We hove to in Spalding Cove, where we found Captain Lipson's Cygnet at anchor.
At about 10 Captain Lipson came aboard and presented himself, saying that Light had directed him to meet with us in order that we may follow him to Light's "Holdfast Bay".
It seems that the ships that left England before us have all safely arrived with little incident. Lipson tells me of a number of pieces of what I can only describe as gossip, though if Scoop Stevenson gets a hold of them then "the public's right to know" and Stevenson's right to make money will broadcast them far and wide as vital news.
Later in the day we went ashore to inspect the area as a prospective site for the Capital. Lipson tells me that Light favours the eastern side of Gulph St Vincent as being "reminiscent of Devon" which certainly sounds acceptable.
The area around Boston Bay is reminiscent of a complete waste of time - poor soil, no surface water, low grade building stone. a fine harbour to be sure, but little hope of finding a space for a large settlement. Totally unsuitable,
Naturally Mrs Hindmarsh loves it. "The views!" she keeps saying. "The views!"
I keep pointing out that when the colony is starving because they can't grow food and we're dying of thirst, the views aren't going to do much good to anyone, but she keeps saying "It's so pretty!"
A slight contre temps this evening. After Mrs Hindmarsh hung up her stocking for Father Christmas to come by, one of the crew mistook it for extra sails and reefed it to the mizzen.
Mrs Hindmarsh was most offended and wanted the man punished but I let it pass as I could not find fault with his explanation that "Bain't be often you see hosiery of that size so 'twas only natural I mistook it for the mainsail."
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