"MONUMENT ÉLEVÉ À LA MEMOIRE DE LA PEROUSE" par Mr. BOUGAINVILLE en 1825.
(Botang bay, Nouvelle Galles méridionale)

BOTANY BAY, SYDNEY, LA PEROUSE, NSW.

Rare lithograph depicting the monument build in memory of La Perouse by Hyacinthe Yves Bougainville on 6 September 1825 in Botany Bay, Sydney, New South Wales.

From:
BOUGAINVILLE HYACINTE YVES. "JOURNAL DE LA NAVIGATION AUTOUR DU GLOBE DE LA FREGATE LA THÉTIS ET LA CORVETTE L'ESPERANCE".

After E.B. de La Touanne
.
Original lithograph by Bernard et Frey, figures by Bayot. 

Printed on wove paper, uncoloured as published.

Size/Format: 190mm (H) by 286mm (L) [image]   244mm (H) by 318mm (L) [sheet/feuille]

The monument on the northern shore of Botany Bay was built in 1825. 
It is still extant and the suburb that developed around the monument is known as La Perouse. 
The oblisk honours the eighteenth century French explorer, la Perouse who visited Botany Bay in 1788 and met Governor Phillip in the first week of the fledgling settlement.
 He stayed only a short time before sailing off to oblivion. His two ships foundered in the Solomon Islands and subsequent voyages to the Pacific by the French had as one of their tasks to discover what had happened. Built on the occasion of the visit to Sydney by Hyacinthe de Bougainville, commander of the French corvette THETIS. de Bougainville was the grandson of Louis de Bougainville, the first French circumnavigator.
 
Edmond Bigot de La Touanne
French topographical artist and naval officer. 
Was lieutenant on the Thetis expedition to the South Seas in 1824-26 under the command of Hyacinthe de Bougainville, which had been given secret orders to report on the defence capabilities of British settlements. 
On arriving at Port Jackson in 1825 Bougainville, his officers and La Touanne extensively and explored the colony recording as they travelled. Bougainville?s report stated that although the colonies defences were poor the harbour was so deep and so protected as to be almost impregnable.