The Naval Pioneers of Australia by Louis Becke
page 215 of 256 (83%)
page 215 of 256 (83%)
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bay in one of the brig's boats. This he did, and the _Lady Nelson_
entered, and anchored off what is now the quarantine station on February 15th. Murray took possession of the place on March 9th, naming it Port King, and Surveyor Grimes made a survey of it. They left on March 12th. The Frenchman Baudin, with the _Geographe_ and _Naturaliste_, eighteen days later ran along this coast and claimed its discovery, although the Englishmen, Flinders in particular, had already surveyed and named nearly all his discoveries; but Baudin was gracious enough to admit that Port Phillip, which he had only sighted, had been first entered by the _Lady Nelson_. Flinders sailed into the bay on April 26th, thinking that he had made a new discovery, until, on his arrival at Port Jackson, he heard of the _Lady Nelson's_ prior visit, and that Governor King, with modesty and regard for his old chief, had altered Murray's name of Port King to Port Phillip. In consequence of Murray's services in the _Lady Nelson_, King appointed him acting lieutenant, and strongly recommended the Admiralty should confirm the appointment. With the recommendation, Murray sent home, through the governor, the following certificate of his services, which is interesting as showing how such certificates were then written, and because of what came of this particular recommendation:-- "In pursuance of the directions of Sir Roger Curtis, Bart., Vice-Admiral of the White and Commander-in-chief of His Majesty's ships and vessels employed and to be employed at the Cape of Good Hope and the seas adjacent, dated the 8th July, 1800. "We have examined Mr. John Murray, who appears to be more than 21 |
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