20S Memoir of Charles Alexander Lesneur. 



nothing for themselves ! a proceeding so much the more generous 

 as it is without a precedent among any of their predecessors. 



" You have seen by what we have said of the labors of Le- 

 sneur, that he was almost every where an associate in those of 

 Peron. The history of Man is not less indebted to him. All the 

 details of the existence of the natives have been designed by him 

 with the most scrupulous accuracy. All their musical instru- 

 ments, those of war, of hunting, of fishing, their domestic uten- 

 sils ; all the peculiarities of their clothing, of their ornaments, of 

 their habitations, of their tombs ; in a word, all that their rude 

 ingenuity has been able to accomplish, is found united in the pro- 

 ductions of this skillful and indefatigable artist. The principal 

 site of the coasts explored by the expedition ; different views of 

 the town of Sydney, the capital of the English colony of New 

 South Wales, its plan, &c, give to the Atlas of the History 

 of the voyage, edited by his friend, a new character of impor- 

 tance. 



" Such are the labors, as numerous as they are interesting, of 

 which you have appointed us to render you an account. They 

 receive additional value from the unfortunate circumstances in 

 the midst of which they were performed. Notwithstanding the 

 foresight and orders of the government, privations of every kind 

 bore heavily upon all the individuals attached to this great enter- 

 prise. Diseases extended their ravages among the crews of the 

 two vessels. Of the twenty-three persons presented by you to 

 the First Consul, for divers scientific researches, three only have 

 returned to their native land, after having accomplished the entire 

 voyage. Some, early discouraged, abandoned the expedition ; 

 others have remained sick at different places; the remainder are 

 no more. Surrounded by so many disasters, Peron and his con- 

 stant friend never allowed themselves to be overcome ; at every 

 epoch of the voyage they manifested the most honorable atten- 

 tion to their duty." 



The testimony of the distinguished men composing the above 

 named committee could not fail to receive the approbation of the 

 government ; and shortly after their preliminary report, the Min- 

 ister of the Marine issued orders for the publication of the narra- 

 tive of a voyage, that it was now evident would redound to the 

 honor of the nation. And who so fit to edit this important work 

 as he whose talents and industry had been so signally displayed 

 throughout the whole course of the expedition ! Peron, then, in 

 the character of historian, set to work with alacrity ; and aided 

 by his indispensable associate, Lesueur, arranged those rich mate- 

 rials which appear to such advantage in the first volume of the 

 "Voyage des Decouvertes aux Terres Australes." 



A remarkable feature in the history of this enterprise presents 

 itself to our reflection. In the composition of the scientific part 



