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A Voyage Round the World, Performed in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by the Boussole and Astrolab
A Voyage Round the World, Performed in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by the Boussole and Astrolab
A Voyage Round the World, Performed in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by the Boussole and Astrolab
A Voyage Round the World, Performed in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by the Boussole and Astrolab
A Voyage Round the World, Performed in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by the Boussole and Astrolab
A Voyage Round the World, Performed in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by the Boussole and Astrolab
A Voyage Round the World, Performed in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by the Boussole and Astrolab
A Voyage Round the World, Performed in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by the Boussole and Astrolab
A Voyage Round the World, Performed in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by the Boussole and Astrolab
A Voyage Round the World, Performed in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by the Boussole and Astrolab

A Voyage Round the World, Performed in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by the Boussole and Astrolab

Author: Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse (1741-1788)

Year: 1799

Publisher: Printed by S. Hamilton for G. G. and J. Robinson, and T. Payne

Place: London

Description:

3 volumes. 426 pages. 453 pages. 512+[xi} with tables and index. Octavo (8 1/2" x 5 1/2") bound in handsome contemporary marbled calf, spines elegantly decorated in gilt, with contrasting red morocco lettering pieces. Second edition.

Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse was a French Navy officer and explorer. Having enlisted in the Navy at the age of 15, he had a successful career and in 1785 was appointed to lead a scientific expedition around the world. His ships stopped in Chile, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Macau, the Philippines, Korea, Russia, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, and Australia before wrecking on the reefs of Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands.

Lapérouse was appointed in 1785 by Louis XVI and by the Secretary of State of the Navy, the Marquis de Castries, to lead an expedition around the world. Many countries were initiating voyages of scientific explorations at that time. The expedition's aims were to complete the Pacific discoveries of James Cook (whom Lapérouse greatly admired), and like Cook with botanist Joseph Banks, his over aim was to enrich French science and scientific collections. However the French governments main aim was to correct and complete Cook's maps of the area, establish trade contacts, open new maritime routes and discover whether or not the British intention to establish a colony at Botany Bay was a genuine form of settlement, or intended to create a British Admiralty Pacific Fleet and so squeeze the French and Spanish out of extensive areas of the Pacific not yet explored.

On 10 March, after taking on sufficient wood and fresh water, the French expedition left New South Wales—bound for New Caledonia, Santa Cruz, the Solomons, the Louisiades, and the western and southern coasts of Australia. While Lapérouse had reported in a letter from Port Jackson that he expected to be back in France by June 1789, neither he nor any members of his expedition were seen again by Europeans. Louis XVI is recorded as having asked, on the morning of his execution in January 1793, "Any news of La Pérouse?"

Condition:

Lacking the atlas volume. Joints tender, corners with rubbed and bumped, spine end rubbed with heads lightly chipped; foxing else about very good.

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