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Nov 4 1806
Sir
Governor King having proposed to depart the Colony some time past but still remaining, and my not knowing how long I might be still kept in suspense if I trust solely to him in writing to you, I am determined not to lose the present opportunity by the return of the Alexander. My last letter was by the Sydney, a ship in which I meant to have returned in, with the garden belonging to Mr Brown, but she was taken up by Government for to fetch supplies from India to alleviate our present distress. If that letter should not have come to hand, the following may be acceptable for you to hear. I was on a voyage in that Ship to Norfolk Island and from there to Hobart on the river Derwent. In leaving Hobart I joined the Ship at Sloping Island in Frederick Henry Bay. Sailing from thence we put into Adventure Bay, and afterwards touched at Kent's Group on our return to Port Jackson. My stay at all the places was but short; but I was absent about 4 months.
I have to relate to you with pleasure, that Gov King applied to me to go the journey which Mr Barrelier had been, as he doubted the accuracy. Accordling I gladly undertook it, though in the depth of winter, and accomplish the whole in 28 days, with 3 men besides myself, and a native boy. I had a cart with 2 bullocks & 2 men to take out the luggage to this Station at [indecipherable], but I was under the necessity of sending them back before I reached that place. I do not make it half the distance what Mr Barrelier has done. He was out 2 months, and had every indulgence or support, About 15 men he had variously employed. Besides, he had been a journey before, this in the present track, for better than half the way. I do not wish by what I say to say that Mr Barrelier had engrossed too much time, in comparison to what I completed it in. He had the track to find out, or at least got the natives to do it - I had only to examine it.