The numerous rocks and other dangers made Bou gainville turn off to the north-east, and prevented him from continuing a westerly course, so as to loess through the channel which separates New Holland from New Guinea. These two Islands, in his general chart, are laid down as forming one, although he possessed some information of the existence of the channel. Two years after, namely in 1770, Captain Cook sailed through this channel, so dangerous by its coral reefs.
The expedition having now crossed all the meri-; diens of the Pacific Ocean, and suffering from the scurvy in consequence of scarcity of food, came• to anchor in the Gulf of Cajeli, a settlement of the Dutch East India Company in the agreeable Island of Borou, one of the Moluccas. The Governor li berally supplied the wants of the expedition. He lived splendidly in a house built in the Chinese style, and judiciously adapted to the warmth of the cli. mate ; his wife and daughters wore the Chinese dress,-. " Ss maison fitoit Is notre," says Bougainville ; " a toute heure on y trouvoit a boire et d manger, et ce• genre de politease en vaut Bien un autre pour qui surtout se ressentoit encore de la famine." It was the beginning of September, and the expedition shortened their stay at Borou, in order to take ad vantage of the latter . part of the easterly monsoon, which carried them to Batavia ; from thence they proceeded to the Isle of France. Commereon re mained at the Isle of France, that he might from to examine the botany of Madagas car, as did Verron, for the purpose of observing the transit of Venus.
In 1769, the expedition arrived at St Malo, after a voyage of two years and four months, with the loss of only seven men out of upwards of 200.
Bougainville's account of the voyage is written with simplicity, and in a temper which inclined him to view objects on the humorous side. His courage, the good humour with which he maintained subor dination, and his attention to the health anticomforts of the crew, are everywhere conspicuous.
The art of making astronomical observations at sea was not so much improved as it is now, and especially the methods for ascertaining the longitude were very defective. In consequence of this, Bow. gainville's charts are erroneous, and particularly in the longitudes. Neither did be remain long enough in any place to make particular surveys.
Bougainville's life was an active one, so that little of it could be devoted to study. On his return to •rance, his time was passed in the company of the highest circles in Paris. He had the command of a ship under De Grasse and D'Estaing ; and, in April 1781, when the French fleet was beaten, he rallied 'some of the beaten ships, and brought them into -St Eustachio. After the peace, by which the inde pendence of the United States of America was se cured, Bougainville returned to Paris. The Aca demy of Sciences was at that time composed of pen ssioned members, and of associates who had no sa lary ; Bougainville solicited and obtained the place of Associate of the Academy.
He had a project of malting a voyage of discovery 'towards the north pole. As this did not meet with support from the French Governtnent,hesenthis plan to Admiral Phipps; Phipps, however, followed a dif ferent course from that proposed. by Bougainville, but he only get to the 80th degree of north lati tude.
Recourse was had to Bougainville in order to ve the mutinous disposition of the sailors in tbe French Navy, before the breaking out of the Re volution • but his efforts were He had the rank .- of Vice-Admiral in 1791. in 1792, he -escaped almost miraculously from the massacres of Paris, and wont to live on his estate in Normandy. He was much attached to the Government, which was then falling. He lived on his estate for some time ;-it was the only part of his fortune that the Re velation bad left him. He was chosen a Member of the Institute at its .first formation, and, in come -quence, returned to reside in Paris. Ile succeeded Horde as Member of the Board of Longitude. is his old age, under the government of Bonaparte, Ise enjoyed the dignity of Senator, was created a Count, -and Member of the Legion It/Honour.
He retained his good-humoured liveliness and his mental faculties to the 'last, -and -died 1811, -aged 82.
He was married, and had three sonsisilso served in the French army. He was always eager to pro mote science ; and he conducted himself during the Revolution, in such •a manner as to obtain the re spect of all parties. His eloge is written by De lambre in the Memoirs of the ilesstitute- (Y.)