The Narrative of a Voyage of Discovery, Performed in His Majesty's Vessel the Lady Nelson … in the Years 1800, 1801, and 1802, to New South Wales

An 1803 account of the sea trials of a new ship, and the captain's impressions of Cape Town and Australia.

James Grant (Author)

9781108039413, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 November 2011

256 pages, 6 b/w illus. 1 colour illus. 1 map
29.7 x 21 x 1.4 cm, 0.62 kg

In 1800–2 the naval officer James Grant (1772–1833) sailed to Australia on board the Lady Nelson, a surveying ship that was the first in England to be built on the sliding-keel principle. In this 1803 publication, Grant assesses the merits of the design and documents various teething problems experienced during the voyage from England to Australia. He describes his stay at Cape Town, and his favourable impression of the living standard of the deported convicts at Sydney, which he found better than that of poor people in England. Grant records his experiences on the coast of New South Wales, his encounters with the Aborigines there, and the presence of coal deposits on the Hunter River, and even reports that the cabra grub is 'no bad apology for a better meal'. He also describes his return journey via Cape Horn, during which he was becalmed in the South Atlantic.

Account of the Origin of Sliding Keels: Advantages applicable to ships in general when constructed with sliding keels
Advantage to trading vessels and the general improvement of navigation
Narrative of a Voyage: Run from the Thames to the Cape of Good Hope
Transactions at the Cape of Good Hope
Run from the Cape of Good Hope to New Holland
Remarks made on board the Lady Nelson on coming in with the land of New Holland
Occurrences and transactions in New Holland and New South Wales
General observations on New South Wales
Voyage in the Anna Josepha round Cape Horn to the Cape of Good Hope
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Australasian & Pacific history [HBJM]