Sydney Gazette, 31 December 1809

On Thursday [28 December] arrived from England, after a passage of about eight months, His Majesty's Ships Dromedary of 40, Captain Pascoe, and Hindostan of 50 guns, Captain Pritchitt, having on board the first Battallion [sic] of the 73d Regiment of Foot.

In the Hindostan have arrived His Excellency Governor M'QUARIE and LADY, and ELLIS BENT, Esq. Judge Advocate, and Lady; and in the Dromedary Lieutenant Governor O'CONNELL, Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment.

As soon as the vessels were within the Heads Colonel FOVEAUX waited on HIS EXCELLENCY on board to compliment him on his safe Arrival; His Honor Lieutenant Governor PATERSON arrived from Parramatta the same evening to receive and welcome HIS EXCELLENCY on shorre; and His Majesty's 102d Regiment formed in front of of the Government Wharf to pay the Honours due to HIS EXCELLENCY'S Rank. Most of the Inhabitants of Sydney were collected on the occasion; but were disappointed owing to the wind not permitting the vessels' coming up into the Cove until late yesterday evening, on which account HIS EXCELLENCY was pleased to defer his Landing, which was appointed to take place at ten o'clock this day.

Provenance
Sydney Gazette, 31 December 1809 p.2a.

This extract highlights the dangers of accepting primary source materials at face value. This news reporting is incorrect in a number of important details:

'Captain Pascoe': should be Captain Pasco, and he was commanding officer of HMS Hindostan not Dromedary.

'Captain Pritchitt': should be Captain Pritchard, and he was commanding officer of HMS Dromedary not Hindostan.

Similarly, the listings for the respective passengers has been inverted, with Governor Macquarie and his wife Elizabeth, and Ellis Bent and his wife Eliza, travelling on board HMS Dromedary not HMS Hindostan; whilst Lieutenant Colonel Maurice O'Connell travelled on board HMS Hindostan not HMS Dromedary.

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