The king had been pleased to himself draw up his instructions, bearing the impress of an affectionate and over-strained humanity.

"His Majesty would regard it as one of the happiest successes of the expedition," said the instructions, "if it were terminated without having cost the life of a single man." La Peyrouse and his shipmates never came back.

Louis XVI.

was often saddened by it.

"I see what it is quite well," the poor king would repeat, "I am not lucky." M.de La Peyrouse had scarcely commenced the preparations for his fatal voyage, when, on the 5th of June, 1783, the States of the Vivarais, assembled in the little town of Annonay, were invited by MM.