The Castle of Good Hope is the largest ship that has ever entered this port, and measures about 1000 tons. During the passage the lost 12 cows and 1 horse; fell in with no other vessel, and met with no accident. Her passing through Bass's Straits instead of going round Van-Dieman's Land, considerably shortened her passage, and saved many cows.

On the 14^th ultimo arrived the Greenwich Whaler, Mr. Alexander Law master, with 1700 barrels of spermaceti oil, procured mostly off the N.E. Coast of New Zealand. The Whalers she left cruizing off that Coast, and which may be expected here to refit about the beginning of June are, the Venus, Gardner; Albion, Buncker; and Alexander, Rhodes. The Harriot, Chace had sailed for England on the 4^th of February, a full ship.

Sailed the 23d ult. For the Hawkesbury . His Majesty's Armed Tender Lady Nelson and the Francis Colonial Schooner.

Remain His Majesty's Ships Buffalo and Porpoise; the former ready for sea, the latter refitting.

Boats--Arrived from the Hawkesbury with Grain, on the 28^th ult. The Raven, T. Raby owner, and sailed again the 3d inst.

Sailed the 3d inst. for the Hawkesbury the William and Mary, J. Miller owner.

Came in, the 3d inst. with wheat, the James, T. Raby, owner. And same day the Edwin, belonging to J. Palmer, Esq.; the Union, John Jones; and Argument, J. Ward.

The Greenwich Whaler is positively to sail for England on the 15^th of the present Month.

Important Nautical Information

Account of a Ledge of Rocks discovered by H.M. ship Arrogant, the Dover Castle, Asia and Admiral Rainier in Company, 23d January, 1802, 4h. 30m. P.M. saw the appearance of breakers bearing N.N.W. distant about half a mile, brought to, and sent a boat to examine them, which returned at half past 6, having found a ledge of coral rocks; with only 6 feet water on them, extending a quarter of a mile N.E. and S.W. the soundings round them two and a half, 5, 8, 12 fathoms, at a cable's length, and 25 at about a quarter of a mile distant, lat. 512" S. Longitude 113 12" East per chronometer; the above situation may be depended on, as the Time-keepers of all the ships agreed, and the Island of Lubcck was seen at noon from the Asia's mast-head, bearing S.S.W. and we made the Island of Solumbo next morning, our run to which agreed very well with the above longitude. There does not exist in any chart any such reef, and its being so much in the track of ships going through the Java seas, particularly those bound to China the Eastern passage, renders it very dangerous.

Notice is herby given, That the Ship Castle of Good Hope will positively sail for India, on Sunday the 13^th Current; and Capt. M'Askell requests, that all Claims may be given into him by the 10^th.

While on the Fishery, Capt. Gardner had nearly lost his life from the following circumstance:-Acting as harpineer, he struck a Whale, which immediately dived and ran out; a part of the coil entangled his leg, whereby he was instantaneously dragged out of the boat, and remained a considerable space of time under water before he could possibly extricate himself from so perilous a situation. Fortunately, however, the line had been expeditiously cut away and he, by a surprising effort, and strong presence of mind, happily effected his own deliverance.

On Monday night arrived His Majesty's Colonial Schooner, Cumberland, J. Rushworth, Master, with Messrs. Robinson and Grimes, and the Party under their direction, from the Survey of King's Island. The Cumberland found the Geographe and Naturaliste, French ships on discovery, lying at King's Island, where she arrived the 9^th of December, on which day the Naturaliste sailed for France with a fair wind.-The Geographe had lost an Anchor and her long-boat in the Straits.

On Monday came in, from Hunter's River, the sloop John, T. Williams Master, with a quantity of very fine cedar plank.

On Tuesday arrived the Endeavour schooner, with Mr. Coggeshal and I. Underword[sic] on board returned from Bass's Strait, whither they went on an experiment to save the hull of the Surprise French schooner, of which the former was supercargo, wrecked some time since on the Sister Island, with the loss of the Master and part of her crew. From the position, and the shattered state in which the hull of the above vessel was found, it was conjectured the tempestuous weather which prevailed in the month of December last had so powerfully operated upon her as to render an attempt to restore her useless.

Failing of success in this quarter, Underwood thought of making a similar experiment on the hull of the Diana, a small vessel, of which he was part-owner, that had stranded on the Capuchin, about 30 miles distant from the former. Although the condition he found her in was by no means promising, yet, with such assistance as he had provided himself, and his own indefatigable exertion, he accomplished this project. The Diana, now called the Surprise, after undergoing such repair as circumstances would admit of, actually sailed for King's Island on the 14^th ultimo, to take in the sealing party employed here by Messrs. Kable and Underwood.

An article from the Hague of the 16^th of June, states that the Batavian Government is about to distribute, at a very low rate, considerable tracts of land on the coast of Guinea and at the Cape of Good Hope, on condition that those who may accept of them will clear and cultivate them. It is expected that numbers of cultivators will be attracted from different parts of Germany.

Came in on Thursday, His Majesty's armed Tender Lady Nelson, from the Hawkesbury.

Remain with ships as per last, His Majesty's Colonial Schooner Cumberland.

Boats-On Thursday came in the Sophia Maria, Dargon; and the Hope, Smallwood, with wheat and barley from Hawkesbury.

The Bridgewater has on board a Private Investment, in which the following articles are comprised, viz. 200 hhds of Ale and Brown Stout, Soap, Cordage, Shoes, Men's Cloathing, Tobacco, Irish Linen, Watches, Leather, Harness and Sadlery, 20 hhds of Crockery, Slops, 24 casts of Constantia, &c.

On Thursday arrived from the Hawkesbury, the Frances Colonial Schooner, laden with wheat.

Remain His Majesty's ship Glatton, Buffalo Porpoise, Armed Tender Lady Nelson, and Cumberland Colonial Schooner; the Bridgewater, Castle of Good Hope, and the Greenwich and Venus Whaler.

Mr. Moore, has received the Governor's instructions to provide a quantity of the best timer that can be procured for Ship-building.

He has already been out to survey and make choice of the wood; and on Monday next a number of carpenters and labourers will begin work. The trees are to be hewed according tot he ?, and put on board His Majesty's ship Glatton, to be conveyed to England.-Red and other gums, string and iron bark, mahogany, and other hardwoods will be selected in preference to any other.

On Wednesday last the Surprise sloop was put up to Auction, and purchased by Mr. Fisck. (formerly an Officer on board the Surprise French Schooner), for 117 guineas;-but was afterwards re-sold to Messrs. Kable and Underwood, the original Owners.

At an Examination before the Magistrates on Saturday last (the 12^th instant), Ann Jackson was committed to prison on suspicion of having stolen a good ring, and other property, from the dwelling-house of Mrs. Sarah Broadhurst.

General Orders

The Governor judges it expedient to suspend so much of the General Orders of Dec. 26, 1800; Jan. 23, Feb. 6 and 10, 1802, as respects Military Persons, beating their servants assigned by Government, being tried by a General Court Martial for that offence. But, persons of every description within this Territory, and its Dependencies, can have redress for assaults and every other misdemeanor, by Action or Indictment, before the Civil or Criminal Courts, to which they will in future resort. And it is to be clearly understood, that any person whatever, being proved to have beaten the convicts assigned to them instead of having recourse to the Magistrates, will be deprived of that accommodation in future.

By Command of His
Excellency W.N. Chapman, Sec.
Government House, March 9, 1803.