Jules Dumont d'Urville. L.A.S. to Louise... - Lot 236 - Conan Belleville Hôtel d'Ainay

Jules Dumont d'Urville. L.A.S. to Louise de Croisilles. Le Havre, June 23, 1809. 3 pp. in-4. Address on the back. Tear in the second page at the opening of the letter carrying a few words. Pretty letter that lets one perceive her personality and character. He expresses all his joy and emotion to have received a letter from her, and resigns himself to accept to maintain only a friendly relationship, however his thoughts are constantly turned towards her. He talks to her about her writing and style, and then responds to her advice. "Louise, you advise me to go out and see people; I don't care for various reasons that I can explain. First of all, I don't like it, and secondly, I'm young and only an aspirant, and I'm still only thinking of acquiring new knowledge, which is something that going out into the world could hardly do. Besides, my current salary would not be enough for that. Once I am a ship's ensign and even a rear admiral, I will be able to make this expenditure; in the meantime I will do without it very well. You wish to know if dancing amuses me; on the contrary it bores me so much that it bores me very much, and that is quite natural, I have neither taste nor disposition, reason alone makes me learn it, decorum alone will make me practice it. He then evokes Louise's trip to Bayeux and the "character so cheerful, so kind and of such a good heart" of her uncle the abbot [who took charge of Dumont d'Urville's education after the death of his father]. Finally, in a postscript, he gives, not without a touch of jealousy and bitterness, news of Louise's friend, Benerais, who had embarked with him. "For his part, he doesn't wait for you to choose your procurator, because for the past month or two, he has been assiduously courting a Beauty, who seems to occupy his affections entirely. At least such is the public noise, for for me I hardly meddle in her loves, hardly know her Dulcinea []".