Correspondence with the Colonial Secretary's Office

men arrived at Port Albany after eight days in a small boat, the chief mate and eight men left vessel at same time, he having the best sails, was nearly out of sight from the Captain's boat the first night. The captain did not see them after that, on leaving the vessel the Cap'n arranged that if they parted caompany, Stephens I'd was to be the first stopping place. Stepped there two days, then came on to Somerset as he had only a few pounds of biscuit in teh boat, on the Captain's arrival at Somerset, I sent the cutter to look for the missing boat. She has returned, having visited all the islands in the NE channel, without success. She then ran down to Booby I'd, where there is a now a good supply of provisions for shipwrecked men. They had not been there; it is possible that a ship running through the Straits has picked them up; I think it more likley that they got into the rollers on the coast of New Guinea, about the Fly River and capsized; I have done every thing that lay in my power for the shipwrecked mn; the Captain prefers to pay their passages to Singapore by mail steamer, so the Gov't will not have the expense of sending them to Brisbane, I have placed them on rations, and served out clothing to those that had none.

The Schooner "Blue Bell" of Sydney 65 tons went alongside the "Flintshire" and took about 40 tons of stores on board, when they cast off from the steamer, she made water so fast