# 13799

DUPETIT-THOUARS, Abel Aubert (1793-1864)

Admiral Dupetit-Thouars : autograph letter signed, dated June 1845

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Manuscript in brown ink, single sheet, folding to form [4] sides, small octavo; written on 2 sides; headed Paris, le 5 Juin 1845, a note from Admiral Dupetit-Thouars to the publisher Baudry requesting copies of a course in philosophy; signed at the foot ‘A. Du Petit Thouars’; address and postal markings to the last side; original folds; complete, clean and legible.

‘Mon cher Monsieur Baudry, je vous prie de vous procurez et de m’envoyer le cours de philosophie de Cousin [Victor Cousin, 1792/1867, philospher and head of th École Éclectique). année 1827 et 1828. J’espère que vous ne trouverez pas mauvais que je m’adresse à vous pour cet objet, ma pensée en agissant ainsi se reporte au passé et c’est puisqu’il me semble que vous m’avez dit que vous vous occupiez de librairie, toutefois veuillez croire que c’est à bonne intention que je vous fais cette demande. Veuillez me rapporter au souvenir de M. Gide [the publisher, Casimir Gide] ….’

Dupetit-Thouars’ voyage in the Vénus (1836-1839) was critical to the establishment of a French colonial presence in the Pacific, as well as for the promotion and protection of French commercial activities around the globe. His account, Voyage autour du monde, published between 1840 and 1846, ranks as one of the most important nineteenth century works on Pacific voyages.

‘Dupetit-Thouars’s account of his stay in California, in 1837, is one of the most important and complete records of the Mexican period. In 1838, the Vénus made a run for Easter Island, further investigated the coast of South America, then sailed for the Galápagos and Marquesas Islands, Tahiti and New Zealand. At Tahiti the expedition forced Queen Pomaré to write a letter to the King of France apologising for mistreatment of French priests, to pay an indemnity, and to salute the French flag. He had also made a treaty with Kamehameha III of Hawaii. After visits to Sydney and Mauritius, the ship sailed home, arriving after a voyage of thirty months…’ (Hill).