h Sea; and I think we were told that they also touched upon the
Spanish Main in the South Sea. As a proof of their having been trading
with the Spaniards, Bougainville's Ship had on board a great Quantity of
Spanish Dollars at the time she arrived at and left Batavia, some days
after our arrival at the Cape of Good Hope. I was told by some French
Officers, lately come from the Island Mauritius, that Orette, the Native
of George's Island which Bougainville brought away with him, was now at
the Maritius, and that they were going to fit out a Ship to carry him to
his Native country, where they intend to make a Settlement; 100 Troops
for that purpose were to go out in the same Ship. This account is
confirmed by a French Gentleman we have on board, who has very lately
been at the Maritius.* (* This intention was never carried out.) As I
have no reason to doubt the truth of this account, it leads me to
consider the rout that this Ship must take, which I think can be no other
than that of Tasmans as far as the Coast of New Zeland; and if she fall
in with that Coast to the Southward of Cape Farewell will very probably
put into Admiralty Bay, or Queen Charlotte's sound, as Tasman's track
will in some measure point out to her one or the other of these places. I
think it is not likely she will venture through the Strait, even suppose
she discovers it, but will follow Tasman's Track to the North Cape, where
no doubt she will leave him, and follow the direction of the Coast to the
South-East, as it will not be out of her way; by which means she will
fall in with the most fertile part of that Country, and as they cannot
know anything of the Endeavour's voyage, they will not hesitate a moment
to declare themselves the first discoverers. Indeed, I cannot see how
they can think otherwise, unless the Natives inform them to the contrary,
which they may not choose to understand. The French Officers before spoke
of would not allow that George's Island was first discover'd by the
Dolphin, though no doubt Bougainville did; but it was not for the
Interest of his Country, nor perhaps his own, to own it. Thus this
Island, though of little value, may prove a Bone of Contention between
the 2 Nations, especially if the French make a Settlement upon it, and
the Dolphin's voyage, and this of ours, published by Authority to fix the
prior right of discovery beyond disputes.

Now I am upon the Subject of discoveries, I hope it will not be taken
amiss if