Only a fortnight before his death he wrote a note subscribing for a copy of a new edition of the book, with notes, then announced for publication.

It must have been one of the last letters from his hand.

Though out of its chronological order, it may be appropriately quoted here to connect it with the other references to the book which so profoundly influenced his life: "Captain Flinders presents his compliments to the Hydrographer of the Naval Chronicle, and will thank him to insert his home in the list of subscribers in his new edition of Robinson Crusoe; he wishes also that the volume on delivery should have a neat, common binding, and be lettered .-- London Street, July 5, 1814." It seems clear that Flinders had promised himself the pleasure of re-reading in maturity the tale that had so delighted his youth.

Had he lived to do so, he might well have underlined, as applicable to himself, a pair of those sententious observations with which Defoe essayed to give a sober purpose to his narrative.

The first is his counsel of "invincible patience under the worst of misery, indefatigable application, and undaunted resolution under the greatest and most discouraging circumstances." The second is his wise remark that "the height of human wisdom is to bring our tempers down to our circumstances, and to make a great calm within under the weight of the greatest storm without." They were words which Flinders during strenuous years had good cause to translate into conduct.
The edition of the book to which he thus subscribed was undertaken largely on account of his acknowledgment of its effect upon his life.