Letter received by Banks from John Hunter, 1 August 1797 (Series 38.06) - No. 0001

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Sydney N: S: Wales

1st August 1797

Dear Sir

Altho I have written you pretty fully on many of our Concerns here, yet a circumstance which has lately happend has disposd me to trespass a little farther upon your time.  A ship Nam'd the Sydney Cove, was in the latter part of last year, loaded with a Cargo upon Speculation from the Port of Calcutta for this place, but in Consequence of a very dangerous leak which she Sprung at Sea, was just able to get round the South Cape, & had ran a few Leagues to the Northward of it, when they discoverd that it would be impossible to keep the Ship above Water so long as might be necessary for reaching this Port; they were therefore compelld (the wind being at SE) to put her before the wind & to push with every sail they coud set for the nearest Land, which they with great difficulty reachd & landed the ship when she was already Sunk down to the Fore Channels - they went on shore upon an Island which from its Latitude (40°,,37´ So) I take to be what Capt. Furneax has calld Schutens. Upon this Island they landed a part of their Cargo; & fitted out their Longboat in which they embark'd 17 People under direction of the first Mate, who was to make the best of his way to

July 9 1798  March 1 1799