332 LA perouse's column. 



from home, or one born in the colony, no matter 

 of what class of society, from this circumstance. 

 On a spot near the entrance to Botany Bay, 

 (so named by Sir Joseph Banks, and " Sting 

 Ray Bay," from the number of that fish captured 

 there by Captain Cook,) a neat column has 

 been erected by Mr. Joshua Thorp, (at that time 

 the government architect,) from a design by Mr. 

 Cookney, to the memory of La Perouse ; the 

 expense of its erection being paid by a subscrip- 

 tion from the officers of the French discovery 

 ships, which visited the colony in 1824 ; the co- 

 lonial gbvernment supplying convict labourers. 

 It is situated on a little elevation not far from 

 the place at which Captain Cook landed. The 

 column is circular, standing on a pedestal, and 

 surmounted by a sphere. Its elevation may be 

 about fifteen feet. This was the last place whence 

 intelligence was received from the indefatigable 

 but unfortunate navigator. The inscriptions on 

 the pedestal are in English and French, and as 

 follow: — "This place, visited by Mons. de la 

 Perouse in 1788, is the last whence any accounts 

 of him were received. Erected in the name of 

 France by M.M. de Bougainville and Ducampier, 

 commanding the frigate LaThetisand the corvette 

 L'Esperance, lying in Port Jackson. An. 1825." 

 About one hundred yards distant, inland from 

 this column, near a red gum tree, are interred 



