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[Page 2]
I must suspect, that the admiralty and my friends in England have concluded, as naturally they might, that there has been something wrong in my conduct, for it is difficult otherwise to conceive that my passport should be so disregarded, and that this has made them lukewarm in their exertions to obtain my liberty. Had this not been the case, I should have supposed, that the ministry would, at least, have demanded my enlargement, and the return of my books and papers, by the ambassador of some neutral power; but if more has not been done than has come to my knowledge, it is to Sir Joseph alone that I am indebted for taking any steps in my favour.
I have learned privately, that in your dispatches to the secretary of state, there is a mention of Spanish America, which rendered my being the bearer criminal with respect to my passport. Tis pity I had not known something of this, for on finding myself under the necessity of stopping at the Isle of France and learning the declaration of war, I should have destroyed the dispatches; but leaving Port Jackson in time of peace, and confiding in my passport, I did not think myself authorized to take such a step even after I knew of the war, having no idea there was any thing in the dispatches that could invalidate my passport; neither, indeed, is it invalidated in justice, but it is said to be the under-plea against me: that which is given to the world (in The Monitor of July 11. 1804) says nothing of this circumstance, and is indeed a tissue of falsities and misrepresentations. I had entertained some hopes, that amidst all that I am suffering in numberless ways, the admiralty on learning my imprisonment, and all the attendant circumstances, would have given me promotion, perhaps from Dec. 1803, the time of my imprisonment. This would have been some consolation; but as far as Dec. 1804, the last list I have seen, my name is still amongst the commanders. Perhaps they waited for information of what I had done in the Investigator; and if so they will, I hope, have received it in Oct. 1805, by the arrival of Mr Akin with the principal part of my charts and journals; and I think, my dear Sir, you will bear testimony, that considering the early decay of the Investigator, as much was done, and I trust it will be found to be as well done, as circumstances could permit. I will not say much for my ability, but certainly