pick up supplies, but with its loss at Norfolk Island, Supply sailed on 17 April to procure provisions from Batavia, Dutch East Indies, carrying Philip Gidley King, who was to continue on to England with the Governor's dispatches. Ball returned to Port Jackson on 18 October, having chartered the Waaksamheyd to bring the rest of supplies, which arrived 17 December. Ball became very ill with a fever which began while he was in Batavia. In March 1791 Ball sought leave to return to England both to recover his health and to attend to family affairs. Sailing on 25 November via Cape Horn, he arrived at Plymouth 21 April 1792 after completing a circumnavigation with Supply. Ball continued to be interested in the colonies of New South Wales; in 1803 James Grant mentioned Ball as having encouraged him to publish his book Narrative of a Voyage of Discovery, about his explorations of Bass Strait in . In January 1808 it was noted that Ball applied for the governorship of New South Wales, but the request was turned down as no change in governor was intended at that point. Further naval career Ball was promoted to commander on 28 April 1792. With his health recovered, he returned to duty in December 1793 and was assigned command of the sloop , joining Rear-Admiral John MacBride's squadron in the Downs. In December 1794 Ball was given command of 36-gun fifth rate frigate . Ball was promoted to captain on 9 July 1795. In March 1796, Ball was given command of 24-gun sixth rate , and joined Rear-Admiral Hugh Cloberry Christian's convoy to the Leeward Islands Station, with the intention of capturing the Dutch and French colonies in the Caribbean. Christian's convoy arrived in Barbados on 21 April. With Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby's forces, Christian sailed on 26 April, to invade St Lucia, which surrendered 25 May. In March 1797 Ball was appointed to the 32-gun fifth rate frigate , and on 14 July Daedalus, with and , sailed from England for the Cape of Good Hope. While stationed in South Africa between the months August 1797 and February 1798, Deadalus and were involved in the capture of six vessels: American vessels Rebecca and President, slavers Quaker and Ocean, French schooner Prosperité and an armed ship Bell. Daedalus was involved in an action off of South Africa – just after day-break on 9 February 1799,