TERRE NAPOLEON /'/// \\|, /./, NATURALIST* AH M ., F 1807 TERRE NAPOLEON A HISTORY OF FRENCH EXPLORATIONS AND PROJECTS IN AUSTRALIA BY ERNEST SCOTT WITH EIGHT ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS , * I > n METHUEN & CO., LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET W.C. LONDON First Published in igio At * "*? u A > i) \i\r I- M.\V >io hK'i.M HKKVCIN ND (AUSTRALIA) ATLAS, 1808 PREFACE main object of this book is to exhibit the THEfacts relative to the expedition despatched to Australia by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800-4, and to consider certain opinions which have been for many years current regarding its purpose. Until about five years ago the writer accepted without doubt the conclusions presented by leading authorities. One has to do that in regard to the vast mass of historical material, because, obviously, however much disposed one may be to form one's opinions on tested facts apart from the writings of historians, several lifetimes would not be sufficient for a man to inquire for himself as to the truth of a bare fraction of the conclusions with which research is concerned. But it so happened that the writer was interested, for other reasons than those disclosed in the following pages, in ascertaining exactly what was done by the expedition commanded by Captain Nicolas Baudin on the coasts which were labelled Terre Napoleon. On scrutinising the facts somewhat narrowly, he was sur- prised to find that opinions accepted with unquestioning vi TERRE NAPOLfiON f.iith began to crumble away for lack of evidence to support them. So much is stated by way of showing that the book has not been written to prove a conclusion formulated a priori, but with a sincere desire that the truth about the matter should be known. We read much in modern ' books devoted to the era of the Corsican about the Napoleonic legend.' There seems to be, just here, a little sporadic Napoleonic legend, to which vitality has been given from quarters whence have come some heavy blows at the larger one. The plan adopted has been, after a preliminary sketch of the colonial situation of Great Britain and France in the period under review, to bring upon the scene the Terre Napoleon coasts the discovery ship Investigator, despatched by the British Government at about the same time as Napoleon's vessels were engaged upon their task, and to describe the meeting of the two captains, Flinders and Baudin, in Encounter Bay. Next, the coasts denominated Terre Napoleon are traversed, and an estimate is made of the original work done by Baudin, and of the serious omissions for which he was to blame. A second part of the subject is then entered upon. The origin of the expedition is traced, and the ships are carefully followed throughout their voyage, with a view to elicit whether there was, as alleged, a political purpose apart from the scientific work for PREFACE vii which the enterprise was undertaken at the instance of the Institute of France. The two main points which the book handles are : (i) whether Napoleon's object was to acquire territory ' ' in Australia and to found a second fatherland for the it is as so often French there ; and (2) whether true, asserted, that the French plagiarised Flinders' charts for the purpose of constructing their own. On both these points conclusions are reached which are at variance with but the evidence is those commonly presented ; placed before the reader with sufficient amplitude to enable him to arrive at a fair opinion on the facts, which, the author believes, are faithfully stated. A third point of some importance, and which is believed to be quite new, relates to the representation of Port Phillip on the Terre Napoleon maps. It is a curious fact that, much as has been written on the early history of Australia, no writer, so far as the author is aware, has observed the marked conflict of evidence between Captain Baudin and his own officers as to that port having been seen by their discovery ships, and as to how the repre- sentation of it on the French maps got there. Inasmuch as Port Phillip is the most important harbour in the territory which was called Terre Napoleon, the matter is peculiarly interesting. Yet, although the author has consulted more than a score of volumes in which the expedition is mentioned, or its work dealt with at some TERRE NAPOLfiON length, not one of the writers has pointed out this sharp contradiction in testimony, still less attempted to account for it. It is to be feared that in the writing of Australian, as of much other history, there has been on the part of ' authors a considerable amount of taking in each other's washing.' The table of comparative chronology is designed to enable the reader to see at a glance the dates of the occurrences described in the book, side by side with those of important events in the world at large. It is always an advantage, when studying a particular piece of history, to have in mind other happenings of real consequence pertaining to the period under review. Such a table should remind us of what Freeman spoke of as the ' unity and indivisibility of history,' if it does no more. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PAGE A continent with a record of unruffled peace Causes of this variation from the usual course of history English and French colonisation during the Napoleonic wars The height of the Napoleonic empire and the entire loss of the French colonies The British colonial situa- tion during the same period The colony at Port Jackson in 1800 Its defencelessness The French squadron in the Indian Ocean Rear- Admiral Linois The audacious exploit of Commodore Dance, ' ' and Napoleon's direction to take Port Jackson in 1810 . i CHAPTER I. FLINDERS AND THE 'INVESTIGATOR' The Investigator at Kangaroo Island Thoroughness of Flinders' work a His aims and methods His explorations ; the theory of Strait through Australia Completion of the map of the continents A direct succession of great navigators : Cook, Bligh, Flinders, and Franklin What Flinders learnt in the school of Cook : comparison between the healthy condition of his crew and the scurvy-stricken company on the French vessels ....... 23 CHAPTER II. THE AFFAIR OF ENCOUNTER BAY Meeting of the Investigator and Le G&graphe in Encounter Bay Flinders cautious Interview of the two captains Peron's evidence The chart of Bass Strait Second interview: Baudin inquisitive Baudin's account of his explorations 38 CHAPTER III. PORT PHILLIP Conflict of evidence between Baudin, Pcron, and Freycinet as to whether the French ships had sighted Port Phillip Baudin's statement corroborated by document Examination of Freycinet's statement The impossibility of doing what Peron and Freycinet asserted was done 48 x TERRE NAPOLEON CHAPTER IV. TERRE NAPOLKON AND ITS NOMENCLATURE PACE Imprisonment of Flinders in Mauritius The French atlas of 1807 The French charts and the names upon them Hurried publication The allegation that Peron acted under pressure Freycinet's ex- planationsHis failure to meet the gravest charge Extent of the actual discoveries of Baudin, and nature of the country discovered The French names in current use on the so-called Terre Napoleon coasts Difficulty of identifying features to which Baudin applied names Freycinet's perplexities The new atlas of 1817 . 68 CHAPTER V. DID THE FRENCH USE FLINDERS' CHARTS? Assertions commonly made as to French plagiarism of Flinders' charts. Lack of evidence to support the charges General Decaen and his career The facts as to Flinders' charts The sealed trunks The third its it log-book and contents ; detention of by Decaen, and the reasons for his conduct Restoration of Flinders' papers, except the log-bookand despatches Do Freycinet's charts show evidence of the use of Flinders' material? How did the French obtain their chart of Port Phillip? Peron's report to Decaen as to British intentions in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and the effect on his mind Libera- tion of Flinders Capture of Mauritius by the British English naval officers . and the governor Later career of Decaen . 90 CHAPTER VI. THE MOTIVES OF BONAPARTE Did llunapartc desire to establish French colonial dominions in Australia ? The case stated 122 CHAPTER VII. GENESIS OF BAUDIN'S EXPEDITION Baudin's one of a series of French expeditions The building up of the map of Australia Early map-makers Terra Australis Dutch navigators Emmerie Mollineux's map Tasman and Dampier The Petitts Lettres of Maupertuis De Brosses and his Histoire des aux Terres Navigations Australes French voyages that originated it I ; Bougainville Marion-Dufresne ; La Pe"rouse ; Bruni Dentrecastcaux Voyages subsequent to Baudin's The object of the voyages scientific and exploratory The Institute of France and iu Received proposition by Bonaparte with interest Bonaparte's CONTENTS xi PACK interest in geography and travel His authorisation of the expedi- tion The Committee of the Institute and their instructions Fitting out of the expedition Le Gtographe and Le Naturaliste The staff Francois Peron Captain Nicolas Baudin 128 CHAPTER VIII. EXODUS OF THE EXPEDITION The passports from the English Government Sailing of the expedition French interest in it The case of Ah Sam Baudin's obstinacy Short supplies The French ships on the Western Australian coast The He Lucas and its name Refreshment at Timor The English frigate Virginia Baudin sails south Shortage of water The French in Tasmania Peron among the aboriginals The savage and the boat Among native women A question of colour Separa- tion of the ships by storm Baudin sails through Bass Strait, and meets Flinders Scurvy Great storms and intense suffering Le G&graphe at Port Jackson 1 60 CHAPTER IX.