Folios 157-158: Commander Matthew Flinders, Isle of France [Mauritius]. Reports that...

Folios 157-158: Commander Matthew Flinders, Isle of France [Mauritius]. Reports that in July HMS Greyhound arrived carrying a despatch from Rear Admiral Sir Edward Pellew addressed to the Captain-General and enclosing a copy of the order from the French Minister of Marine to set Commander Flinders free and return to him the Cumberland, in which he arrived from Port Jackson. He was given a copy of the order and told he would be released as soon a circumstances permitted. He was given back most of the books and papers which were taken from him in December 1803, except for two boxes of despatches from Port Jackson and one volume of his log book. From the log it should have been clear that he left Port Jackson before news of the war had reached that port. Five weeks later, he still has not been given the date of his release, and suspects the Captain-General intends to keep him in custody and is looking for a pretext to do so. Since the order arrived, two vessels have sailed for America on which he could have taken passage. He is forwarding to the commander-in-chief several despatches which escaped the notice of the French.