Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 35. (1982)
LY-TIO-FANE, Madeleine: Contacts between Schönbrunn and the Jardin du Roi at Isle de France (Mauritius) in the 18th Century. An Episode in the Career of Nicolas Thomas Baudin
94 Madeleine Ly-Tio-Fane Laborde would make remittances from the Imperial Treasury easy. His business undertakings in India, China and the Dutch East Indies (he had been the island’s largest exporter of ebony to Canton and Java) would provide the means of conveying what was collected in Asia to Isle de France21). He had already been of service to Céré in this respect22). ‘M. Oury, le négotien de notre ile le plus distingué et le plus riche, et cela pour la faci- lité du service et de consert avec MM. nos chefs, va étre le banquier des S. M. Im- périale pour toutes les dépenses qu’il y aura ä faire, et ä la fin de l’année frettera un de ses vaisseaux et plusieurs s’il le falloit pour le transport de toutes choses ...’. The most important feature in this letter, is however the indication that Boos should have a free hand during the return journey in order to protect and safeguard the collection; for this he should not travel on a ship of commerce and be subjected to the constraints then current: ‘M. Boos ayant un vaisseau ä ses ordres et qui voguera sous le pavilion impérial . . . évite d’etre ä la mercie de tous les vaisseaux de commerce n’importe de quelle nation il sóit, et qui sont toujours ou encombrés ou préssés de partir, qui ne pouroient point embarquer l’eau nécessaire pour l’arrosement des plants, pour le besoin des animaux et montés le plus souvent par des officiers peu complaisants et se ressentants plus ou moins de l’élémant qu’ils parcourent, il évite, dis-je, tout embaras au Cap de bonne es- pérance et n’en partira que quand il sera prét, dans la saison süre, c’est ä dire de 15 au 20 de Mars, pour arriver en Europe de 2 ä 3 mois aprés son départ’23). In July, Céré wrote Cobenzl to inform him of developments. The well- thought out programme for Madagascar was however jeopardized by the difficult conditions for collection, namely the temperament of the people and the insalubrious climate which decimated the Europeans, especially in the summer. He had sent to Manila a request for plants, including fruit trees, and for various curiosities like birds’nests, tortoise shell, mother of pearl, rare shells, birds, and chocolate well-known for its quality and purity. From China, he had asked for ginseng, tea shrubs of different qualities and medicines. Boos had worked in the Garden which had greatly suffered from the terrible cyclone of the preceding November and made his own selection from what was left standing; he had explored the island and selected also the indigenous plants: ‘. . . des indigénes de notre isle encore peu ou point connue des botanistes. Son activité est sans exemple, son zéle ne connoit aucune peine, aucun retardement, ses connois- sances trés étendues, son heureux caractére et son bon esprit au-dessus de l’éloge que j’en pourrois faire, Tont fait aimer, estimer et rechercher généralement de tout le monde’. He was planning his journey to the neighbouring island of Bourbon which should take place shortly. And in the meantime Céré was trying to find the ship’s captain who would convey these rarities to the Emperor: 21) Vide Dermigny La Chine et I’Occident 854-857. 22) Oury to Céré, 1st September 1786: Lettres V fol. 83. 23) Céré to Cobenzl, 18th April 1787: Lettres V fol. 118.
