January, 
^ III"! ^ " !■/ 
,20 WHITE'S JOURNAL OF A 
1 -788. the Artois, taken by the Bienfaifant, Captain Macbridc), wait- 
ed on Captain Hunter, and informed him, that the fhips were 
the Aftrolabe and the Bouflale, which failed from France in 
the year 1786, under the command of Mefheurs de la 
Peroufe, and De Langle. He further acquainted him, that 
having touched at Navigator's Ifles, they had had the misfor- 
tune to lofe Captain De Langle, the fecond in command, 
with ten other officers, and two boats crews, all of whom 
were cut off by the natives of thofe iflands, who appeared to 
be numerous and warlike. This accident induced them to 
put into this port, in order to build fome boats, which they 
had in frames. It alfo had afforded room for the promotion 
of Monlieur Clonnard, who, on their leaving France, was 
only the commodore's firit lieutenant. 
At ten o'clock the Sirius, with all the fliips, weighed, and 
in the evening anchored in Port Jackfon, wich a few 
trilling damages done to fome of them, who had run foul of 
each other in working out of Botany Bay. Port Jackfon I 
believe to be, without exception, the fineft and moft exten- 
live harbour in the univerfe, and at the fame time the 
mofl: fecure ; beina fafe from all the winds that blow. It 
is divided into a great number of coves, to which his 
excellency 
