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[Page 2]
Le Peyrouse, Fortunately the crew found on the Reef Island of sand very many fathoms in circumference & twelve feet only above the usual rise of the tide, on which the Island they fixd themselves & lodged the whole cargo of the Porpoise which fortunately for them had overlap upon towards the Reef; the Cato the other vessel [indecipherable] to seaward & lost her whole cargo & some of her crew.
From this inlet Capt Flinders proceeded to Port Jackson in a Boat that was savd & having Procurd there sufficient embarkations to carry all his people & Property that was savdto China, he returned to them & when he had seen the whole embarked, he himself proceeded saild for England in a Colonial vessel of only 29 Tons Burthen in order to arrive there as soon as possible.
in this inadequate embarkation he was compelled for want of water & provisions & of some repairs, to enter the harbor of the Isle of France where he was detaind a Prisoner of War & consequence of some misunderstanding of the Governor accusd of having come in as a spy to take a Plan of the harbor & treated with some harshness. The small size of his vessel however which uncapable of carrying water & provisions for a long voyage sufficiently justified the necessity of his entering a Port & on correspondence of some Lengh with the Governor has rendered his situation much less disagreable & Possibly before this time cleard up done [indecipherable] all the unfounded suspicions under which he at first Labord.
The uniform conduct of France from the time of their magnanimous declaration in favor of Capt Cook to all persons employd in peaceful discovery is a sufficient pledging to ensure the Favor I now solicit of his Liberation, which will probably have if it has not taken place before this letter can be Receivd. The conduct of England toward M. Baudin in his First voyage towards Mr Hamelin lately are additional arguments as also the Reception good offices Mr Baudin acknowledges to have receivd from Governor King at Port Jackson as expressd in the enclosd letter are additional arguments which however to Friends endowd with the Liberality which I have already on so many occasions experienced from the institut are realy arguments of super erogation.
I have added to the Pacquet a letter to M. Michel Director of the Gardens at Malmaison & some seeds intended for their amicable Proprietor which I beg of you to transmit to their destination.
Sent by the Prince Pignatelle d'Egmont.
Augt 23 1804