FLORIAN - The Most Traveled Man on Earth

More documents

Recommendations

Info

my dear children. As for me, I am in high spirits more than ever and am determined to surmount all obstacles. I wrap you in my arms and hug you to my heart, Mother, children and friends. If only we can be reunited, although the wind and sea seem to always be against us. I desire it more than I can hope, at least right now. Remember me to all my friends. 28
Letter 7. Philadelphia, October 30, 1808 [From Jean-Baptiste Florian to Laura Eugenie Florian, later Bowers (1791-1857), the first daughter of Jean-Baptiste; she is apparently in England] Just on leaving New York, I received through Mr. Hope a letter from your uncle, dated September 23, who informed me that your mother and sisters were well and that she had received just recently a letter from you, my dear little one, in which you expressed a desire to return to her. I would think badly of you, dear child, if you preferred the society of strangers, however pleasant they might be, to that of your mother and sisters. But alas, my dear Laura, we are not in a position which permits us to obey the impulses of our hearts. I have already told you in the preceding letters and I repeat it again: the future is too uncertain for us to be able to flatter ourselves that we will be in the state of never having to work, one and all. If I could undertake something, which is extremely doubtful, and even if I could succeed, which is even more doubtful, it would yet be many years of assiduous work on my part before my mother, your sisters, and I should begin to gather the fruit of such work. Until such time, you should not count on anyone except yourself to live and maintain yourself. Virginia [the second daughter of Jean-Baptiste, 15 years old at this time] is barely able to earn her bread. Your two young sisters won’t be able to for a long time. So it is up to you, my dear little one, to help your mother and share with her the cares and expenses of rearing them. Your mother and I have always devoted all that we have been able and sacrificed all that we possessed to give you an education which would ensure you a decent existence for the rest of your life. You should, my children, return to us what we have done for you, if such becomes necessary. Reflect very seriously, my Laura, that it is time that you begin to earn sufficient so as not ______________, and from time to time you can, you should take upon yourself the upkeep of one of your sisters until [ p 2] they are no longer in a state of _________ and to work not only for them, but that they should join with you and contribute all together to solace your mother and to spare her work which becomes more and more painful for her. If I have the good luck to succeed, then we may find it possible to be all reunited one day in such a way that it will no longer be necessary for you to work in order to live. You will enjoy your leisure more than if you had not been obliged to work. So, my child, let the idea sink in well that at this time you occupy yourself with diligence and energy. You are preparing yourself for a most happy future. If fortune smiles on us, or on the contrary, you are putting yourself in a shelter against misfortune. Have joy in your work (which for a heart like yours should not be difficult) and contribute to the good fortune and the ________ of a mother who loves you tenderly and to whom you owe everything. I pointed out in my last letter that I was going to leave New York for New Orleans. Friday morning I embarked on a fairly big two-masted ship, __________, and we crossed the North River, or rather, from the port, to catch the coach from Philadelphia on the 29
Page 1 and 2: FLORIAN Th
Page 3 and 4: Section 2: Letters from Other Famil
Page 5 and 6: France still correspond, keep track
Page 7 and 8: Published Writings of Jean Baptiste
Page 9 and 10: Estelle Sims Collection. This consi
Page 11 and 12: Note on Translation and Holdings Wo
Page 13 and 14: Note on Monetary Exchange Value In
Page 15 and 16: Letter 1. 2 [Letter translated, not
Page 17 and 18: the education, with the compensatio
Page 19 and 20: Letter 2. [Letter translated, not o
Page 21 and 22: In case you receive from Messrs. Fa
Page 23 and 24: Letter 5. Halifax [Nova Scotia], 4
Page 25 and 26: Joseph Marie Le Det de Segrais Pier
Page 27: sorrow, my tender friend, that I ca
Page 31 and 32: We crossed the state of New Jersey
Page 33 and 34: Letter 8. [Lancaster, PA] November
Page 35 and 36: sobbing of the women _____ _______
Page 37 and 38: Letter 9. Pittsburg[h], Sunday, Nov
Page 39 and 40: years, one finds himself with a ret
Page 41 and 42: Mr. and Mrs. Linton, with all the r
Page 43 and 44: ecause the current was so rapid and
Page 45 and 46: Letter 11. Natchez, 4 January, 1809
Page 47 and 48: of 20 to 22 cents per pound, as it
Page 49 and 50: Letter 12. New Orleans, January 23,
Page 51 and 52: I have sent to Mrs. Kirkland letter
Page 53 and 54: will see all the country from there
Page 55 and 56: Letter 14. New Orleans, February 11
Page 57 and 58: Letter 15. New Orleans, February 12
Page 59 and 60: They think only of
Page 61 and 62: Letter 17. New Orleans, March 5, 18
Page 63 and 64: We have had news from England, of t
Page 65 and 66: [p 2] Madame Sain [Dai?] will entru
Page 67 and 68: Letter 19. Montesano [West Florida,
Page 69 and 70: Bring along also a few bushels of S
Page 71 and 72: Letter 20. Montesano [West Florida,
Page 73 and 74: ye-grass, clover, sainfoin, [Lucern
Page 75 and 76: Section 2 Letters From Other Family
Page 77 and 78: as much for the grandeur as for the
Page 79 and 80:
Your affectionate uncle, Jolly Patr
Page 81 and 82:
ignorant of the renunciation which
Page 83 and 84:
Eliza talks only about her pretty f
Page 85 and 86:
Elizabeth Florian Talcott, later in
Page 87 and 88:
Letter 5. [Letter from Marguerite M
Page 89 and 90:
I have seen the Couissin girls, the
Page 91 and 92:
I took [the girls?] to a grand ball
Page 93 and 94:
They should not al
Page 95 and 96:
Your sisters had promised to reimbu
Page 97 and 98:
Now I must scold you for not termin
Page 99 and 100:
My dear Papa, My sisters have told
Page 101 and 102:
Letter 8. [Letter from Marguerite M
Page 103 and 104:
hair, which is almost all white. Yo
Page 105 and 106:
some years this will be quite a lar
Page 107 and 108:
Letter 10. . [Undated letter from P
Page 109 and 110:
Duault is the most perfect and fine
Page 111 and 112:
sad, as did I, just a passerby on t
Page 113 and 114:
almost all the summer in the countr
Page 115 and 116:
Letter 12. [Letter from Pierre Rene
Page 117 and 118:
Adieu dear Friend! I hope that at l
Page 119 and 120:
Letter 14. [Letter in response from
Page 121 and 122:
attachments which had been planned
Page 123 and 124:
ealize only too well by what I have
Page 125 and 126:
For two months, while I have been a
Page 127 and 128:
I don’t have time on this occasio
Page 129 and 130:
not complain of anything, but his t
Page 131 and 132:
Letter 19. [Letter to Azelie Floria
Page 133 and 134:
Letter 20. Emma’s Narrative Proba
Page 135 and 136:
On Saturday the 21 st [unfortunatel
Page 137 and 138:
I told him I was not afraid, but as
Page 139:
The climate and th
show all

FLORIAN - The Most Traveled Man on Earth

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?