FIRST VIEW OF THE PACIFIC. 301 



the point from which we first saw the sea would be only 

 somewhere between 9380 and 9600 English feet above the 

 level of the sea. 



The view of the Pacific was peculiarly impressive to one 

 who like myself owed a part of the formation of his mind 

 and character, and many of the directions which his wishes 

 had assumed, to intercourse with one of the companions of 

 Cook. My schemes of travel were early made known, in 

 their leading outlines at least, to George Forster, when I 

 enjoyed the advantage of making my first visit to England 

 under his guidance, more than half a century ago. Forster' s 

 charming descriptions of Otaheite had awakened throughout 

 Northern Europe a general interest (mixed, I might almost 

 say, with romantic longings) for the Islands of the Pacific 

 which had at that time been seen by very few Europeans. 

 I too cherished at the time of which I am speaking the 

 hope of soon landing on them ; for the object of my visit to 

 Lima was twofold, to observe the transit of Mercury over 

 the solar disk, and to fulfil an engagement made with 

 Captain Baudin before I left Paris, to join him in a 

 voyage of circumnavigation which was to take place as 

 soon as the Government of the French Eepublic could 

 furnish the requisite funds. 



Whilst we were in the Antilles, North American news- 

 papers announced that the two Corvettes, Le Geographe and 

 Le Naturaliste, would sail round Cape Horn and touch at 

 Callao de Lima. On receiving this intelligence at Havana, 

 where I then was, after having completed my Orinoco journey, 

 I relinquished my original plan of going through Mexico to 



