Wilhems Plains. ] 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
453 
month of May, and the time elapsed since my first detention, without isoe. 
being otherwise noticed by the French government than giving Juae ' 
general De Caen its temporary approbation, had exceedingly weak- 
ened my confidence in its justice; it appeared moreover, that not 
only had no public application been made by our government for my 
liberty and the restitution of my charts and journals, but that the 
advancement I had been led to expect in consequence of the voyage, 
was stopped. This could not be from inattention, and therefore 
probably arose either from a want of information, or from some 
misconceived opinions at the Admiralty ; to remove which, it seemed 
necessary to transmit an account of all the circumstances attending 
my imprisonment, accompanied with the letters to and from the 
captain-general, and such other pieces as were proper to the authen- 
tication of the narrative. I was occupied in writing this account when 
the Warren Hastings, richly laden from China, was taken by La July, 
PMmontaise and brought to Mauritius; and captain Larkins having 
obtained permission to return to England, he offered by letter to take 
charge of any thing I desired to transmit. The narrative, completed 
to the time of leaving the Garden Prison, was therefore conveyed to 
him ; and in an accompanying letter to the Admiralty, my hopes 
were expressed that their Lordships would not suffer an imprison- 
ment, contrary to every principle of justice and humanity, to continue 
without notice, — without such steps being taken to obtain my release 
and the restitution of my remaining charts and papers, as in their 
wisdom should seem meet. Captain Larkins had ineffectually sought 
to obtain a permission to come to Wilhems Plains, and my request 
to go to the town for a day or two was refused ; he therefore sailed August, 
without my being able to see him or any of his officers ; and his 
departure was preceded by that of my friend Pitot for Bourbon, and 
followed by the embarkation of captain Bergeret for France. 
In consequence of the many kindnesses conferred by M. Pitot 
on several of our countrymen as well as myself, I had been induced 
to write some letters at his request to the commanders of His 
