10 December 1809
10th.. in the morning a Seal was seen, and some land Birds; being the first inhabitants of the new world who came to pay their compliments to us; Coll.. M. consider'd the appearance of the Seal as a sure indication of being at no great distance from the land; -- Captn. Pascoe having long before decided on going thro' Bass's Straits we are now making for Governor Kings Island. [H]e proposed going into Port Phillip, but Coll.. M. wishing much to meet with Governor Bligh, and judging that he might possibly be at one of the settlements on Van Deemins [sic] [L]and requested our Commodore to take the other side of the Strait that he might have a communication with Port Dalrymple, this he readily agreed to. [T]he Hindostan was this day supplied by us with Rum, and Cocoa; Coll.. M. never could bear the idea of the two Ships parting company, and every days experience convinced us how necessary they were to each other; indeed it is hard to say to what necessity the Hindostan might have been reduced if Captain Pritchard had not been able to supply her many wants. ---Our voyage is now please God drawing to a conclusion, having been in every respect hitherto prosperous, except in expedition; our detention having been occasion'd by the bad sailing of the Hindostan, a Ship very ill calculated for so long a voyage. We have been remarkably healthy in this Ship, the number of Soldiers on the sick list seldom exceeding five or Six, & even then generally confined on account of sore legs, or accidents, at no time have we had a contagious disorder among them. Nothing indeed can exceed the minute care & attention paid by Coll.. M. to his Men at all times; twice each day he visits every part of the Ship, the men are regularly paraded morning an[d] evening, the women are also obliged to appear clean and well dress'd at regular parades appointed for them; the Soldiers deck is kept as clean as it is possible to make it, and when the weather is damp or any wet has got in, the stoves are kept burning between decks all day; during the warm weather wind sails were always kept in the hatchways, the advantage obtain'd from than was by no means so great as it ought to have been, owing to their being made on a bad construction, & ill placed; besides being made of old canvas which was always giving way; if the Navy board were sensible of the very great advantage of these wind sails particularly to Ships in a hot climate, crowded with Troops I cannot think but that they would make an allowance for this purpose of proper Canvas. ----
Care was always taken that the hammocks should be kept dry -- which is certainly a matter of great importance. The provisions served out to the men were of the best quality, & well cook'd; in every object relating to the comfort and health of the Men, Coll.. M. always found in Captn.. Pritchard the greatest desire to promote both. What the cause is of the very different state of health on board the Hindostan it might perhaps be difficult to discover, it appears to me that the Service these Ships are now employ'd in, is more likely to be successfully executed by a Master in the Navy, than a Captain; Mr.. Pritchard is his own Purser; his Credid [sic] and character depends on the manner in which all the persons on board are accommodated, he knows what is required, & that if any thing is wanting the blame will attach Solely to him; any great neglect on his part would probably be the means of depriving him of his Ship; besides his situation in life does not set him above attending in the most minute manner to the wants of the persons under his charge. In the Hindostan being commanded by a Captn.. in the Navy, the stores & provisions are supplied by the Purser, who happens to be a Rogue; & they are in want of every thing, & totally out of that most necessary article -- fire -- As I have been very little in that Ship, I know nothing of how Captn.. Pascoe goes on, but I hardly think he can lay the minute attention to the comforts of the Men which Mr.. Pritchard does.
Our society had been added to at the Cape of Good Hope by Mr.. Campbell, who being desirous of going to New South Wales had procured a passage in this Ship, & lived at the Captains Table; in as far as we have seen him yet, he appears to be a great acquisition, being a man of gentlemanly manners, & information; he is a native of Ireland, his family having originally been Scotch. ----
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