Copy of a letter written by Philip Gidley King to the Navy Board, 14 February 1799 (Series 39.037) - No. 0003

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expected from the Scurvy incident to a passage round by Cape Horn lengthend beyond 12 weeks, she may be laden with Coals at the Cape which will be a great Saving to the Public & make the Ship as stiff as she is at present, but in returning laden with Cattle she will have every disadvantage increasd by the consumption of Water & provisions in the passage - altho it is true the latter may be supplied by salt water - Having detailed the inconveniencies & disadvantages of her present state & quality & the effect it may eventually have of once more depriving the Colony of a Ship otherways strongly constructed & will be extremely durable if no accident happen to her, I beg leave to offer an opinion in which Mr. Scott's concurrence as well as every other persons who has seen the Ship, which is that if she is lengthend 10, 12 or 14 feet, she will certainly Sail & Steer much better & be altogether much more sea worthy than she is at present & as she will store much more than she does at present in her Hold, much of her crankness may be reward, & more so if a Rail & Netting is substituted for the barricading she has on her quarters a place made in the 'tween Decks with Stantions & a Netting for removing the Plants to occasionally I need not inform you that in point of delaying the Voyage by an alteration of this kind was the Ship not to Sail for two months her Voyage to New S. Wales from the Cape would be much safer & better, but if it could be done in a month she would be compleated in time to suit with the E. I. [East India] Convoy.  In making this observation I beg to assure you Sir that my large Family and the expences - attendant upon remaining here, might was I so disposd plead greatly for suppressing a representation which I respectfully think my situation requires I should submit