Fleurieu again drew up the instructions, and based them largely upon the letter from Laperouse quoted above, pointing out that remains of him would most probably be found in the neighbourhood of coasts which he had intended to explore.  It was especially indicated that there was, south of New Holland, an immense stretch of coastline so far utterly unknown.  “No navigator has penetrated in that part of the sea; the reconnaissances and discoveries of the Dutch, the English and the French commenced at the south of Van Diemen’s Land.”

Thus, for the second time, was a French navigator directed to explore the southern coasts of Australia; and had Dentrecasteaux followed the plan laid down for him he would have forestalled the discoveries of Grant, Bass and Flinders, just as Laperouse would have done had his work not been cut short by disaster.

It has to be remembered that the instructions impressed upon Dentrecasteaux that his business primarily was not geographical discovery, but to get news of his lost compatriots.  But even so, is it not curious that the French should have been concerned with the exploration of Southern Australia before the English thought about it; that they should have had two shots at the task, planned with knowledge and care, officially directed, and in charge of eminently competent navigators; but that nevertheless their schemes should have gone awry?  They made a third attempt by means of Baudin’s expedition, during the Napoleonic Consulate, and again were unsuccessful, except in a very small measure.  It almost seems as if some power behind human endeavours had intended these coasts for British finding—­and keeping.

The full story of Dentrecasteaux’ expedition has not yet been told.  Two thick books were written about it, but a mass of unpublished papers contain details that were judiciously kept out of those volumes.  When the whole truth is made known, it will be seen that the bitter strife which plunged France in an agony of blood and tears was not confined to the land.

The ships did not visit Sydney.  Why not?  It might have been expected that an expedition sent to discover traces of Laperouse would have been careful to make Botany Bay in the first instance, and, after collecting whatever evidence was available there, would have carefully followed the route that he had proposed to pursue.  But it would seem that an European settlement was avoided.  Why?  The unpublished papers may furnish an answer to that question.

Neither was the south coast of Australia explored.  That great chance was missed.  Some excellent charting—­which ten years later commanded the cordial admiration of Flinders—­was done by Beautemps-Beaupre, who was Dentrecasteaux’ cartographer, especially round about the S.W. corner of the continent.  Esperance Bay, in Western Australia, is named after one of the ships of this expedition.  But from that corner, his ships being short of fresh water, Dentrecasteaux sailed on a direct line to Southern Tasmania, and thence to New Zealand, New Caledonia, and New Guinea.  Touch with the only European centre in these parts was —­apparently with deliberation—­not obtained.