10 



Mr. Skioldebrand was no less impatient than 

 ourselves to reach his place of destination. Se- 

 veral times a day we climbed the mountain of 

 Notre Dame de la Garde, which commands an 

 extensive view of the Mediterranean. Every sail 

 which we descried in the horizon excited in us 

 the most powerful emotion : but after two months 

 of anxiety, and vain expectation, we learnt by 

 the public papers, that the Swedish frigate which 

 was to convey us, had suffered greatly in a storm 

 on the coasts of Portugal, and had been forced 

 to enter the port of Cadiz, to refit. This news 

 was confirmed by private letters, assuring us that 

 the Jaramas, which was the name of the frigate, 

 would not reach Marseilles before the Spring. 



We had not the courage to prolong our stay 

 in Provence to this period. The country, and 

 especially the climate, were delightful, but the 

 aspect of the sea reminded us of the failure of 

 our projects. In an excursion we made to Hy- 

 eres, and Toulon, we found in this last port, the 

 frigate La Boudeuse, which had been command- 

 ed by Mr. de Bougainville in his voyage round 

 the world, fitting out for Corsica. This illustri- 

 ous navigator had honored me with particular 

 kindness during my stay at Paris, when I was 

 preparing to accompany the expedition of Cap- 

 tain Baudin. I cannot describe the impression 

 made upon my mind by the sight of the vessel 

 which had carried Commerson to the islands of 



