INTRODUCTION. 



I. HREE years having elapfed, and no tidings 

 been received of the two fhips the BouJJole and 

 the AJlrolabe> under the command of La Pe- 

 rouse, the Society of Natural Hiftory of Paris, 

 towards the beginning of the year 179*, awak- 

 ened the attention of the Conftituent Affembly 

 refpecVmg the fate of that navigator and his com- 

 panions in misfortune. 



The hope of finding at leaft fome wreck of an 

 expedition undertaken for the advancement of 

 the fciences, determined the Aflembly to fend 

 two other mips in the track that thefe navigators 

 were to have followed after their departure from 

 Botany Bay. Some of them might poffibly have 

 efcaped fhipwreck, and be fequeftered in a defert 

 jiland, or thrown on coafis inhabited by favage 



nations; 



