Revised Sep 17 2021
♄ [Saturday] December 22nd Fresh Breezes & Wy Weather employed as before watering
and stowing the Fore and Main Hold – Arrived here the Comet a Dutch States Brig from the Cape of
Good Hope Captain [F???manus] with Dispatches to the Governor here, which inform us of the unsettled
State of Affairs in Europe and thier Uncertainty with respect to them at the Cape. she saluted us when
coming in with 11 Guns which was ignorantly taken up by the Fort upon Ladder Hill AM. the Wind moderated
and some light Showers of Rain. Employed as before watering and in the Holds. An Officer sent on board the
Comet to inform them of our Intention to return the Salute which we did soon after with an equal Number of
Guns and presently she returned the Forts Salute – At 9 The Prudenta (a Ship manned with English under
Genoese Colours) arrived and ed here and soon after
the Ganges an East India Companys Ship Captain Garnault who saluted the Fort which it returned – about
10 H.M.S. Atalanta Captain Elphinstone arrived and was saluted by the Fort which she returned with an equal
Number of Guns – this is the same Man who commanded the Swan when we were at the Cape – Spruce Beer
today for the People
This Morning the Botanists were on shore as usual at Day break and took with them nine Pots
of Otaheite fruit Plants being one of every Sort they had brought from thence, and several Cocoa nutts which
had shot out while laying by, which they left at the Governors for the Use of the Island –
Moderate Breezes & fine Weather