Monday 1st May
This afternoon we set up the observatory and took the Astronomical Quadrant a shore for the first time, together with some other Instruments. The Fort being now finished and made as Tenable as the Time, Nature and situation of the ground, and materials we had to work upon would admit of. The North and south parts consisted of a Bank of earth four and a half feet high on the inside, and a Ditch without, ten feet broad and six feet deep: on the west side facing the Bay a Bank of earth four feet high and Pallisades upon that, but no ditch the works being at highwater mark: on the East side upon the Bank of the River was plac'd a double row of casks: and as this was the weakest side the two-four pounders were planted there, and the whole was defended besides these two guns with six Swivels and generally about forty five Men with small arms including the officers and gentlemen who resided a Shore. I now thought myself perfectly secure from any thing these people could attempt.

Tuesday 2nd May
This morning about 9 O'clock when Mr Green and I went to set up the Quadrant it was not to be found, it had never been taken out of the Packing case (which was about 18 Inches square), sence it came from Mr Bird the Maker, and the whole was pretty heavy, so that it was a matter of astonishment to us all how it could be taken away, as a Centinal stood the whole night within 5 yards of the door of the Tent where it was put together with several other Instruments but none of them was missing but this.

Sunday 14th May
This day we perform'd divine Service in one of the Tents in the Fort where several of the Natives attended and behaved with great decency the whole time: this day closed with an odd Scene at the Gate of the Fort where a young fellow above 6 feet high lay with a little girl about 10 or 12 years of age publickly before several of our people and a number of the Natives. What makes me mention this, is because, it appear'd to be done more from Custom than Lewdness, for there were several women present particularly Obarea and several others of the better sort and these were so far from shewing the least disapobation that they instructed the girl how she should act her part, who young as she was, did not seem to want it.

Saturday 3rd June
This day prov'd as favourable to our purpose as we could wish, not a Clowd was to be seen the whole day and the Air was perfectly clear, so that we had every advantage we could desire in Observing the whole of the passage of the Planet Venus over the Suns disk: we very distinctly saw an Atmosphere or dusky shade round the body of the Planet which very much disturbed the time of the Contacts particularly the two internal ones. Dr Solander observed as well as Mr Green and myself, and we differ'd from one anther in observing the times of the Contacts much more than could be expected. Mr Greens Telescope and mine were of the same Magnifying power but that of the Dr was greater then ours. It was nearly calm the whole day and the Thermometer expose'd to the Sun about the middle of the Day rose to a degree of heat (119) we have not before met with.

Sunday 4th June
Punished Archbold Wolf with two Dozen Lashes for theft, having broken into one of the Store rooms and stolen from thence a large quantity of spike Nails, some few of them were found upon him. This evening the gentlemen that were sent to observe the transit of Venus returnd with success. Those that were sent to York Island were well received by the Natives; that Island appear'd to them not to be very fruitfull.