Papers relating to an Australian and Pacific voyage for the Mission Magnetique de l'Ocean Pacifique Est. Paris & Marseilles by Jacques Blot, 1896
Abstract
A significant group of manuscripts relating to a little-known and mysterious study of the Australian coast, by French naval officers for the Bureau des Longitudes in 1895 and 1896. The reports are by First Officer Jacques Blot of the Monaque, the vessel charged with charting the Pacific. The Monaque visited several important destinations including Sydney, Brisbane, South East Asia, and Batavia.
| Date |
1896 |
| Subject | |
| Category | |
| Author |
Blot, Jacques |
| Keywords |
Pacific ocean geomagnetism |
| Current holder | |
| Series number |
MLMSS 8820 |
| Item number |
1xqZ0gAY |
| Access rights |
Request at location |
| Rights |
Copyright status: In copyright Research & study copies allowed: Author has been deceased for more than 50 years |
| Language | |
| Description from source |
These manuscripts provide a detailed account of the voyage Blot undertook for the Bureau des Longitudes who were researching a new magnetic chart of the globe. This was a major project for the Bureau at the time, resulting in several expeditions, with a view to filling in the blanks of the known variations in the Earth’s magnetic fields. Blot’s first official ‘Memoire’ on the voyage gives a detailed overview and includes: an introduction about the mission, preparations and observations, survey of Cochinchine, observations and survey of Batavia, survey of the Australian East coast (Brisbane and Sydney) and his return voyage. The letter accompanying the report to the President of the Bureau des Longitudes, dated 10 April 1896, further elaborates on Blot’s findings. The second report, on official ‘Mission Magnetique’ letterhead and noted as a copy is the account of the voyage prepared for the Ministre de la Marine. This report gives extra details of the voyage. It appears to be in a secretarial hand but to have been signed by Blot himself at the conclusion. The mission was quite abruptly aborted in 1896. Blot mentions that upon his arrival in Brisbane he received a message via the French consular agent, reading: “Blot, Monaque, partis Brisbane. Mission supprimee. Ordre rentrer immediatement”. The Bureau did publish a lengthy monograph on their findings as ‘Missions magnetiques organisees par le Bureau des longitudes en 1895-1896’ (Paris, Gaulthier-Villars, 1903). |
| Physical format |
Manuscripts |
| Related resources | |
| Date accessed |
2023-04-02 |
Post successfully! Your comment will appear after it has been approved by the admin.
Log In to add your own notes to this record.
Saved to collection