"Tuesday, 22nd January. Close in with the Heads. At 2 came to anchor abreast of Camp Cove. At 8 A.M. endeavoured to work up to Sydney Cove.
"Wednesday, 23rd January. At 4 came to anchor in Sydney Cove."
...
CHAPTER 11.
THE ESTRAMINA IS BROUGHT TO SYDNEY.
THE LADY NELSON VISITS NORFOLK ISLAND AND TASMANIA.
When the Lady Nelson came to in Sydney Cove, after completing her voyage to Tasmania,, the Governor gave orders that she should be at once placed in dock and overhauled. For the time being, her crew was distributed among the king's ships in port, the Buffalo and Investigator, and the colonial schooner Integrity.
By March 30th the little brig was again afloat. She was made ready for sea in consequence of the news brought to Sydney that an armed schooner, called the Estramina, belonging to the King of Spain, was lying in Jervis Bay. It was also reported to the Governor that the vessel had been seized off the American coast by order of Captain Campbell of the Harrington, who claimed to have taken her as a prize, and that she was in charge of one of Captain Campbell's officers. Uncertain whether hostilities had actually broken out between England and Spain, His Excellency sent Mr. Symons to Jervis Bay to ascertain whether the schooner was there, and if so to take possession of her and bring her to Port Jackson.
The Lady Nelson sailed to execute this mission on April 3rd. On the evening of the following day she sighted Jervis Bay and, shortly after entering it, a strange vessel was perceived at anchor at the north-west end of the bay. No sooner did the stranger see the Lady Nelson approaching than she hurriedly weighed, and attempted to leave the bay. The attempt was frustrated, however, by Lieutenant Symons, who made sail after her and fired a gun to bring her to. Seeing that flight was useless, the schooner hoisted a St. George's Jack, and eventually came to under the lee of the Lady Nelson. The commander, finding that she was the Harrington's prize, went on board her, hauled down the English colours, and in their place hoisted the Spanish flag. She was in charge of Mr. William Tozer, one of the Harrington's men, from whom Lieutenant Symons received the log-book and charts. The second mate of the Lady Nelson and three of her crew were placed in the Estramina, and she left Jervis Bay for Sydney in company with the Lady Nelson.
On the arrival of the vessels in the Cove on the afternoon of April 10th, Governor King and the Judge Advocate went on board the Spanish ship to take Mr. Tozer's depositions. As a result of this visit, orders were given that the schooner was to be detained at Sydney "for and on behalf of the Spanish sovereign." At the same time Governor King declared that if it were proved hostilities had already broken out when the seizure of the Estramina took place, the ship would become the property of the Admiralty, because the Harrington possessed no letters of marque. The Governor also made known his intention of detaining the Harrington at the first opportunity so that she might "answer for the event." The prize, which is described as a beautiful schooner, was never released and eventually became the property of the Government.