FLORIAN - The Most Traveled Man on Earth

almost all the summer in the country. You know that they live in Finsburg Square, where
they have a very beautiful house. I am living at number 4 Token House Yard, it is behind
the bank. Trilo works with me, and he was so unfortunate that he was very happy to find
a place to work. But unfortunately he is not very knowledgeable. That scoundrel of a
Carson is still at the same business, they say, looking for easy marks, and sometimes
finding them. Apropos, we each have 1/16 th of Persillot. That is indeed a tiny share of
the property. So 1/16 th of a house rented, I believe, for 50 ecus. What a fine return.
Your cousin Granclos [probably the Meslé de Granclos family] is finally possessed of a
better income. He has the chateau and the grounds of the park. He has bought his sisters’
and nephews’ share, and he pays, by a very strict budget, the capital and the interest for
them, and will be a very important landowner, with an income of 30 to 50 thousand
pounds. He is also a “Grigoux” [lives like a miser], but his wife is a very pleasant
woman.
This is quite a long letter, isn’t it? But I wanted to tell you about everybody, while I was
at it. I hope that you will write me a very long letter, also, with lots of details on your
activities, and your hopes. I hope that your husband still retains some of his big plans of
yore – leather that cannot be wet through [waterproof leather]. He will laugh when he
remembers that. 90
I would like for him to write something about Louisiana. Tell him from me that it is
absolutely [essential] that he get seriously busy with it. I promise to have his work
printed in Paris, where it will get a good sale. A description of the present state of the
country, of the natives, [with] pictures, topographical descriptions, some amusing
incidents, especially, all in the form of travel letters, instructing and diverting. Some
learned notes on the mountains, the lakes, the ancient inhabitants, a touch of the unusual
– in sum, a lot of interesting material. This will open for you an excellent door for
returning to France, since you will only be known as Louisianians. 91
I have not sent Emmanuel the papers for obtaining the funds at Charleston. I think that
your husband will certainly be able to make this trip. Besides the commission, the
expenses etc. [?] I have written to Emmanuel to give a little present to my nieces out of
this money, also to my dear sister. I hope that this will be paid. One of my friends who
was at Charleston three years ago to do business, would have received this money if he
had the papers which I will send. I hope that you will get them. If you do, as I do not
doubt, this will be a great help in going back to France, and to getting residence there.
My only, my dearest hope, is seeing us all re-united. How happy I would be then, and
how proud I would be then to have made some contribution.
Adieu, again, dear good sister. Embrace your husband and your daughters for me. Also
brother Emmanuel, and believe me, I am your always devoted brother,
90 <strong>The</strong> reference to waterproof leather must have been a private joke.
91 Quite possibly this phrase means that the Florian family will be viewed as Louisianans, rather than as old
guard Royalists, and hence will be in less danger in the new France.
113