FLORIAN - The Most Traveled Man on Earth

hair, which is almost all white. You will also judge by this scribbling the effect the
discordant music has had on my ears.
I embrace you with all my soul. [Marguerite]
And me also, Laura
[From Laura Eugenie Florian, later Bowers (1791-1857), the first daughter of Jean-
Baptiste, as a continuation of the above letter]
Your last letter gave us much pleasure, my dear Papa, and gave us still more desire to
make progress in everything, before leaving this country. Lately we have had the
advantage of hearing a lot of good music. We have also become acquainted with a great
virtuoso, Madame Pio, an Italian lady who has just arrived from Lisbon with her four
daughters. <strong>The</strong>y are all full of talent and play the harp in a superior way. And especially
the second [daughter] plays like an angel, almost as well as her mother. How I should
love to take a few lessons from her, but it is impossible, she charges a guinea [per
lesson?].
Today we have just heard a little boy who plays miraculously, but he is not perfect like
Miss Pio. You can imagine that this makes us want to be as good. Today we are going to
a concert given by Madame Macnamara, my harp teacher. We are to hear the greatest
musicians in London.
My uncle Joseph has not yet left. I assure you that we would like him to stay to
accompany us. Give all my best regards to my uncle Emmanuel, and be assured of the
unshakeable love of your
Laura
[From Virginia Josephine Florian, later Russell, 1793-1881, second daughter, to her
father Jean-Baptiste Florian, as part of the continuing letter]
How we envy, my very dear Papa, your fine climate. Instead of giving you a description,
as you did for us, we are shaking with cold, and we think with pleasure that this summer
here will be the last winter we will spend in England.
I wish I could boast about my progress in music, but I leave that to Laura. I am not lazy,
however. I draw as much as I can. I am now making a figure in all colors, in the manner
of Bartolozzi. I hope that you will be pleased by it, although it will not be as well done as
I should like it, but I am doing my best, and I think of you all the time I am drawing, and
of the pleasure I will have when I embrace you. Believe me always, my dear Papa, your
devoted and affectionate daughter.
Virginie
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