Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-03-29

nermissIOn 70 erect ms TENTS on Sn0reI
far the accommodatisniof his sick
Nothing hitherto had disturbed the
harmony which snbsisted between
his people and the natives of the,
country. But by the carelessness
Of the cook, a FIRE broke out on board
Of his ship. aud it was entirely con-
sumed. BY the greatest exertions,
la Peyrouse saved every thing pos
s;ble. of the sails, cordage. uten-
s;ls, arms and ammunition. His de-
sion was TO build q vessel which
should carsy the news ofhis misfor-
tune to some European colony. But
the natives of the country. who per-
m;tted him to ESTABLISH his camp,
and 70 take all measures for his safe
~. constantly opposed this design.
He then had no other hope than
+ha, he uncertainty respecting bis
Sate might induce the French govern
meat 10 send in searchsOf him. In
.be mean time years passed awayr
ord mai a vessel was seen. Alter
having passed twenty--one years IN
frui7ess expectation, he at last re
solved on making preparations to
embark. Having given orders Tor
emitting inthe wood the necessary PIE
,ees of timber, the natives regarded
the order as an aet of hostility, and
soon began war upon him.
The French being obliged to act al
ways on the defensive, could not carry
theirprolect into execution. M. La Pey-
rouse repeatedly endeayored TO raise
their spirits. but always without sue
Acess. Atlast, attsr war, IN which the
Etlle AMMUNITION which bad been saved.
was exhausted, the French overcome BY
numbers. Yielded, and were all massa'
cred. The Indians burnt the caaIp.--
NJ. DareIet commanded a post OF seven.
sYeen men. On being informed OF the
fste Of Al. La Perouse. and having nc
doubt Of the fate which awaited him,
.w;th his companions abandoned his little
battery. aud was so fortunate as to reach
"a little bav, where they found some In
dian boats Of which they took possession
With the aid of these frail vessels, they
GAINED the ocean, without cars, withouI
Instruments, and without provisions
where they had to struggle with the hor-
,..,,.s 0,hicb Threatened inevitable Death
In the meas time the wind and currents
drove them. after several days upon the
dry rock whence the Portuguese vessel
took NJ. Dageiet, after having subsisted
there two years, during which time, ne
saw the sad companions OF his mlsfor.
tunes. one after another, all perish.
NJ Dagelet was the sole survivor, and
ne died the ninth day after being taken
on board the Portuguese vessel. fits de-
Sclaration has been delivered, and his
Journals deposited at Macoo by the Por.
tasuese captain. In them the latitude
and longitude Of the island where La
Perouse remained solong time was de-
ternined. The governor OF this place
has sent tkem both to Batavia, whence
thew will be forwarded to France. Ehey
have been compared With d'Entrecas-
teaux's journal. and IL appears that the
latter passed within or 10 leagues only
of the island where Nj. La Peyrouse was
detained. But the narrative 81 NJ. d.
Entrecasteanx makes no mention OF my
land discovered in those parts.
Twill indulge IN no reflections On MS
narrative, which to this moment no au-
thentic declaration confirms. 1t is TO be
hoped that the part of the narrative which
relates TO tie sending to Batavia and the
Forwarding to France OF the Journals OF
nj. DassIet, may prove trSe. These
.impoftant\ documents will be durable
monument 10 the French nation OF their
zeal for the progress OF the Sciences End {
of their title to species OF glory which
seems to have been exclusively claimed
by our rivals.
]. +. de FRODERVILLE,.
Lieutenant in the Navy.
n. B. It viii be recollected that Lou
IS XVI. himself drew up the plan OF the