriesJoins