Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-23

boat ashore, and that It brought back a French
man. named CageIei, the astronomer of the ex.
ped ton of NJ de Ia Peyrouse, and that NJ, Da.
gelet gave the following details
Nj de la P~eyrouse setting out from Botan,
bay he -, 17SS, with the two ships under
ms command, shaped his course to the south.
west of New Holland, coasting alenr a chain of
rocks. the direction and position of which are
not determined by NJ. Dagelet The barge. he
astrolabe, took the ground IN the night, and was
lost. Inc crew were in part saved, but having
soon after run short in water and provisions. and
continued to traverse this chain of rocks. III de
la peyrouse discovered an island situated. nc.
cording 10 his account, IN the s. s. T. of New.
Zealand. This inland may be from about II To
10 leagues IN circumference After having made
a tour ot 1t, he entered with the only vessel tina,
renamed TO him, into a deep and safe bay. where
he moored. He was very we'll rece we'd. & found
there an hospl'able people, a supply of provi-
sions OF every KIND, and obtained leave To erec,
tents on shore for the accommodation ofhis s,ck
Nothing hitherto had disturbed the good under
standing between his people and the natives of
She country but by the imprudence of a sailor.
a hre broke out on board, and the shin was en-.
ti'ely consumed. The cares of that brave Officer.
~ de la Peyrouse, were then directed to the
SAVING OF every thing possible in sails, cordage.
utensils, arms, ammunition. His plan was to
n'nld a YES el to carry the news of his misfor-
tune into some European colonies but the ma.
ives OF the country, who allowed him to erect n
camp, and make all his dispositions tor his safe.
~, constantly opposed this design.
There then remained TO " de "a Pevrousa on
y a hope that the uncertainty of his fate might
de the French government to send in
search or INN Jieanwhile the years passed away
ITO vessel made its appearance 1t was al
ter having passed twenty-one years in this ex.
p~ectation that he at length formed the plan to
build a vessel Having given orders 10 cut down
IN me woods the necessary timber, the natives of
the country regarded this order as an act of hos.
tility on his part, and war was soon kindled be.
tween the two parties. Obliged to be always upon
tne defensive, the French neither could nor dar-
ed to execute their plan-.h de la Peyrouse en-.
deayoured several times to rally their spirits, but
could not succeed. Finally, after a war. in
which The little ammunition that rema ned was
soon exhausted, tie French, overpowered bv
jumpers, yielded, and were rhassacred. The In
di;nS burned the emp.
III Dagelet was die only persen who survived
and he died the SInth day after his arrival ON
board the ship. His declaration has been signed
and hisJournals lave been deposile ed at Macao by
ule Poi 'uguese captain. The c will be found de.
termined an thtm The longitude and latitude of
the ISLAND whae NJ de la Peyrou.e remained so
long. The gofernor of that place has forwarded
Vhe one AID The other to Batavia, from whence
'rey "iu oe sent TO France. They have been ex-
ahmed, and compared with those of III. d'Entre.
casteaux and it results from thls examination.
uiat me later had passages IN his searches with
III rom elSht 10 ten leagues of The place where
~ de la reyrouse was obliged TO reside. But the
account OF NJ dEntrecasteaux makes no men
tIon OF the land perceived in these passages.
viii indulge in no observation upon this reel
tl, winch Is not yet confirmed by any authentic
declaration. 1t is to be wished that this part of
me narrative, which relates to the depot at Bata-
"a, ana OF .he sending to France of the journals
of.M Dagelet, may be true These IMPORTANT
pieces VIII De to the F. ench nation, a lasting mo.
nument of It's love for the promotion of science,
aHd ITS title to aspec;es Of glory which would
seem to be the exclusive property OF our ri.
L.F. DE FRoBERviLLE.