FLORIAN - The Most Traveled Man on Earth

I am very sorry you are not here. If you were, you would never leave it any more, except
for our own part of the country, when the nest egg would have amounted to a bit of
something.
I went to see Madame Clawson, that good old lady ____ of the neighborhood who has
her big awkward daughter with her. On seeing me enter, the garden[er] told Madame
Clawson that her husband was coming – it seems that she was awaiting him. Madame
Clawson in great excitement came to the door with open arms to embrace me, tears in her
eyes. I was completely astounded, and my feelings not being as upset as hers, I was as
calm as a marble statue, but she, recognizing her mistake, took three steps backwards and
would have fallen on her back, her feet in the air, if the aforesaid big Miss and Miss
Go____ had not caught her in their arms. Tears, laughter, vapors, an attack of nerves
were the consequences of this deception. After a half an hour she somewhat regained her
composure, and I took to my heels, feeling like a fool, without their having offered me a
glass of water, or offered to have me return to be taken for a husband to the said lady,
which I can do very well without.
I go often to the Bush Tavern in my gig [?], for I have not been able to refuse myself that
little present, which has naturally necessitated a horse to pull it, and a very distinguished
bulldog. I also went to see the Reverend and Madame six miles from here. He is very
annoyed with Florian, who has not written him. I offered him the consolation of my own
case. All the ladies are very well.
<strong>The</strong> Count and Countess de Barda are always the same, and they love you, they say this
and I very much believe them.
I also saw Miss Bartolori and other young ladies at the opera. I can’t remember their
names any more, which proves that they are not dead. I stayed three months at Tom’s
Coffee House. Madame Tom and the Misses Tom are all fine people. It is incredible the
love they have for you and your daughters.
I have now taken an apartment near the bank, composed of a large __________, a little
antechamber, a bedroom and parlor, where I dine and have breakfast. <strong>The</strong> good Madame
de Froger writes me often. She is very well and her son also. I hope that Joseph may
have been able to hold back some funds from the Guadeloupe ______, and will send
them to me, for her. I certainly wish, alas, that we had not left, nor Joseph. I need to be
caressed by my nieces. I would also like to have my dear Laura here to play me the
variations (which were much admired at Paris). I should also like very much to pinch the
fat cheeks of my good Virginia. <strong>The</strong> head she drew for me is now in a fine book in red
Morocco leather and hence mounted, as well as the landscape by my favorite Eliza, who
they say is quite stuck on a handsome cockney. You see that I know all the news.
Embrace all your girls very lovingly for their uncle Peter, except Azelia, whom you are to
whip for me for changing. <strong>The</strong>se dear little girls, I love them with all my heart.
I have seen Mr. Dawson several times, and I went there to see Madame, who told me she
would be very pleased to see me, but she was not to be found at home, having spent
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