French transport l’Aube involved in French settlement at New Zealand according to the Dutch newspaper Zierikzeesche Courant dated 8 November 1839

An item dated Paris 4 November reported that the French transport l’Aube was lying ready to depart towards New Zealand to establish there a French settlement. The cabinet still made no decision how to act and already some believed that waiting any longer would resulted in a too late arrival of the l’Aube. It was believed that there were plans in New Zealand to become an independent country to prevent becoming British property.(1) If France would not react it was to be feared that this would have serious consequences for the French whaling in that area.

Note

1. The United Kingdom appointed in 1832 James Busby as British Resident for New Zealand. When three years later Charles de Thierry intended to found a French settlement asked the United Tribes the British king William IV for protection under while declaring independence. The result was that on 21 May 1840 Captain William Hobson declared British sovereignty and a year later New Zealand became a separate British Crown colony in the meantime being part of New South Wales.