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[Page 2]
the Easterly Winds, and found a Harbour in Port Jackson Superior to any I ever saw, returned after an Absence of three days and sailed in the Supply the 25th then blowing too hard for the Transports to work out.
January the 26th 1788 The Sirius and rest of the Ships joined me in Sydney Cove, Port Jackson where I intended to fix the Settlement.
Monsieur La Perouse in the Boussole with the Astrolabe appeared off Botany Bay the 24th: and Anchored there before the Sirius and Transports Sailed. The Officer left France in June 1785 had Visited most of the Islands, described by Captain Cook, and from his own Ability's and from the Able Artists who Accompany him, his Voyage must make a Valuable appendage to Captain Cook's. At one of the Isles des Navigateurs he had lost Monsieur De Langle the Captain of Astrolabe with Several Officers and Men who were cut off by the Natives, the day they Sailed. Monsieur La Perouse sailed about the 10th of March I believe to return to the Northward.
February the 14th 1788 I sent Lieutenant King second of the Sirius & twenty Men an Women, to settle Norfolk Island. A small Island was discovered by the Supply in the passage which her Commander Named Lord Howe Island in Summer a few Turtle are found there, but no good Water could be found nor any good Anchorage.
The Harbour of Port Jackson is very Superior to any I ever saw, and formed by a great Number of Coves, the Necks of Land which form them are mostly rocks, covered with timber and near the Harbour there are only particular Spots which can be Cultivated without immense Labour. Towards the Head of the Harbour the Land is better and a Short distance Inland, there is a large Tract of very fine Country. Broken Bay which I went to Examine with two Boats, has three Branches, the N.W. is only capable of receiving very small Vessels, the S.W. branch has deep Water and Affords Security for all the Ships in Europe, in this Branch the Land is higher than in Port Jackson, more rocky and Covered with Timber to the very Summits, and that even where the sides of the Coves are so steep as to be Accessible to Birds only.