Jeanne Le Roux de la Chapelle, Baroness TASCHER DE LA PAGERI - Lot 586

Jeanne Le Roux de la Chapelle, Baroness TASCHER DE LA PAGERIE. L.A.S. [in Vauclin, Martinique] March 31, 1804, to her daughter Stéphanie (1788-1832, future Duchess of Arenberg); 8 pages in-4. Attached is a L.S. Saint-Pierre Martinique November 24, 1805, to his brother-in-law Danès (1 1/2 p. in-4, addressed). Magnificent and very long letter on the tragic situation of the colonists of Martinique during the blockade: "This colony has been very unhappy since you left it because of war and famine, and will soon be even more so, since we expect to be attacked by the English every day, and perhaps, alas, taken by them, since we have very few troops, and in the towns and countryside we are dying of hunger because of nine months of blockade, which has been fairly well observed for our misfortune and everywhere much too well since January, which gives us even more reason to believe in this planned attack and to fear being taken by famine... She instructs her to introduce the bearer of the letter to "your dear godfather and godmother" [Bonaparte and Joséphine], so that he can plead on the island's behalf "for no one is more true than he [...] and your godfather and godmother will know everything about us in detail and truth". She recalls her worries when she learned that her ship had been captured on the crossing and taken to England, gives her news and talks about their difficult situation. "I was hoping that last year's harvest would enable me not to run out of money. But not at all, the harvest is still in the house, the gaboteurs have not been able to continue bringing it to us", and she can find no one on the island to send it to her, there are no arms, no equipment, no food, and for the first time in her life, she has had to borrow. "It's your worthy principal and teacher, Abbé Garnier and Mr Nielly, who has kept me going until now. Yes, ma bonne, it's he alone who every Monday, with the affection of a tender son, brings me what he has earned from his carnelle of negroes during the week". He is the only one, among all the people she has helped in this town, who is so charitable to her. The absence and estrangement of her children is terrible to live with, but she endures it "as a Christian", for she has the hope that, when peace comes, she will join them in France. "I will go and see you all, so as not to leave you again, my dear children, until I die". She instructs her bearer to bring back portraits of each of her children. "Je voudrois que sur une simple boëte d'écaille bien noire et toute unie chacun de ces portraits, que je baiserai mille fois par 24 heures et qui ferait le bonheur de ma vie et m'aideray à supporter tous mes maux et le temps qu'il me restera à être loin de vous tous"... Attached is a L.S. Saint-Pierre Martinique November 24, 1805, to his brother-in-law Danès (1 p. and a half in-4, address).