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

109

For a time Baudin served under the command of Admiral Bruix, but on the 7th January 1800, he wrote to the First Consul to complain of inactivity and to ask for advancement69). This was the first move in his most ambitious game, the wager being no less than the command of a voyage of discovery to the ‘Terres Australes’.

The initiative captured the interest of the First Consul and on this plane the cogitations of the adventurer and of the statesman converged. From the deliberations it became clear that such a scientific undertaking by renewing the endeavours made by Royalist France in this area would much enhance the good repute of the Republic. But it also inevitably stirred the old dreams of expansion “this great south land, which, situated not far from the countries of Asia where, for three centuries, Europeans have been forming settlements” .. .70). While the Comte de Fleurieu, prominent member of the Institut National and Minister of Marine under the Ancien Regime, drew up the “Plan of Itinerary”71), the Minister of Marine Forfait drafted the instructions indulging awhile in political reflections. The decision to appoint him as Commander-in-Chief72) of the corvettes ‘Le Géographe’ and ‘Le Naturaliste’ was dated 28th September 1800. In recording this achievement, the contribution of Franz Boos to the scientific preparation of Baudin and the importance of the Austrian connection must not be forgotten.

69) Baudin to the First Consul, 7th January 1800: ibid, no 29.

70) Vide instructions of Minister of Marine Forfait to Baudin, 29th September 1800 in Cornell Journal of Post Captain Nicolas Baudin (vide note 10) 7—9.

71) Comte de Fleurieu: Plan of itinerary for citizen Baudin: ibid. 1.

72) ‘Délibération appelant le Capitaine de Vaisseau Baudin au Commandement de la Corvette “Le Géographe”’, 28th September 1800: Baudin’s file in Archives Nationales Vincennes Marine CC7 126 no. 32.