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London March 12 1790
Sir
I was honord [honoured] with yours of yesterday but too late to answer it by Return of Post. The following are all the Circumstances I ever heard of M de Perouse my Authority from which is more the common talk of the Island than any thing Else tho I heard from M D Entrecasteaux [Governor General Mascarine Islands, Nov 1787 - Nov 1789] personaly that news had been receivd by the way of Batavia of one of the ships I believe the Astrolabe & it was feared the other was lost.
1st that after having left Botany Bay they steerd Northward to explore the Island Eastward of the Coast of China that arriving late they determined on refitting at Batavia and separated to make the best of their way. One ship got on shore somewhere near to Borneo & arrivd on the Coast of Java I believe in March 1789 Whence they dispatched an officer to Batavia for assistance where at on such she was to be refitted & in Case of the non arrival