354 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
u There is also a memoir on the Archipelago of Isles, and their concomitant 
dangers, which extend along the north and north-east side of Madagascar. The re¬ 
marks of M. d’Apres on the position of the Isles of France and Bourbon, with respect 
to India, and the frequent necessity of dispatch in the communication between them, 
seemed to determine the advantage that would be derived from a knowledge of this 
Archipelago; nevertheless, no attempt was made to obtain it till the year 1742, by 
M. Mahe de la Bourdonnais, Governor of the Isles of France and Bourbon; but he 
was interrupted in his scheme by the war of 1744, and his recall to France put an end 
to every thing which he had projected to forward that useful and important object. 
" The danger of passing through this Archipelago to get to India was so generally 
believed, that the apprehensions of ordinary navigators on that subject were not 
removed even by the example which Admiral Boscawen gave in 1748, when he got, 
by this course, in a very short time from the heights of the Isle of France to India, 
with a fleet of twenty-six ships. M. d’Apres, however, renewed the track of the 
British commander in 1754, on board the Montaran; and in 1758, the snow Rubis 
also crossed this Archipelago, and followed the new course, which shortened the 
voyage upwards of three hundred leagues. 
“ The success of these attempts, which was surely a sufficient authority for adopt¬ 
ing them, did not produce any immediate change in the general voyage to India; 
and the ships from Europe continued the same course as had been followed since 
the year 1722. 
“ At length, in the year 1767, the Chevalier Grenier, who commanded the 
corvette I’Heure du Berger, being protected by the Minister, and assisted by the 
Chevalier des Roches, formed the project of making such discoveries in these seas, 
as to render them better known for the several purposes of navigation. 
The Chevalier Grenier associated with him the Abbe Rochon, to superintend 
the astronomical observations; and his voyage, which was crowned with success, 
has supplied a great deal of useful intelligence, which forms a part of the memoir of 
M. d’Apres. After him M. du Roslan continued these discoveries, and fulfilled his 
object with great attention and correctness. His observations and remarks are 
also inserted in the same memoir; and his information respecting the Archipelago 
of Madagascar is so well established, as to leave no doubt of the advantage of that 
course to India. 
€i M. d’Apres proceeds to describe the course from the Isles of France and Bourbon 
