Wilhems Plains .] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
use his efforts in obtaining for it a powerful support. This tripli- 
cate was accompanied by many letters, addressed to distinguished 
characters in the ministry, the senate, in the council of state and the 
national institute; as well from myself as from several worthy per- 
sons who interested themselves in the issue of my detention. By 
this and another opportunity, I stated to the Admiralty and the pre- 
sident of the Royal Society the circumstances attending the order 
which had arrived ; and from these various steps united, my friends 
in Mauritius conceived the hope of a success almost certain ; but 
from having been so often deceived I was less sanguine, and saw 
only that if this memorial and these letters failed, 'there was little 
hope of being restored to liberty before the uncertain epoch of peace. 
Constant occupation was, as usual, my resource to beguile the 
time until the effect of the memorial and letters could be known. 
Being furnished by some friends with several manuscript travels and 
journals in the interior, and along the coasts of Madagascai , I con- 
structed a chart of the northern half of that extensive island, accom- 
panied with an analytical account of my materials ; and in this 
employment, reading various French authors, mathematical studies, 
and visiting occasionally some of the inhabitants within my circle, 
this time of anxious suspense passed not unprofitably. In the month 
of March arrived the frigate La Venus, captain Hamelin, the same 
who had commanded Le Naturaliste at Port Jackson. His affairs, 
or some other cause, prevented him from seeing or writing to me ; 
but he told M. Pitot that many persons took an interest in my situa- 
tion, and that several officers of Le Gbographe and Naturaliste had 
made applications to the marine minister. The answers they received 
had constantly been, that orders were sent out to Mauritius to set 
me at liberty and restore the Cumberland; yet it was known in 
France before captain Hamelin sailed, that these orders had not been 
executed, and the future intentions of the government were unknown. 
The publication of the French voyage of discovery, written by M. 
Peron, was in great forwardness ; and the emperor Napoleon, con- 
469 
1808. 
November. 
1809 . 
March. 
