On a spot near the entrance to Botany Bay, (so named by Sir Joseph Banks, and “Sting Ray Bay,” from the number of that fish captured there by Captain Cook,) a neat column has been erected by Mr. Joshua Thorp, (at that time the government architect,) from a design by Mr. Cookney, to the memory of La Perouse; the expense of its erection being paid by a subscription from the officers of the French discovery ships, which visited the colony in 1824; the colonial government supplying convict labourers. It is situated on a little elevation not far from the place at which Captain Cook landed. The column is circular, standing on a pedestal, and surmounted by a sphere. Its elevation may be about fifteen feet. This was the last place whence intelligence was received from the indefatigable but unfortunate navigator. The inscriptions on the pedestal are in English and French, and as follow:—“This place, visited by Mons. de la Perouse in 1788, is the last whence any accounts of him were received. Erected in the name of France by M.M. de Bougainville and Ducampier, commanding the frigate La Thetis and the corvette L’Esperance, lying in Port Jackson. An. 1825.” About one hundred yards distant, inland from this column, near a red gum tree, are interred the remains of Pere le Receveur, one of the naturalists attached to Perouse’s expedition, who died at Botany Bay, in 1788. On the red-gum tree was the following inscription, carved by one of the officers attached to Bougainville’s expedition:—“Prés de cet arbre. Reposent les restes, Du P. Le Receveur. Visité en Mars, 1824.” During the time that the French discovery ships, La Thetis and L’Esperance, lay at Port Jackson, this place was also visited by their commanders and officers; and search having been made for the exact spot where the remains of the naturalist were deposited, some of his bones were found, and over that spot a plain monument has been erected to his memory: on it was placed the following inscription:—“Hic jacet, Le Receveur, Ex. F. F. Minoribus, Galliæ Sacerdos, Physicus in Circumnavigatione Mundi Duce de la Perouse. Obiit die 17 Feb. Anno 1788.” The following account of the death of Le Receveur is given in Philipp’s Voyage to Botany Bay, &c. “During the stay of M. de la Perouse in Botany Bay, Father Le Receveur, who came out in the Astrolabe as a naturalist, died. His death was occasioned by wounds, which he received in the unfortunate _rencontre_ at the Navigator’s Island.” A slight monument was erected to his memory. An inscription was placed on it similar to the preceding.