TRANSCRIPTION
19 PLUVIÔSE - At daybreak on the 19th [8 February], having no hope of being able to get further into the bay, I dispatched two boats to sail right around it. As we had the sun both to North and South and, consequently, some difficulty in observing the latitude from on board, Citizen Bernier went in the boat which was starting in the East, and whose command I gave to Citizen Bonnefoi with these instructions:
To Citizen Bonnefbi, Sub-Lieutenant etc.
At dawn tomorrow you will take command of the large working longboat and will put Citizen Bernier ashore in the furthest inlet of the bay we are anchored in, which bears East and East by South-East by the compass.
To get there, you are to proceed first towards the point lying East and East-South-East of our anchorage in order to make sure if the land to South-East is an island, as claimed. When you are certain of what it is, you will proceed on your way to the inlet that I have spoken of.
The moment Citizen Bernier has finished his observation, you are to follow the coast and take the greatest care in examining it and plotting its outline. If there should be any openings, you are to explore them; and they should be too deep, you are to make a note of them and their direction before retracing your steps. As it is probable that the part of the coast you are to explore is frequented by natives (since we have noticed several columns of smoke there at various times), you will carefully avoid any unpleasant dealings with them and try, on the contrary, to make them understand, by gestures of friendship or the sight of the presents that I intend for them, how peaceful your intentions are.
By all appearances, you will be absent for one or two days before you have sailed around the bay we are in, and so you must take the greatest care not to let your boat go aground.
You will keep note of the times at which the tide turns and of the highest level to which it rises. This you will do by observing the marks left on the shore.
I trust that the desire to return aboard will not make you too hasty in carrying out the mission given you and that you will perform it in such a manner as to leave no doubt about the places that you are going to examine. Your boat will be stocked with three days' supplies; and in all circumstances you are to avoid using on the natives the firearms which are aboard for the security of those accompanying you.
(Signed) N.B.
In the second boat, sent off under the command of Citizen Ransonnet to sail around to the North, I dispatched Citizen Faure, the geographer, to examine in detail the harbour reported and to survey it.
Copy of the instructions given to Citizen Ransonnet
At daybreak tomorrow, 19 Pluviôse, you will take command of one of our large boats and proceed to the place that Martin, the second yeoman of signals, will point out to you.
To judge by the incomplete information that he gave me on the port that he had found, this area appears to merit closer examination. That is why Citizen Faure is accompanying you to survey it as accurately as possible. Since these parts seem to be frequented by natives, you must examine them carefully and not endanger yourself by allowing your boat to go aground. You, will avoid any kind of engagement with them, should they approach you, so as not to be obliged to use the firearms that I am placing at your disposal. You will try, on the contrary, to persuade them to come to you by showing them the presents that I intend for them, and you are to make all the gestures of friendship usual in such circumstances to get them to understand how peaceful and comradely your intentions are.
I trust that the desire to carry out your mission well will cause you to spend the required time on it and that you will not return until it is finished. You will take with you three days' supplies.
(Signed) N.B.
