The middle of March found both the John Pirie and the Duke of York still anchored close to shore in the English Channel, as strong adverse winds and torrential rain delayed their departure still further. But by 19 March the winds had swung around and Captain Morgan prepared his ship once more for sea. His duty called, as he put it, but he agonized about leaving his ‘beloved partner close to the trying hour of naturs sorrows’. All soon turned to happiness however, when he learned that he was the father of a new daughter and that both wife and child were ‘likely to do well’. Much relieved, he went on his way ‘rejoiceing.’
Sketch of Cygnet at anchorage, Port Augusta 1833. Image courtesy State Library of Western Australia MN 586 ACC 303A/21.
Meanwhile the first of the Colonization Commissioners’ ships, the Cygnet was preparing to sail. Boyle Travers Finniss, deputy surveyor-general and his wife Anne made their final farewells and Finniss began his diary of the journey, extracts of which will be presented from this week.