"England thwarted Napoleon's designs on Australia, then almost unknown, but believed to be two large islands. England owes her success to a twenty seven year old lieutenant, Matthew Flinders. Given command of an unseaworthy ship, he foiled the French and became the first to circumnavigate Australia, to chart most of the coastline, and to give Australia her name. Flinders had to abandon his ship at Sydney, taking passage for home on another that was wrecked, following which he was given a small leaking vessel to attempt the return to England. Believing the war with France to be over, he put in at Mauritius for assistance where he was held prisoner for six and a half years."--Back cover.

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