Jules Dumont d'Urville. L.A.S. to Louise... - Lot 238 - Conan Belleville Hôtel d'Ainay

Jules Dumont d'Urville. L.A.S. to Louise de Croisilles. Rade de Toulon, aboard the Suffren, October 5, 1811. 3 pp. in-4. Address on the back. Tear in the second page at the opening of the letter, taking a few words with it. Long intimate letter full of love for his cousin and evoking his family memories. "I think, my pretty cousin, that you would be wrong to pretend to be richer in memories than I am. There is a good reason for this: I was your lover, the word must be cut off, and you were only my friend: so anything that made a deep impression on my heart could only strike you lightly: I want to quote you a particularity that will make you judge the price I attached to the smallest things that came to me from you. Do you remember that a few moments before leaving St. Remy for the last time, we went down together to the garden and that there you chose a beautiful red carnation that you yourself placed in my buttonhole; well, Miss, I kept this carnation for three days, I who had never bothered to keep a flower for only two hours; not content with that, so as not to lose it, I then took it off my dress and religiously brought it back in that pretty little purse that you had given me two years before []. I am still as happy as ever with my ship, with the staff, with my service []. We continue to go out from time to time to train our crews and show ourselves to the British for a moment....