Aimé BONPLAND (1773-1858), botanist and explorer, explored S - Lot 14

Lot n° 14
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Aimé BONPLAND (1773-1858), botanist and explorer, explored S - Lot 14
Aimé BONPLAND (1773-1858), botanist and explorer, explored South America from 1799 to 1804 with Humboldt. Autograph letter signed to botanist Alire Raffeneau-Delile (1778-1850), 4 pp. in-4. Rio-Pardo [southern Brazil], November 8, 1849. Full transcript enclosed. A moving, nostalgic end-of-life letter. He has just made a five-week trip to Montevideo, a city that has withstood an eight-year siege, and reports on the city's situation: the "lower" class, the wealthy class, merchants, houses, etc., etc., etc. He has visited Admiral Lepredour on several occasions, aboard his frigate, and remains admiring of the order and luxury; likewise of the English Admiral Sir Herber "who has a table sumptuously served and especially in exquisite old wines". "These places are covered with vegetable gardens, and Montevideo square is extremely rich in vegetables of all qualities". He evokes memories of the time when they used to meet in Paris, in the apartment on rue du Mont-Thabor, and talks about the situation in America. "My friend, everything has changed; for 8 years America has ceased to be what it was. This is particularly due to the cruel war that has pursued us; however, there are other causes, men have totally changed [...]. I've worked hard, earned a lot of money, and if I were paid half of what I'm owed, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to return to France as things stand [...]. We are all tired of the war of arbitrary governments and of not increasing our fortunes. If the war is brought to an end by the intervention of France, this country will offer the greatest hopes. As for me, I am waiting for this moment to work on my Sta Ana and if it arrives I will consider myself rich in the midst of all my losses notwithstanding such a beautiful future [...]. My dearest Delile, I finally have the desire to return to Paris, to see Versailles, the scattered pieces of Malmaison, Navarre where you made a very impromptu trip and of which you will no doubt retain some memories, Montmorency and the descendants of Mr Le Duc, just as I saw the descendants of Flicoteau on my return from America; rue Montabor, rue Copeau, I won't tell you anything about the Jardin des Plantes, which is so enlarged, the Magdeleine and the Bourse, of which I've only seen the foundations, and so on. I would like, in a word, to publish the plants that are properly mine and which offer an interesting body of work, etc. But my dear friend, with no money to cover the first expenses, and no idea whether the fruits of my labors could be used to continue them, I fold my arms tightly and maintain myself here, where I spend my time very well, with no needs to torment me. I have often thought of embarking and going straight to Montpellier, which is my heart's desire, but on reflection, Paris is precisely where I should go. If our Jussieu's, our Desfontaines, our Richard's, our Lamarck's existed, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment. Not only do I have no sympathy for their replacements, but I'm justified in believing that they have none for me, and that in general I wouldn't be seen with pleasure going through my old herbarium, making the numerous observations I'd have to make. Everything leads me to believe that my herbarium has been ransacked! that it would be curious for me to see it, to compare it with the work published by Kunth, Richard, Humboldt and others, finally to compare it with my botanical manuscript, my numerous observations [...]. While awaiting your reply, I will make a collection of seeds, although it will be very long and difficult, and I will send it to you [...]. If at the same time you see fit to send me seeds, they will be well used. Could we have seeds of your Nelubium and other plants new to me. You haven't sent me Cassia renna, Gossypium herbacium or rhubarb seeds. I would like to have some of these seeds, plus some Digitalis purpavea [...], a few Crocus satirus onions [...] may we write to each other in our old age, but above all may we see each other. How many things we would have to remember and say to each other, dear Delile. I'm in my 76th year and just recently I'm getting tired [...]".
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