OF LA PEROUSE. 75 



were loll, in confequence of the calms and vio- 

 lent currents which prevail in that quarter. He 

 told me that he himfelf was carried to the eaft- 

 ward fix hundred miles in ten days by the ftrength 

 of them, as was proved by repeated obfervations 

 of the longitude, by time-keepers, and the light 

 of land. In a word, Commodore Hunter, who 

 was at Batavia, and whom I law in the voyage I 

 have recently made, appears to me to be fully per- 

 fuaded, that the European clothes which he ob 

 ferved in the boats that came from the Admiralty 

 Mands, are the remains of the fhipwreck of the 

 velTels under the command of La Peroufe. 



Commodore Hunter is at prefent on his pat- 

 fage to return to England, whence France will 

 probably receive from him more circumftantial 

 details on this fubje6t. 



After what the Englilh commander has expe- 

 rienced on approaching the Admiralty lllands, 

 he thinks, that a vefTel which wifhed to go 

 thither, ought to take the precaution to get 

 into their latitude in good time, in order to 

 prevent her from being carried away by the cur- 

 rents, which fet to the ealtward with prodigious 

 rapidity. 



Done at the Ifle of France, the 6th of No- 

 vember 1 79 1'. 



(Signed) Preaudet, 



Captain of the fhip Jafon. 



Account 



