Wishing to explore the inner or second Bason of this fine Harbour, I ordered the Lady Nelson to proceed up it as far as she could do so with safety on the turning of the Tide of Flood this morning. ---She weighed anchor accordingly at 5 a.m.; but the wind being ahead she made very little progress, and therefore dropped anchor again about half a mile above Meredith Island in the inner Bason, at 7 a.m. ---I consequently resolved on exploring this noble extensive Bason in the ship's Boat, and with this view we Breakfasted immediately after the Lady Nelson came to anchor. ---

At 1/4 after 8 a.m. Mrs. M. and myself, accompanied by the Gentlemen of our Party and Mr. Overand, set out in the Boat from the Lady Nelson, with the Tide of Flood in our favor. ---We crossed over many shoals of Sand and mud, and after a row of two hours, reached the bottom of this inner Harbour, about twelve miles distant from Meredith Island. Here we expected to fall in with a large fresh water River, which was reported to me to fall into this Bay at the head of it. ---We did not here however find any such River; but in nearly a due west direction from the Heads & Meredith Island, we discovered a Salt Water Creek of considerable size, and pursued the winding Serpentine Course of it for four miles into the interior of the Country without discovering any good Land or fresh water. ---We therefore returned back, the same way we went, to explore other parts of this inner Bason; naming this Salt Water Creek Meehan Creek. ---We directed our course North Westerly, along the Head of the Bay, to look for the River; and observing an extensive opening or Inlet run in a northerly direction, we proceeded into it, and found on a nearer approach, that it was the mouth of a large River. ---We rowed up this River Four miles to a point of Land from whence we could observe that it divides itself into two Branches; the one running in a westerly direction and the other in a North Easterly direction. ---As far as to the point of Land we halted at the River was about a quarter of a mile broad, but the water quite Salt. ---The Banks of the River on both sides are hilly, but no good Land was to be seen, nor was any Cedar or other good useful Timber growing on them. ---Whilst our Lunch was preparing, Mrs. M. and myself walked up to the top of a high steep Hill, about half a mile from the bottom to the top. ---From the summit of this Hill we had a very fine extensive prospect of the principal Branch of the River, and the interior of the Country in every direction for 25 miles. ---No Plains, or good Land, were to be seen in any direction, and the country here appears wild and sterile; being neither fit for agriculture nor for grazing Farms, as far as we can judge from what we have seen.---

On returning to the foot of the Hill where we had landed and sitting down to our Lunch, I christened this River the Clyde after the River of the same name in Scotland. ---Having taken our Lunch and rested here for a couple of hours, we set out at 1/4 before 5 p.m. to return to the Lady Nelson -- now about 15 or 16 miles distant from us. ---The Tide of Ebb was now nearly spent and the wind being also against us by the time we got as far as the mouth of the River, we made slow progress towards the Lady Nelson. ---The greater part of this immense Bay, which is in some parts not less than six miles broad from the north to the south side, was now seen dry flats, extensive Sands and mud Banks, with only narrow channels between them; through which however no large Vessels could pass at this Time of tide; consequently this inner Bason, tho' beautiful to look at from a distance at high water, can never be used as a Harbour or safe Port for shipping. ---Indeed, if even it were a good Harbour, it never could be of any importance, as the Country round it is barren and unfit to be settled.---

At 8 p.m. we reached the Lady Nelson, after a pleasant but long Excursion of nearly 12 Hours! ---We sat down to a good Dinner immediately on coming on board, and celebrated thus the first day of the New Year. ---

2 January 1812