Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Lettres de Mme Louis de Freycinet ecrites pendant le voyage autour du Monde de la Corvette l'Uranie (1817–1819) transcribed and edited by Louis-Claude de Saulces de Freycinet, after 1820 and before 1842

Lettres de Mme Louis de Freycinet ecrites pendant le voyage autour du Monde de la Corvette l'Uranie (1817–1819) transcribed and edited by Louis-Claude de Saulces de Freycinet, after 1820 and before 1842

SAFE / MLMSS 9158 vol 2 

“We have just had lunch at Mr Field’s place. Upon embracing his charming wife, she put on my finger a small cornelian engraved with the word ‘Remember’ … there certainly was no need for that! Her charming qualities have engraved her memory in my heart even more securely. I certainly need to remember that each step we are going to take will bring us closer to you, my dear Mother, and to this rest that you desire for us and to which we certainly have a right. Farewell again.”

Transcription

Nous venons de déjeuner chez Mř. Field, en m’embrassant son amiable femme m’a mis au doigt une petite cornaline grave du mot remember… ah! Il n’en est pas besoin! Ses charmantes qualités ont gravé son souvenir dans mon cœur encore plus solidement. J’ai grand besoin de me rappeler que chaque pas que nous allons faire va nous rapprocher de vous, ma bonne mѐre, et de ce repos que vous désirez et auquel nous aurons bien quelques droits. Adieu donc encore une fois!

'We were warmly welcomed...'

By Louise Anemaat, SL Magazine, Summer 2014–15

The Freycinet’s formed many strong attachments to Sydney society, they were friendly with the Macquaries, the Macarthurs and the Fields. In 1818 Rose writes ‘we were … warmly welcomed by Mrs Macquarie. This lady, it is said, had great merit, she showed me the greatest kindness and put me immediately at ease with her. There is a very pleasant air of elegance and simplicity in this house [referring to the Governor’s house at Parramatta]’. 

Louis later wrote to Mrs Macquarie, in 1824, asking for detailed information about the colony for his proposed publication about his voyage and offering to defend the Governor from the attacks in Commissioner Bigge’s report (see MLMSS 5052)