— 131 — 
a paraphrase more than a translation, it has been newly and 
exactly done. In no part of the Asia Portuguese is there the 
smallest mention of any thing that indicates such an Island as 
Mauritius under any of its names. 
Nevertheless these communications still remain incom- 
plete. Events which took place here in latter time and to 
which the records are in the archives, can only be properly 
appreciated after consulting the documents relating thereto. 
The Society has requested through its Secretary, that the ar- 
chives office containing so many precious documents concern- 
ing our Island, should be open to those members who are oc- 
puying themselves with writing the history of Mauritius ; and 
the answer received from the Colonial Secretary was that ar- 
rangements were in contemplation to put into order the pa- 
pers deposited in the archives and that the moment had not 
yet arrived when they should be made accessible to the pu- 
blic. The Society respectfully manifests to Your Excellency 
its ardent desire to see the archives restored to such order as 
would enable the Section of History soon to obtain access to 
them. 
Amongst the fragments of works received from London is 
one most curious, viz.: an account published in 1811 on the 
taking of the Isiand of Mauritius — it is styled : account of the 
conquest of Mauritius, with some notices as to the history, 
soil, products, defences and the political importance of his 
place, to which is added a very curious sketch and map ex- 
planatory of the Military operations, by an officer who served 
in the Expedition. 
The work is dedicated to His Royal Highness the Duke of 
York and the author whose name is not known has adopted 
for his epigraph this thought of the Abbe Raynal which he 
translates into English ! “ Policy foresees that if the Isle of 
“ France were abandoned, the English would drive all fo- 
“ reign nations of the Seas of Asia and would possess them- 
“ selves of all the riches of these vast countries.” 
Another interesting extract is taken from the journal of the 
voyage of the Dutch under the command of the Admiral J ac- 
ques Cornille Nec in 1598. 
This Expedition left Holland in March ; on the 15th Sep- 
