MURRAY APPOINTED COMMANDER OF THE LADY NELSON: HIS VOYAGE TO NORFOLK ISLAND.

On Grant’s resigning the command of the Lady Nelson, Governor King appointed John Murray to succeed him. As has been told Murray had formerly been Master’s mate of the Porpoise and had accompanied Grant when he went for the second time to try and explore Governor King’s Bay, and the Governor apparently thought him a capable officer. His appointment is dated September 3rd, 1801, so that he seems to have taken over the new post about two months before his predecessor finally left Sydney.

When, however, the Lady Nelson sailed to the Hawkesbury in September to load the settlers’ grain and to bring it to Sydney, Grant appears to have been still on board her, as he was enjoined to ensure her safety at that place by Governor King. “You are not to leave the vessel yourself or suffer any other person to leave her while in the river nor let any strangers or visitors go on board...Your board netting is to be kept up while in the river.” King evidently was determined to guard against the capture of the brig by runaway convicts, a fate which had overtaken the Norfolk. Murray succeeded to the command of the brig on her return from this Hawkesbury trip. His first voyage was to Norfolk Island, when he carried orders and instructions from the Governor of New South Wales to Major Foveaux, the Lieutenant-Governor. Before leaving Sydney, Captain Abbott, Ensign Piper and Mr. John Roberts [surgeon’s mate] were embarked as passengers on board the Lady Nelson, and in the afternoon of October 1st she set sail for her destination. The following account of her voyage is extracted from the log:

H.M.A. Surveying vessel Lady Nelson.

From Port Jackson to Norfolk Island.

“October 2nd, 1801. At 3 P.M. got under weigh and stood out of ye Heads. Observed ye Porpoise to be in the offing. At 5 P.M. passed under the stern of the Porpoise and Mr. Murray went on board and waited on ye Commander of that vessel. At 6 Lieutenant Murray returned on board, hoisted in our gig and gave the Porpoise three cheers, which was returned made sail at half-past 6 P.M. ye North Head of Port Jackson bore to west by north distant 6 miles, the South Head of Broken Bay bore north by west distance 6 leagues.

“Saturday, October 3rd. Fresh winds and clear. About half-past 4 P.M. the wind shifted to north-west with light rain and thunder and lightning. At 8 A.M. the wind rather took off and we had clear weather, but with a very heavy sea on. At noon we had a strong gale with a high sea on, our Latitude 33 degrees 55 minutes south.

“Sunday, October 4th. Strong gale with heavy squalls at intervals with a very high sea running. Very heavy squall attended with thunder and lightning, large hail stones at ye same time. At 10 A.M. Mustered ye Ship’s Company and read the articles of war being the first Sunday of ye month.

“Monday, October 5th. Fresh breezes and heavy squalls with flying showers of rain and heavy sea running. At 4 P.M. saw Lord Howe Island bearing north-east distant 16 or 17 leagues. At 10 P.M. when it cleared saw Balls Pyramid bearing north by west distant 6 or 9 miles: at 12 had another sight of it on our larboard quarter at daylight again saw the Pyramid distant 10 or 12 leagues...At noon lost sight of Island.

“Tuesday, October 6th. Fresh breezes and clear squally. At noon light airs.

“Wednesday, October 7th. Light airs and inclinable to calm.

“Thursday, 8th October. Fresh wind and clear high sea. Keeping good look out for Island of Norfolk. At 4 A.M. made sail at 6 A.M. saw Norfolk and Phillip Islands distant 12 leagues at noon, being 9 or 10 miles off ye town, fired a gun and hoisted signal for pilot.

Friday, 9th October. Moderate weather at half-past 2 P.M. fired a 2nd gun for pilot at half-past 3 seeing no boat and judging of the appearance of the sea there was no landing at Sydney Bay, bore on for Cascade, and by 5 got in sight of ye Storehouse fired another gun at 7 P.M. John Drumond, pilot, came on board, took charge as pilot sent our boatswain’s mate on shore in pilot’s boat with letter to Lieutenant Governor kept standing off all night at daylight the Storehouse distant 3 miles at 6 A.M. landed Captain E. Abbott, Ensign Piper and Mr. John Roberts at 9 A.M. boat returned bringing with them ye pilot’s assistant who told us ye landing was good at Sydney bore up for Sydney. By 11 got round and a boat coming off we discharged a number of articles into her belonging to the different officers. At noon they went on shore.

“Saturday, 10th October. Observed the flag for indifferent landing hove up, put ye vessel under snug sail and stood off and on during night at 4 P.M. Phillip’s Island bore north distant 6 miles. A boat came along, into which we delivered a part of the officers’ baggage.

“Sunday, 11th October. Moderate winds and weather a confused sea. P.M. A boat came off sent in her ye officers’ baggage at 6 P.M. the weather looking rather unfavourable ran the vessel into Hunsons Bay stood off and on during night at daylight went round to Sydney Harbour.

“Monday, 12th October. Variable winds, fine weather. P.M. a 2nd boat came with Ensign Baillie’s baggage. Stood off and on during night in the morning went into Sydney Bay a boat came off with Mr. Baillie’s baggage, also received for boat 4 rough spars for sweeps.

“Tuesday, 13th October. Standing off and on Cascade Bay at 4 the vessel’s signal for a boat was made from ye shore lowered down our gig and sent the boatswain on shore in her. In a little time he returned and informed me it was the Lieutenant-Governor’s orders that I should stand to sea and await boat made all sail and stood to sea till sundown, when seeing no signs of a boat made sail for ye island. Saw a large ship in the offing, she proved to be the Earl Cornwallis from Sydney.

“Wednesday, 14th October. A.M. Seeing no signs of a boat went around to Sydney Bay and observed Cornwallis lying to off Northern Island.

“Thursday, 15th October. At 5 P.M. Ensign Bayley embarked on boat and the boat brought remainder of his baggage all the other passengers came on board discharged the pilot. At 6 made sail at 7 P.M. Mount Pitt bore north-east by east distant 4 leagues at sundown ye Earl Cornwallis out of sight.

“Friday, 16th October. Fresh gales cloudy and rain a high sea running strong gales. The vessel laboured a great deal.

...

“Tuesday, 27th October. Fresh winds and hazy at 2 A.M. saw land north-west 10 or 11 miles at 8 A.M. south head of Broken Bay bore to north-west 6 miles at noon fine got within Heads and made all sail.

“John Murray,

“Commander.”

On his return to Sydney on the completion of the voyage Murray was ordered by Governor King to proceed in the Lady Nelson and finish the exploration of the south coast, which Grant had not been able to complete. The instructions issued by Governor King were very precise.

“You will proceed without loss of time to Basses Straights and observe the following directions for prosecuting discoveries in those straights on the south-west coast of this country...When you are between Ram Head and Western Port you will proceed to Kent’s Group and ascertain the size of those islands [particularly the easternmost]...From Kent’s Group you will run on a straight course to Wilson’s Promontory noticing the course and distance, soundings and quality of the bottom...From Wilson’s Promontory you will trace the coast between Point Schanck and Cape Albany Otway...From thence you will run to Harbinger Rock lying off the north-west point of King’s Island...You will make the circuit of that island or islands in addition to the King’s instructions respecting new discoveries...You will carefully examine...all within 6 miles round the island to ascertain whether a vessel may anchor. Having completed the survey...you will ascertain the time of bearing...between the south westernmost point and Albatross Islands, the northernmost of Hunter’s Islands and the Pyramid. Having completed...your survey thus far you will ascertain to what distance soundings may be got to the westward of the Norfolk’s and Lady Nelson’s passages taking care to traverse across to the latitude of 42 degrees on the south side and within sight of land on the north side or coast of New Holland [Van Dieman’s Land] until between 38 and 42 degrees...As you stand in on the New Holland side you will examine the coast between Cape Albany Otway and Cape Solicitor which Lieutenant Grant named Portland Bay the bottom of which he did not see. Should you have time I would wish you to run due south from Cape Solicitor as far as 40 degrees and work back again to Cape Bridgewater...you will employ another month...in tracing the coast from Cape Banks...In returning to this port you will deliver all such journals and charts as may have been completed...during your intended voyage.

“Should you fall in with H.M.S. Investigator you will communicate these instructions to the Commander...and put yourself under his command. And in case you fall in and are come up with by the Naturaliste and Géographe, French vessels on discovery, you will produce your passport from His Grace the Duke of Portland to the Commander of that expedition.

“Philip Gidley King.

“Sydney, October 31st, 1801.”