It was now learnt that these were, as the Governor had supposed, the Boussole and the Astrolabe, on a voyage of discovery, under the conduct of Monsieur La Perouse.
26 January 1788 On the 26th, the transports and store ships, attended by the Sirius, finally evacuated Botany Bay; and in a very short time they were all assembled in Sydney Cove, the place now destined for their port, and for the reception of the new settlement.

The French ships had come to anchor in Botany Bay just before the departure of the Sirius; and during the intercourse which then took place, M.la Perouse had expressed a strong desire of having some letters conveyed to Europe.

Governor Phillip was no sooner informed of this, than he dispatched an officer to him with full information of the time when it was probable our ships would sail, and with assurances that his letters should be punctually transmitted.

By this officer the following intelligence was brought back concerning the voyage of the Astrolabe and Boussole.
These vessels had sailed from France in June 1785.

They had touched at the Isle of Santa Catharina on the coast of Brasil, from thence had gone by the extremity of South America into the Pacific Ocean, where they had run along by the coasts of Chili and California.