Some Surprising Numbers

The dimensions of l'Aurore's hull are really quite small: 66 feet in length and 18 feet molded beam. Once rigged, it is about 1/3 the length of a 74-gun ship and half the height. The depth of hold is 8 feet 4 inches under the deck beams and it displaces about 130 tons, 100 of which for the ship itself.

Whereas in its second career, l'Aurore was manned with a crew of 30 or 40, its civilian crew was only 24 during the Marquess' voyage: 2 officers, 5 non-commissioned officers, 13 seamen, one coastal pilot, 1 cook and 2 boys. The Marquess invited 11 passengers for this scientific cruise, and 8 servants were also aboard.

The artillery is no longer in the model but information provided by J. Martiz in 1758 suggests a caliber diameter slightly smaller than 67mm.

The same is true for the two boats : Gerard Delacroix offers an interesting and plausible reconstruction with lengths of 16 and 14 feet from a fairly rough drawing by Ozanne.

From the inventory made at Le Havre on March 24 1769 there were 3 anchors, whereas the model shows 5, one of which set on deck does not appear to be the same design as the others. The weight of the anchors was 755, 743 and 200 pounds. The fourth one of the same design present on the model can be estimated at 120 pounds.

Surprisingly, this fairly small vessel is rigged with three masts capable of carrying 12 sails including a spritsail, two jibs, one maintop staysail and one mizzen boom and gaff driver; but it seems that l'Aurore would have needed additional staysails to improve its sailing qualities. To this should be added a jack at the bowsprit, an ensign at the stern and a pennant. Finally, l'Aurore had three awnings, one for the poop, one for the quarterdeck between the main mast and the mizzen and the so-called great awning between the main and the foremast.

Blocks are single, double and triple. Their size varies between 81mm and 231mm. They are necessarily in great number since the rig is based on three masts. The rope diameters vary from 7 to 30 mm.

The very complete inventory of the ship's contents gives precious information on the galley, sail-maker, gunner, carpenter, calker, locksmith and baker furnishings, as well as spares for the masts, ropes and blocks, ammunition, boat equipment, casks, movable furniture and other fittings.

This rich source of information is still part of the manuscripts kept in the Sainte Geneviève library in Paris.