I gave in my report to the captain, and then gladly went to my cabin for the purposes of ablution and a change of dress. I might have been tempted to lie down, and should have done so, but there was work yet to do. The men who had been with me in the boat, were sent below to rest, but matters of more consequence than sleep had to be discussed abaft.

I was informed by Captain Forsyth, that, after we had left him on the previous evening, the current had set him in a calm so far down towards his morning's position, that it prevented his following me close up: he had, however, burnt blue-lights, sent up sky-rockets, and fired several signal-guns, as well for the shore as for us, none of which we had heard or seen. The whole of the present morning he had been becalmed in a fog, and only got a light breeze to help him about noon. I mentioned to him the state of the harbour exactly as I had left it on coming out; but he told me he had fully made up his mind what to do, and requested me to give him a written opinion upon the subject. I again suggested the advisability of our examining Capes Walker, Hotham, and Riley, as there we might get some information to take home when we returned; but the first difficulty that presented itself was, our going upon ground occupied by Her Majesty's ships.