Voyage Autour Du Monde, Pendant Les Années 1790, 1791 Et 1792, Par Étienne Marchand, Précédé D'Une Introduction Historique; Auquel On A Joint Des Recherches Sur Les Terres Australes De Drake, Et Un Examen Critique Du Voyage Do Roggeween... [...Tome Quatrième, contenant Des Observations Sur La Division Et La Nomenclature Hydrographiques, L'Application Du Système Métrique Décimal À La Navigation, Et Les Cartes.].

Paris: De L'Imprimerie de la République, An VI-VIII [1798-1800]. First Edition of this account of the Second French Circumnavigation (after that of Bougainville in 1767-69) and the first French commercial expedition to the northwest coast of America, the only one prior to Camille de Roquefeuil's voyage of 1816-19. Eager to explore the lucrative fur-trading possibilities in the northern Pacific suggested to him by Nathaniel Portlock in 1788, Marchand enlisted the support of the Marseilles firm 'Maison Baux' to finance the expedition. Although the fur-trading venture was a failure, the voyage was of considerable significance for the history of geographical discovery in the northwest. Author Fleurieu developed and greatly augmented his primary sources, the accounts of the surgeon Claude Roblet and Prosper Chanal, second captain of the expedition. The main work is preceded by a lengthy scholarly essay outlining the exploration of the northwest coast to 1790 by Drake, Juan de Fuca, Admiral de Fuentes, Bering, Chirikov, Cook, La Pérouse, Meares, Portlock and Dixon, Colnett, and Malaspina; the discoveries of Drake (1578) and Roggeween (1721-22) are further discussed in Volume III. Marchand's journey took him to Norfolk Sound, Sitka, the Queen Charlotte Islands, Rennel and Barclay Sounds, Vancouver Island, and the Sandwich Islands, and succeeded primarily in adding greatly to the scanty knowledge of the geography, native inhabitants and natural history of the northwest coast. Particularly valuable is the account of Marchand's exploration of the northwestern portion of the Queen Charlotte Islands, with observations on Haida life and customs. "A very important and authoritative work for the history of the northwest coast." (Lada-Mocarski) Bell F105. Hill pp. 105-06. Howes F-195a. Lada-Mocarski 54. Lande 1175. Strathern & Edwards 186. Streeter VI 3496. TPL 637 (Vol. IV only). Wickersham 6622. cfSabin 24751 (8vo. text). 4 Volumes. 4to. pp. 1 p.l., [v]-xii, cxliv, 628, [3]errata; 1 p.l., [v]-xvi, 676, [2]errata; xi, 431, [1], [2]errata; 1 p.l., viii, 158, [1 leaf]. without initial blanks in Vols. I & II. 15 folding engraved maps & charts & 1 engraved plate. numerous tables (1 folding). contemporary half calf, gilt backs (marbled paper varies on last volume, edges rubbed, spine labels & head of Vol. I spine chipped, some light foxing; nice crisp copies). elala5517