Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 3]
prisoners, it was my intention to have applied to Sir Edw. Pellen for a ship to go upon the north-west coast of New Holland, to ascertain the existence of an entrance into an inland sea near the Rosemary Isles of Dampier, previously to my return to Europe; for during the continuance of such a war as the present, I can scarcely hope to get a ship in England to complete the Investigators voyage: this project, however, is now dissipated.
With sentiments of the greatest respect and esteem, I am
Sir Joseph, your most obliged and
obedient humble servant
Mattw. Flinders
P.S.
I just now receive the extract of a letter written by the marquis Wellesley to general De Caën, which is as follows "I avail myself of this opportunity to request Your Exellencys particular attention to the truly hard case of captain Flinders, and I earnestly request Your Excellency to release captain Flinders immediately, and to allow him either to take his passage in the Thetis (cartel) or to return to India in the first neutral ship."
In answer to this, the secretary of general De Caën writes me "Je desiverais de tout mon cœur qui le capitaine général pût accéder à la demande de son Excellence Monsieur le marquis de Wellesley, mais les motifs de votre detention ayant été de nature à être soumis au gouvernement Francais, le capitaine général ne peut, avant qu'il ait reçu reponse, vien changer à la mesure qui a été prise à votre egard."
[Translation answer to the letter]
"I deserted with all my heart that the captain general could accede to the request of his Excellency the Marquis of Wellesley, but the reasons for your detention having been submitted to nature to the French government, the captain general can not, before he has received an answer, come and change the measure that has been taken in your regard. "
However little satisfactory this letter may appear, it is by much the most so of any that I have received from the authority of general De Caen; for it lets me know to what I have to trust, which is, comparatively, an honour done me.