Jean François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse (1741–88) was a French explorer appointed by Louis XVI to lead an expedition to explore the Pacific Ocean, which ended in disaster when in 1788 the ships left Botany Bay in Australia on course for the islands of Oceania, and were never heard from again. However, La Pérouse had sent back via a British ship letters, journals and charts which form the basis of these detailed volumes (first published in English translation in 1799), providing a fascinating account of the journey and the discoveries of the expedition. They provide valuable insights into the social and political context of contemporary scientific naval expeditions. Volume 1 contains a short biography of La Pérouse, copies of documents concerning the planning and provision of the expedition and a description of the voyage across the Pacific Ocean as far as Korea.
Translator's preface; Editor's preface; Introduction by the editor; Decree of the National Assembly, February 1, 1791; Decree of the National Assembly, April 22, 1791; General list of the officers, men of letters, artists, seaman and marines, embarked on board the frigates la Boussole and l'Astrolabe; Private instructions from the king to the sieur de la Pérouse; Extract from the general instructions of Mr. de la Pérouse, June 26, 1785; Notes geographical and historical, to be subjoined to the king's private instructions to Mr. de la Pérouse; Letter from the marshal de Castries to Mr. de Condorcet, perpetual secretary to the academy of sciences; Memoir drawn up by the academy of science for the astronomers and others, embarked under the command of Mr. de la Pérouse; Questions proposed by the society of medicine to the navigators accompanying Mr. de la Pérouse; Experiments to be made for preserving the water put on board from corruption, communicated to Mr. de la Pérouse, by the abbé Tessier; Memoir for the direction of the gardener in the duties he has to perform on his voyage round the world, by Mr. Thouin; Catalogue of goods and merchandise put on board the vessels under the order of Mr. de la Pérouse, for the purpose of barter, and making presents; Summary of the instruments of astronomy, navigation, natural philosophy, chemistry, &c. &c. for the use of the men of science and artists employed in the voyage of discovery; Catalogue of books of voyages, astronomy, navigation, physics, natural history, delivered to Mr. de la Pérouse, for the use of the officers and men of science embarked under his command; Narrative of an interesting voyage of the frigate la Princess, from Manilla to San Blas, in 1780, 1781; Extract from the account of a voyage made in 1779, by Don Francisco Antonio Maurelle, ensign of a frigate in the service of the king of Spain, to explore the western coast of North America: 1. Object of the expedition; 2. Description of the island of St. Catherine; 3. Description of Conception; 4. Description of Easter Island; 5. Excursion of Mr. de Langle into the interior parts of Easter Island; 6. Departure from Easter Island; 7. Departure from the Sandwich Islands; 8. Continuation of our stay at Port des Français; 9. Description of Port des Français; 10. Departure from Port des Français; 11. Description of Monterey Bay; 12. Astronomical observations; 13. Departure from Monterey; 14. Arrival at Macao; 15. Arrival at Cavite; 16. Departure from Cavite.
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