Lalande's "Bibliographie Astronomique"

[p. 501] 1768 Paris, in-4.deg. Journal du voyage de M. le marquis de Courtanvaux, sur la frégate l'Aurore, pour essayer, par l'ordre de l'Académie, plusiers instrumens relatifs à la longitude; mis en ordre par M. Pingré, chanoine régulier de Sainte-Geneviève, nommé par l'Académie pour coopérer à la vérification desdits instrumens, de concert avec M. Messier.

316 pages. This voyage in Holland had the principal objective the marine clocks of M. Leroy, which have been verified afterwards in longer voyages.

Charles Messier, born on June 26, 1730 at Badonviller in the Principality of Salm in Lorraine, went to Paris in the month of October, 1751. He worked with Joseph de l'Isle for the Depot of the Navy since 1752. After my departure to Berlin, he observed with him. (Mémoires présentés [Presented Memoirs], volume V, p. 612). He observed the comet of 1758; he discovered that of 1764; he saw that of April 8, 1766 by chance with the unaided eye. (Mémoires présentés, Vol. VI, p. 92). He has discovered a great number of them since.