Letter written by John William Harris to S.W. Clayton, ca May 1790 (Series 23.15) - No. 0001

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In my Letter from the Cape of Good Hope in January which I hope you have received I acquaint you of our safe arrival there in Order to bring Flour for the Settlement. Nothing material happen'd till the 21.st of Feby when being ready for Sea, Sailed from Table Bay & had a very good Wind till we came near the South Cape of Van Diemans Land where a hard Gale of Wind came at South which oblige us to bring too. The 22.nd of April about 3 Oclock in the Afternoon saw the Land on the Larboard Bow, suppos'd by us to be the Mewstone of Van Diemans Land, Ship & stretch off under Reef Courses & Ballanced Mizen about Six Oclock in the Evening the Land was seen again on the Lee Bow, our Situation began to grow very alarming as not knowing what part of the boat (Coast?) it was, however it was resolv'd to carry as much sail as possible to endeavour to get off the Land, set Close Reef'd Main Top Sail, and finding we could not weather this part of Land again Ware Ship, & set the Fore Top Sail, about 9 OClock the Looming of the Land was seen on the Beam, however stood on with a heavy press of Sail nothing could equal the horror of this Night being very dark & dismal, not a star to be seen, and blowing very hard with a great sea running so as to carry away our Head & Rail, about 2 OClock. Land was seen just before the Beam, our only remidy left was carrying Sail, which we did & Weather'd it about a Mile an a half.  The land we had just pass'd was Tasmans Head, and has several dangerous Rocks off it.  The next Day saw the Maria Islands & on the