Hunter, of his Majesty's ship Sirius. In the last division was the
vessel, in which the author of this narrative served. Various causes
prevented the separation from taking place until the 25th, when several
sawyers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and other mechanics, were shifted
from different ships into the 'Supply', in order to facilitate his
Excellency's intention of forwarding the necessary buildings to be
erected at Botany Bay, by the time the rest of the fleet might be
expected to arrive. Lieutenant Governor Ross, and the Staff of the
marine battalion, also removed from the Sirius into the Scarborough
transport, one of the ships of the first division, in order to afford
every assistance which the public service might receive, by their being
early on the spot on which our future operations were to be conducted.

From this time a succession of fair winds and pleasant weather
corresponded to our eager desires, and on the 7th of January, 1788, the
long wished for shore of Van Diemen gratified our sight. We made the
land at two o'clock in the afternoon, the very hour we expected to see
it from the lunar observations of Captain Hunter, whose accuracy, as
an astronomer, and conduct as an officer, had inspired us with equal
gratitude and admiration.

After so long a confinement, on a service so peculiarly disgusting and
troublesome, it cannot be matter of surprise that we were overjoyed at
the near prospect of a change of scene. By sunset we had passed between
the rocks, which Captain Furneaux named the Mewstone and Swilly.
The former bears a very close resemblance to the little island near
Plymouth, whence it took its name: its latitude is 43 deg 48 min south,
longitude 146 deg 25 min east of Greenwich.

In running along shore, we cast many an anxious eye towards the land,