The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a Letter from Paris.

YOU may remember that we were some time last year amused with an account of a new discovered island, from which the people of this country proposed to themselves immense advantages. The report was occasioned by the fitting out of some ships at St. Malo for such a discovery: Those frigates were the Eagle of 20 guns, commanded by Capt. Duclos Guyot: and the Sphynx of ten guns, commanded by Capt. Girandais Chenard; both under the direction of Monsieur Bougainville. These vessels sailed last September, and it was at that time given out that they were gone to the East Indies.

Upon the 25th of the last month, the Eagle having put Monsieur Bougainville on shore at Morlaix, proceeded to St. Malo, while that gentleman came post to court, where he was very well received. All imaginable precautions were used to prevent the secret from transpiring. However, it is known that the contents of his report were, that in pursuance of his instructions, he had discovered a very fair and fruitful island two hundred leagues in extent, very advantageously situated; and from which great commercial benefits might be expected; that he had constructed a tolerable fort, defended by fourteen pieces of cannon, a fair house, large magazines, and had left a sufficient garrison to maintain the possession, with the news of which he had dispatched the Sphynx to Guadaloupe.

It lies eighty miles distant from the continent of South-America, over against the Streights of Magellan, in the lat. of 52 degrees; however it is no new discovery, having been seen and visited by several ships of St. Malo in the last year of the last century, who, by touching on several sides, and entering several ports, believed it to be cluster of islands, to which they gave the names of Isles of St. Malo, in honour of that haven from which they were fitted out. It is very fair and fertile, abounding with large woods, many fine harbours, all the necessaries of life in great plenty, and from whence, as you will easily perceive by its situation, a very extensive commerce may be carried on.

Three ships of the line, besides frigates, have since sailed, as 'tis said, for this new settlement, of which the most sanguine expectations are formed.