The first page of John Campbell's letter to his parents 9 August 1789, written during his return voyage to England from Australia on board the Lady Penrhyn

Transcript: Honord Mother & Father

Agust the 9th 1789 at Sea on Board of the Ship Lady Penrhyn

This Comes with my kind Respects to you hoping that you are all Well I write to you at the Cape of Good hope by a Flemish Ship that was bound to Portsmouth in 1787 watterd & Saild from thence November the 12th January the 25th Arivd at Bottany Bay to the Southward of the Bay Saw great Number of the Inhabitants the Governore did not approve of the Ground heir About 12 Miles to the Northward he found Out a very good Harbour for the Shiping & better Ground Called port Jackson the 26 Sailed & Arived the Same day the Governor went on Shore to take Possession of the Land with a Company of Granadeers & Some Convicts At three A Clock in the Afternoon he sent on board of the Supply Brigantine for the Union Jack then orders was Gave fore the Soldiers to March down to the West Sid of the Cove they Cut one of the Trees Down & fixt as flag Staf & Histd the Jack and Fired four Folleys of Small Arms which was Answered with three Cheers from the Brig then thay Marched up the head of the Cove where they Piched their Tents I Wrote to you their by the Ship Alexander May the 5th 1788 Sailed From their Towards Lord Howes Illand found out by the Supply Brig on hir Passage to Norfolk Illand May the 15th Arived Histd our Boat out & went on Shore Expecting to get Some Turtle but did not the 18th Saild from their to Wards Otahita the 2nd of June Discovered three Small Ilands at 11 A Clock came up with two Smalest ons their was no Possability of Landing then Bore Away for the other Histd the Smal Boat out the Captn Mate & four hands went (end of first page)