ADDRESS. 61 



on the French government than all their discoveries. The Kings 

 of Denmark bound themselves by their coronation oaths to search 

 for, protect, and succour their colonies in the far north, whose in- 

 habitants, if deprived of the aid of the mother country, might 

 perish under their privations in the long and dreary Arctic winters. 

 But examples drawn from times comparatively remote may be 

 viewed with indifference by some, who think nothing to be real, 

 and possess a practical bearing, unless it transpire in their own 

 generation, and occur before their own eyes. To such we will 

 instance the fact, that no sooner was news received in England, a 

 few months since, that several whale ships were locked up in the 

 ice in the Arctic regions, than the Admiralty anticipated the gen- 

 erous sympathies of the nation, by devising the most speedy and 

 efficient means for their relief. That distinguished officer, Cap- 

 tain Ross, the younger, having volunteered his services, was 

 solicited to command the expedition fitted out for this purpose. 



Astrolabe, commanded by M. de la Perouse, as also for their ships' companies, and 

 to make every inquiry which has a tendency to ascertain their existence or their ship- 

 wreck ; in order that, if M. de la Pe" rouse and his companions should be found or met 

 with in any place whatsoever, they may give them every assistance, and procure them 

 all the means necessary for their return into their own country, and for bringing with 

 them all the property of which they may be possessed; and the National Assembly 

 engages to indemnify, and even to recompense, in proportion to the importance of the 

 service, any person or persons who shall give assistance to those navigators, shall 

 procure intelligence concerning them, or shall be instrumental in restoring to France 

 any papers or effects whatsoever, which may belong, or may have belonged, to their 

 expedition. 



" Decrees further, that the King be petitioned to give orders for the fitting out of 

 one or more ships, having on board men of science, naturalists, and draughtsmen, and 

 to charge the commanders of the expedition with the two-fold mission of searching for 

 M. de la P6rouse, agreeably to the documents, instructions, and orders which shall be 

 delivered to them, and of making inquiries relative to the sciences and to commerce, 

 taking every measure to render this expedition useful and advantageous to navigation, 

 geography, commerce, and the arts and sciences, independently of their search for M. de 

 la Perouse, and even after having found him, or obtained intelligence concerning him." 



Compared with the original, by us, the President and Secretaries of the National 

 Assembly, at Paris, this 24th day of February, 1791. 



(Signed) DUPORT, President. 



BOU R s!lON, \ Caries. 



