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

Contacts between Schönbrunn and the Jardin du Roi

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life. He would also enlist the help of M. Moracin, Intendant at Pondicherry, in their endeavour to bring together collections from India and Asia. Cáré confided to Pelgrom:

‘... nous allons, vu le pouvoir de M. Boos, mettre l’Afrique et l’Asie ä contribution et en faire venir tout ce que nous croirons pouvoir orner et enrichir le lieu déjá si célébre de Schönbrunn, et je ne négligerais pas désormais la flateuse correspondance de votre savant Ministre M. le Comte de Cobenzl . . .’16).

Such a correspondence would also have its scientific sequel as Céré expressed the wish that any matter which the Count deemed agreeable or useful could be communicated to the Imperial Academy in Vienna. Pending the despatch of the complete collection to Schönbrunn, Céré would take the opportunity of easier communications with France to address to the Imperial Ambassador in Paris, le Comte Mercy d’Argenteau, the curiosities which he may be able to collect in the meantime17). Such a flattering occurrence afforded Céré a pretext to impress on Castries the need to support a Garden which had so amply proved its worth18). Céré did not either forget to express his gratitude to Proli who had brought him in close contact with the Emperor’s circle18a).

The ensuing weeks were spent planning the collections which were to be made in the Indies, the management of which had been entrusted to Moracin19), and in Madagascar. Céré was firm in his advice to Boos not to risk his life by travelling thither. Francisco Norona, the Spanish botanist, had not listened to this advice and had paid this negligence with his life:

*. . . un botaniste espagnol qui y a passé 4 mois malgré que je l’eusse instruit du danger de l’insalubrité de l’air de ce pals lä, en est revenu mourant au bout de ce tems quoi- qu’il n’ait pás pénétré ä plus de 20 lieues dans les terres ...’19a).

Boos should instead take advantage of the good disposition of the Governor and Intendant and also of the opportunities offered by private traders. He received great assistance in this respect from Oury, the former associate of Proli, who not only made the necessary funds available, but also used the contacts he had established in the large island when he had undertaken a vast operation in association with Leroux Kermorseven to provide the King’s troops with fresh meat and rice, while also engaging in the slave trade on a large scale20). Oury’s connections with the Parisian banker Jean-Joseph de

16) Céré to Pelgrom, 6th April 1787: Lettres V fol. 117.

17) Céré to Cobenzl, 4th April 1787: Lettres V fol. 120-121. The ‘Académie Im- périale de Vienne’ did not yet formally exist. Emperor Ferdinand I authorised its foundation on 6th May 1847: Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv (henceforth HHStA) Wien Administrative Registratur F 12/1 fol. 118-122.

18) Céré to Castries, 4th April 1787: Lettres V fol. 119.

18a) Céré to Proli, 6th April 1787: Lettres V fol. 122-123.

19) Céré to Moracin, 25th April 1787: Lettres V fol. 125-126.

19a) Céré to Cobenzl, 1st December 1787: Lettres V fol 166.

20) Oury’s undertakings in Madagascar are covered by the documents preserved in the Archives Nationales Paris Archives Coloniales Sous-Séries C 5A9 (1775-1789).