10

3
On the 18^th February (20) twenty of the
members of the expedition requested
to be put on shore at any Port
in the Colony of Queensland & or
New South Wales and that they
would give up their interest
in the venture. The majority of the
Members consented to that arrange-
ment and the vessel was accord-
ingly headed for Moreton Bay on
the 19^th. The gale moderated that
day at twelve o'clock but an
unfavorable wind occurring on the 21^st, it
was decided to steer for
Cleveland Bay to which port we
were making when the unfortunate
accident happened. We sighted
the reef on the 23^rd Feb^y at about
three in the afternoon. We saw
no more reefs until 1 A.M of the
25^th when there was a cry of
Breakers ahead. The course was
then altered to the North in order
to clear this reef. After clearing
this reef she was again kept on
her present cours [sic] During the day
reefs were continually seen
and in the evening we seemed
to be surrounded on the reefs
the Main topsail was backed
in order to keep her in her
position. Land was seen at
about 5 P.M bearing