All Sydney people, and most of those who have visited the city, haveseen the tall monument to Laperouse overlooking Botany Bay. Many haveperhaps read a little about him, and know the story of his surprisingappearance in this harbour six days after the arrival of GovernorPhillip with the First Fleet. One can hardy look at the obelisk, and atthe tomb of Pere Receveur near by, without picturing the departure ofthe French ships after bidding farewell to the English officers andcolonists. Sitting at the edge of the cliff, one can follow Laperouseout to sea, with the eye of imagination, until sails, poops and hullsdiminish to the view and disappear below the hazy-blue horizon. We maybe sure that some of Governor Phillip's people watched the sailing, andthe lessening, and the melting away of the vessels, from just about thesame place, one hundred and twenty four years ago. What they saw, andwhat we can imagine, w