COUNT    de    BENYOWSKY.          89
On the 4th of February we croffed the equator.
On the 6th, in the Straits, we joined a Spanifli armed
frigate, named the Pallas; and on the 16th of March,
we arrived fafely at the ifle of France. My arrival here
was fo much the more agreeable, as I was perfe&ly tired
of the many queftions the French propofed to me, refpedl-
ing my discoveries during my former voyage. This voy-
age gave me an ample knowledge of the predominant cha-
racter of a nation, to which I fhall prabably attach myfelf
in future. As foon as we came to anchor, and the Governor,
the Chevalier de Roche, was informed that I was on board,
he fent a boat belonging to the government, to bring me
on fhore. On my entrance into the town, I was received
with military honours, and had the pleafure to be very
amicably received by the Governor, who offered to ac-
commodate me in his own houfe, I accepted this friendly
offer with great fatisfa&ion ; more especially as I hoped,
that his experience would be of fervice to me, in directing
my conduct, with regard to the French Court and Mini-
ftry. After a day's repofe, the Governor invited me to
accompany him in his excurlions upon the ifland; and
thefe little journies made me acquainted with fome of the
interefts of the French government, though I could
never agree to call this eftablifhment a colony. For the
ifle of France can never be made any thing more than a
military poft.
The arrival of Lieutenant Kreguelin, was a great relief
to me. For this navigator having returned from a voyage
to the Southern lands, gave employment to all the poli-
N                                  ticians