[* La Perouse says, in his letter to M. de Fleurieu, dated Feb. 7, 1789 from Botany Bay, “You will doubtless be glad to learn, that I have not allowed this misfortune (the massacre of captain De l’Angle and eleven others at the Navigator’s Isles) to derange the plan of the remaining part of my voyage.”  This plan, as expressed in a preceding letter of Sept. 7, 1787, at Avatscha, was to “employ six months in visiting the Friendly Islands to procure refreshments, the south-west coast of New Caledonia, the island of Santa Cruz of Mendana, the southern coast of the land of the Arsacides, with that of Louisiade as far as New Guinea.” Voyage of La Perouse, Translation, London, 1799, VOL.  II. p. 494-5, 502-3.  As La Pe/rouse did not reach the Friendly Isles, it is probable that he began with New Caledonia; and that upon the south-west coast, or in the way to it, disaster befel him.]

An opinion that La Perouse had been lost in this neighbourhood, induced me when examining the main coast to seek carefully at every place, amongst the refuse thrown upon the shores, for indications of shipwreck to windward; and could the search have been then prosecuted to the 15th, or 12th degree of latitude, I am persuaded it would not have been in vain.  Besides the extensive reefs which skirt the western side of New Caledonia, and the Barrier Reefs on the opposite coast of New South Wales, we are now acquainted with the six or eight following distinct banks of coral in the sea between them, exclusive of Wreck Reef and the Cato’s Bank.

Two reefs discovered by Bougainville. 
Bature de Diane, by the same. 
Two reefs further westward, by the Investigator. 
Booby Shoal, towards New Caledonia, by captain H. L. Ball. 
Bellona’s Shoal, by the ship of that name. 
Bampton’s Shoal, an extensive reef with two small islands.

There are also the islets and shoals seen by the ship Sovereign, which are probably a part of those that extend so far from the northwest end of New Caledonia; and all these, with some others further northward, lie in the space comprehended between Louisiade and New Guinea on the north—­New Caledonia to the east—­New South Wales to the west—­and a line drawn from Sandy Cape to the Isle of Pines on the south.  Few ships have passed through this sea without making the discovery of some new bank of coral; and it is probable that several other patches of reef, yet unknown, will be found in it, especially on the Caledonian side.  This space might be very appropriately called the Corallian Sea.

CHAPTER II.

Departure from Wreck-Reef Bank in a boat. 
Boisterous weather. 
The Coast of New South Wales reached, and followed. 
Natives at Point Look-out. 
Landing near Smoky Cape; and again near Port Hunter. 
Arrival at Port Jackson on the thirteenth day. 
Return to Wreck Reef with a ship and two schooners. 
Arrangements at the Bank. 
Account of the reef, with nautical and other remarks.