FLORIAN - The Most Traveled Man on Earth

Your sisters had promised to reimburse us the money which was buried, and they have
through their lawyers returned the papers fixed up by our friend Drouin for you, and they
will abide by his decision.
Despecher [Despeches?] has handed over the effects he had in his possession, which are
almost reduced to nothing. He offered 100 [pounds?], and that because I had written him
a very touching letter to recall to him the friendship which used to formerly exist between
you two.
I have at the same time tried to move friend Omdink [Amsink?] concerning his debt
related to Le Gentil, who has been dead some time. 66 I had some hope that he would pay,
and send the sum at the value of the “assignment” [the amount accorded by the French
Revolutionary Government] at the time of the loan. I should have also received
something from Roussel, but he is destitute.
<strong>The</strong> news which Eugenie [Eugenie Marie Florian Jolly de Pontcadeuc, 1768—after 1843]
gives me on the present state of her family is not bright. Her husband’s income has
diminished, instead of increasing. <strong>The</strong>y now have another little girl named Inez. This
makes three for them, and they are reduced to the barest necessities. Eugenie’s only
luxury was her apartment, she wanted to give it up to come to your relief. I wrote her
again this morning to ask her to do no such thing. Magdaleine [Florian Jolly de
Pontcadeuc] is still the same loyal person and loves us as heretofore. Her husband
[Honoré Cyprien Boulan] has been in bad health for several years. <strong>The</strong>y fear for his life,
and his illness has almost destroyed his business.
Fauchette is living on a heath, which her husband is clearing, which he bought by money
received from the sale of the Marais. 67 It is said to be a poor purchase. <strong>The</strong>y have four
children, and no money. 68
Felicite is better provided for in that respect, but she is paying dearly for it. Her husband,
[Pierre Marie] Fromy Du Puy, is stingy and bad tempered. 69 <strong>The</strong> poor woman is desolate
at being separated from all her family, especially Fauchette, who was everything to her.
She lives in our villa six months of the year, and the rest of the time she passes alone with
her two little girls at the Marais, which her husband has purchased.
[p 2] What you tell me of your memories, my friend, has moved me deeply. Not one of
the incidents you recall is erased from my memory. It seems to me that I am again on the
sandy shore with you, served by the good Catherine and our little Laura, for they were
66 <strong>The</strong> grandmother of Jean-Baptist Florian was Magdeleine Le Gentil de la Riviere. But she died in 1781.
Her father Joseph-Denis Le Gentil died in 1755. Hence this recent death likely refers to a great uncle of
Jean-Baptiste. <strong>The</strong>re is at least one known such person, Joseph Alain Le Gentil, but unfortunately we do
not know his dates.
67 <strong>The</strong> Marais was the ancestral home of the Florian Jolly de Pontcadeuc family, in St. Malo.
68 Fauchette is the nickname of Françoise Jolly de Pontcadeuc, sister of Jean-Baptiste. In 1801 she married
Louis Florent Thierry, ancestor of the wife of Hughes de Boiry Buchepot; it was he who assisted
tremendously in producing this collection.
69 On 1 August 1803 Félicité Jolly de Pontcadeuc married Pierre Marie Fromy du Puy (1759-1856).
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