They were then to sail west to "Terre Leeuwin," ascend the Swan River, complete the exploration of Shark's Bay and the north-western coasts, and winter in Timor or Amboyne.

Finally, they were to coast along New Guinea and the Gulf of Carpentaria, and return to France in 1803.
In September, 1800, the ships, having on board twenty-three scientific men, set sail from Havre under the command of Commodore Baudin.

They received no molestation from English cruisers, it being a rule of honour to give Admiralty permits to all members of genuinely scientific and geographical parties.

Nevertheless, even on its scientific side, this splendidly-equipped expedition produced no results comparable with those achieved by Lieutenant Bass or by Captain Flinders.

The French ships touched at the Ile de France, and sailed thence for Van Diemen's Land.