SLAVERY - MAURITIUS: Philippe Jean de la Haye Duponsel (1752-1790) French slave trader established in Mauritius, which was called at that time, “Isle of France”. An interesting and scarce letter related to slavery in the XVII century. A.L., four pages, 4to, Port Louis, Isle de France, 12^th January 1776, to his brother, in French. De la Haye Duponsel explains that he has been over the last few months travelling on board of the King´s flute ship, stating in part `…occasionés par le voyage de la flute du Roi Le Gros Ventre et celui de L´Espérance, mon fait manquer des occasions dont jus profité avec le plus grand plaisir pour vous assurer…´ (Translation: “…occasioned by the journey of the flute of the King Le Gros Ventre and that of L´Esperance, made me miss opportunities which I had taken advantage of with the greatest pleasure to assure you…”) He further announces the death of their sister saying `Je vous ai écrit au mois d´Octobre dernier pour vous announcer la perte que nous avons fait de notre chere soeur Rosine. C´est un évenement bien facheux pour ses enfants et pour sa famille. La Colonie la regrette…´ (Translation: “I wrote to you last month of October to tell you about the loss we have suffered of our dear sister Rosine. This is a very unfortunate event for his children and for his family. The Colony misses her…”) He further refers to his brother´s rights of inheritance and to the documents he needs to forward and to a business he is working on, and continues with the purchases of slaves he has achieved on the Zanzibar coast, stating `Je ne puis rien vous dire sur cet armementque je presume n´avoir pas eu lieu; assure ces Messieurs du plaisir que j´aurais de leur être agréable en tout ce qui dépendra de moi. J´aurais été bien flatté de remplir à leur compte une Opération que je viens de faire à la Côte de Zanzibar et qui a eu le plus grand succès. L´abrégé de cette mission consiste en une traite de 620 beaux esclaves qui n´ont couté, frais de traite compris, que 16550 piastres. Ce mesme voyage peut se faire pour les Isles de la Mérique en se ménageant la relache du cap de Bonne Espérance, il peut donner un grand bénéfice aux intéressés d´un pareil armement. On peut le faire également pour nos isles mais la difficulté du retour me ferait preferer le premier…´ (Translation: “I cannot tell you anything about this armament which I presume did not take place; assure these Gentlemen of the pleasure I will have in being agreeable to them in all that depends on me. I would have been very flattered to carry out on their behalf a business deal which I have just carried out on the Coast of Zanzibar and which has been a greatest success. The summary of this mission consists of a trafficking of 620 beautiful slaves who only have cost, including trading costs, 16,550 piastres. This same voyage can be made for the Isles of America by sparing the release of the Cape of Good Hope, it can give a great benefit to those interested in such an armament. We can also do it for our islands but the difficulty of the return would make me prefer the first…”) A letter of very interesting content, including the value of purchases of slaves. Small overall creasing with small area of paper loss to the spine, only affecting few words. About G

 

The earliest confirmed discovery of the Mauritius island was in 1507 by Portuguese sailors, who otherwise took little interest in the islands. The Dutch took possession in 1598, establishing a succession of short-lived settlements over a period of about 120 years, before abandoning their efforts in 1710. France took control in 1715, renaming it Isle de France. In 1810, the United Kingdom seized the island, and four years later, in the Treaty of Paris, France ceded Mauritius and its dependencies to the United Kingdom. Mauritius remained a primarily plantation-based colony of the United Kingdom until independence in 1968.       &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;              &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                       &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;              

 

The Gros Ventre is an 18th century French barge and one of the two ships engaged in the southern expedition carried out in 1772. It was the first French ship to approach Australia.