The Sun.
London, England, 1827-04-13 00:00:00

THE EXPEDITION OF LA PEROUS

rURTHEA DETAILS.
(From a French Paper.)
An American Captain has declared that hal
seen in the hands of one of the inhabitants o!
island between New Caledonia and Louisiana, ac

of St. Louis, and medals, which appeared to
to have been a part of La Perouse's shipwreck..
This discovery has been communicated to,
mont d'Urville, Commander of his Majesty's
vette Astrolabe, who left Toulon on the 25th
1826, on a voyage of discovery, being instruct
make every possible endeavour to discover, ani
store to their country, the unfortunate survivol
the shipwreck that might be found alive. I
probable that M. d'Urville is at this momeri
those latitudes. The latest information recE

From him goes to confirm the account of the

rican Captain.
Captain Dillon, Commander of the English
St. Patrick, when proceeding from Valparai!
Pondicherry, cast anchor, on the 13th May, I
at Tucopie, to seek after a Prussian sailor /
Lascar, that had been left on that inland
year 1813. The Lascar had fastened to his
on being discovered, a sword of French mar,
tore, with an old-fashioned silver guard, whit
said he found on the island; and Captain I
learnt from the Prussian sailor that when he

arrived at Tucopia he sew, in the hands u
islanders, sword-scabbards, sabres, copper kf
knives and forks—all of French manufacture,

which they had received from the inhabita:
Malicolo. These latter said, that a great
years ago, a large vessel was wrecked on ffie i
of Uhanco, and all its crew were murdered—
about the same time another vessel was wreck(
the island Paiow, where its crew was well rec
by the natives—that the crew, after burying
much
a raft
o f the property
as they
of b
couldte
groundbui lt as
themselves from
sels, on which the Commander and a part (
crew sailed away, promising those they lef
them that they would soon return to seek th.

The Prussian declared also that there were at

two sailors belongin!, to the ship wrecked th
one a gun-smith, and the other a carpenter
that it was probable the remainder of the er
that ship were dispersed among the islands d
Archipelago of the New Hebrides. This intern'
acquired by Captain Dillon appeared so pd
that the Council of the East India Company al

:rocs
!him

I ship
lo to
1826,

cotta, determined on sending the Recherche
that Archipelago, under the command of this
tain, to explore the Island of Malicolo, and fin(
the persons shipwrecked there. This ship wl
leave Calcutta between the 15th and 20th d

tor

It is
it in
ived
1111 -

cember.
M. Cordier, Captain of a vessel sent 'on d
Chandernagor, contrived to have M. Chai
nephew of the former Mandarin of Cochin
sent on board the Recherche.

'ai ow

1 out
Ls to
De-

Ity to
re,au,

To these details, published by the Minis
Marine, we will subjoin the following doeume:
dressed to the Minister of this department.
" Copy of a Letter written on the lath of Noveml
the Governor-General of the French Eatablishrt
India, relative to the account of Captain Dillon.

ter o
it, ad.

T, to
nt in

y pro-
iu will
I. Bo-
:I had
1 been

" I have also to give you an account of m:
ceedin9.;s with Captain Dillon, whose report yc
have had in English journals. I requested 1Y
naffe to invite him to dinner, and accordingly
the pleasure of meeting him on the 10th of D
ber. He recounted to us in detail all that hai
published in the English papers ; and said that his
opinion, the two vessels wrecked on the island of
Malicolo, were no others than those of La Perpuse ;
that from all which he had learnt from an 4ndian
chief of Tucopia, he was convinced that the
lobe and the Boussole were the ships lost in -
seas. All the French Captains were at Bon
the time, and put several questions to hi
the subject. I begged of him to lend me the
silver hilt of the sword which he brought: from
that island, and to send for the Prussian sailor
who had given him the information. On the fol-
lowing morning he came to breakfast with me, bring-
ing with him the young Prince of New Zealand and
the Prussian sailor. • By the help of a microscope
examined the sword guard, which seemed to me, and
every one present, in the French style. I could clearly
distinguish engraved on the inside, the letters J.
F. G.; but the P., which was pointed out to me, I
could not recognise. On the upper part was a
sword, above which was a crown, but I could not
distinguish the fleur-de-lis, nor could any body else
recognise such a mark. On the left side of the
guard, too, they said there was a P., hut I could not
see it, and opinion was divided s.s to its existence.
On the right side there was a cypher, but so small
that few could distinguish it even Nvith the micro-
scope. Several Captains observed that the hilt
could not belong to an officer of the French Ma-
rines, it being of silver, which was not the uniform.
I very well remember, however, haring seen at
Brest, before the Revolution, several old navy Cap-
tains with swords having silver handles.
" Captain Dillon then brought in the Prussian
sailer, to whom I put several questions, all of which
he answered without hesitation, and conformably
to the accounts given in the English Papers.
" This sailor had embarked on board of Captain
Dillon's ship in 1813, when he visited the islands
of Feejec, with which he wished to have some com-
munication ; he sent him, together with a Lascar;
but the Prussian and Last= did not return. Capt.
Dillon was obliged to proceed on his voyage, and to
leave those two seamen behind him.
" When he again approached these islands in
1826, being off Tucopia, several boats belonging to
that country came off to him. He recognised
amongst the natives the Prussian sailor, who
had gone from the island of Feejee to Tucopia,
He made him come on board, and had a long con-
versation with him, which induced him to suspect
that La Perouse had been wrecked on that coast.
The Lascar, who abo resided at Tucopia, and,
as well as the Prussian sailor, had married in that
island, where they had several wives and children.
came next day on board ; and it was he that assured
Captain Dillon, that there were in an island in the
vicinity of Tucopia two Europeans, whom he sup-
posed to be Frenchmen, one of whom was a gun-
smith—that they were very old, and married in the
island—and that they had told him there were many
Europeans in the interior of the island.
" Captain Dillon resolved upon visiting that
island, to ascertain the truth of what the Lascar said,
but, owing to calms and want of time, he was com-
pelled to abandon this project, and continue his
voyage to Bengal.
" He carried off with him the Prussian sailor,
who was very unwilling to go; but he could not lay
hold of the Lascar, who effected his escape. But he
sent one of the natives to the island where the
Frenchmen were, to inform them that he should

those
Life at

shortly return to visit them.
" I caused a number of questions to be put to the
Prussian sailor, all of which tend to confirm that
they are French shipwrecked sailors who are on that
island ; having assured me that, at his arrival et
Tucopia, he had seen many sabres and pikes, which
he knew to be of French manufacture; that the
natives showed him silver spoons, which he con-
verted into ear-rings and rings, &c.; that he pre-
served the sword-blade, which might be of use here-
after, to show to what nation the objects coming
from that island belonged.
" He told me that the other island was only
twenty-four hours' sail distant from TtlCOpla that

- -f. -••-2,• , - .- - 7 ;s• . - .4":".' - '',• . . c.=,,i, :VATS.,!
(lea *vlif,
he had not dared to venture thith*,, us the;t,":-4:
boats of the country are so crazy, that he feared he
should not safely arrive in them. As it is impossible
to put all sorts of questions in a firseinterview,
which may lead to all possible elucidations, I have
translated into French the questions which I mean
to have translated into English, to send them to Mr.
Bonaffe, who will send for the PrUssian to his house,
when, through the. intervention of
Captain Trelo,
who speaks English perfectly well, I shall obtain
answers to all my questions.
" Captain Dillor informed me that the English
Government had determined to cause the se islands
to be explored, to ascertain whether there really were
any shipwrecked Europeans on that coast, and to
collect all the information requisite respecting the
events which caused the loss of these vessels.

" A corvette belonging to the Company has been
appointed to this mission.—(She is at this moment
at Rangoon, to take twenty-five lacks on board, but
she is daily exp.!eted.)
" Capt. Dillon will embark on board of her, boing-
comtnissioned to visit the aforesaid islands, to go in
quest of Europeans, who may be found there.—
Doctor Fyfiler will likewise embark on board of this
corvette, as an amateur, to examine these islands,
and to ascertain whether any commercial intercourse
can be formed with them.
"Before taking any steps with regard to the
English Government, I have this day vrritttn
private letter to M. Lushington, the Government
Secretary, begging that he would inform me whe-
ther the Supreme Council at Calcutta has it in con-
templation to send a ship to explore the islands of
Malicolo, where, according to Captain Dillon's re-
port, several Europeans have been shipwrecked
many years ago. If he replies in the affirmative,
shall write immediately to the Governor in Council,
requesting that M. Chaigneau, a Frenchman, be an-
, thorised to embark on hoard the said ship, to as3ist
Captain Dillon in his search in these islands, presu-
ming that if there be any Europeans there, they
must be Frenchmen, and part of the crew of La
Perouse.

" I sin induced to believe that the English Govern-
ment will not fail to participate with us in an inquiry
enjoined by humanity.
" M. Chaigneau, as I have already told you, seems
tome to be a man Calculated fer such an enterprise.
He does not speak English,- which, however, he un-
derstands perfectly, but speaks Spanish, with which
Captain-Dillon is also acquainted. The latter is just
now engaged in making saleof his cargo, and pro-
mises to come and see me towards the end of the
week, to Chaudernagor, and will bring with him
the Prussian sailor. He tells me he is writing out
his report to send to the Minister of Marine, toge-
ther with the sword guard; and that when it is
finished, he will send it to me to direct it. I will
make a copy of it and send it to you.
" As there are some doubts respecting the letters
on the guard, I have requested M. Savignac, a
hta ogets promised French
rseveralsed
painter, residing at Calcutta, to endeavour
mperintots
dofoit;oeittihieirs in wax oaripiditctimh;t I
ha
wllfi
itl bring
succeed
etdo Chaudernagorhal
es h e
vtere e a
ir
printssults of h
struck
labour.
ckofl
and
send you one.

" Captain Dillon is a Frenchman, born at Marti-
nique, of the family of the Dillon`. He has been
navigating the South Seas for upwards of fifteen
rears. He is in very easy circumstances ; and every
thing induces the belief that his report has been dic-
tated by a principle of humanity, uninfluenced by
any interested motive. The Prussian sailor has his
whole body tattooed. The Prince of New Zealand
will return with Captain Dillon, and before going
to Malicoli, they will get some natives to serve as
interpreters and guides.
" According to Capt. Dillon and the English
charts, the islands Malicoli are in 12. 15. south lati-
tude, and 169. east longitude, from Greenwich.
" According to a chart of the Great Ocean, pub-
lished in 1797, and corrected in 1818, 1 find that the
islands Malicolo are 16. 40. and 165.30. Captain
Dillon observed to me that the Malicolo of the
French charts were the islands designated by Cook,
but that the English give this name to the islands
south east by south of the isle Santa Cruz. Tucopia
is in the south, and what they call Malicolo is the
island to the west of Alderney. On our chart the
islands Feegee are written Fidgi : they are to the
south of Santa Cruz.

" J. CORDIER,
" Captain of the ship appointed on the Service."

MEETINGS OF CREDITORS.

COUNTRY DIART.--MONDLT, APRIL 16.
Dartes, 3., Hereford—Shirthall, Hereford l2
Fortune, T., Heighington—Spa hotel, Croft is
Herbert, G. Sibcroft—Mr. Wratislaw, Rushy ...... .........
Johnson, W., North Sidel:bi--George, Newcastle - 11
Potter, R. Teignmouth— Half Moon, Exeter
Rice, J., Taunton—Bell. Taunton
Thompson, R., Winchester—White Hart, Winchester 6
Winstanley, W., Liverpool—Star, Liverpool % l2
APRIL 17.
Bartlett, C.; Plymouth—London inn, Devonport ll
131aymires and Cb., Halifax—Magistrate', orrice, iimifai,
Board, J., Taunton—Landon inn, Tt:oriton ll
Borchelt, W., Enshan —Staple.Hall, Witney I 1
Butterfield, R., Seriveli—Elephalit and Castle, Knar.Abro' lt
Cooke, T., Birnihigh:Latßoyal Hotel, Birmingham ll
Devall, G., Birmine.rm—Royal Hotel, Birmingham l2
Edmondson, W., Go!,hwaite—Dragon, Kirkby Le:isdale
Evans, D., Swansea—Bush, Bristol
Evland, L., Walsall—Union, Birmingham 5
Giblett, R., Frome--George, Frome l2
Gorle, J., hales ON, en—Royal hotel, Birmingham
Harrison and Co., Chorley—Blackfriars inn, Manchester
Hart, J. jun., Birmingham—Royal hotel, Birmingham lt
Herbert, G. Sibbertoft—Mr. Wratislaw, Rugby
Johnson, NV., North Shields—George, Newcastle ll
Lawton, W., Hey —Rose and Crown, Huddersfield
Pattinson and Co., Hull—George, Kingston on Hull
Price, J., Wednes.bnry—Royal hotel, Birmingham
Handel', S., Ilmirster—George, Ilminster
Rogers, J., Bristol—Commercial rooms, Bristol 1
Sehorfie!d, J., Swithowram—Messrs. Alexander, lialifax lO
Spilshuryt a, Walsall—George, Bewdley lt
Taylor, G., Aldmonbury—George, Huddersfield
Thompson, R., Winchester—White Hart, Winchester lO
Warren, D., Wtßington—White Hart, Wellington