Guide to the Mauritius Collection

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MS 2282

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Andre de Chapuiset le Merle
Title
Mauritius Collection
Date Range
1737-1969
Collection Number
MS 2282
Extent
2.31 metres (3 ms boxes + 2 archive boxes + 2 medium folio boxes + 1 large folio box)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Scope and Contents

A collection of manuscripts relating to Mauritius. It formed part of a large collection of books, pamphlets, manuscripts, maps and drawings which was purchased by the National Library in 1968 from the widow of Andre de Chapuiset le Merle of Mauritius. The items are arranged as far as possible in chronological order. Note that items 198-209 were found in amongst the published component in Asian Collections, and were transferred to this collection in May 2001.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2281994) for the access conditions.

Conditions Governing Use

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Mauritius Collection, National Library of Australia, MS 2282, [item number]'.

Item Descriptions

La Bourdonnais, Bertrand François de Mahé de. Five orders to pay and receipts, 1737-1743. La Bourdonnais (1699-1753) was governor of Mauritius 1735-1746 and greatly influenced its development (Item 1-5)

La Caille, Abbé de. "Opérations géométriques et trigonométriques faites dans l'Isle de France." 1753. This forty-page manuscript and other works by La Caille were used as reference works by later scholars of Mauritius (Item 6)

Pingré, Alexandre, Père. Letter and note 1760 from Pingré, an astronomer, concerning preparations for his expedition to Mauritius to observe the planet Venus; extracts concerning his stay in Rodrigues and Mauritius, May - September 1761 (Item 7-10)

Two documents 1762, transferring to the Hôtel des Invalides two soldiers stationed on Mauritius (Item 11)

Montlezun, Françoise-Charlotte, Marquise de. Letters and notes 1766-1791 including notes on the history of the families of Mahé de La Bourdonnais and Montlezun. The Marquise was the daughter of Bertrand François de Mahé de La Bourdonnais (Item 12)

"Recensement de la population a l'Isle de France 28 November 1776." This typescript bears a pencilled note "comp. Guy Rouillard." The typescript consists of a ninety-one page detailed list, in alphabetical order by surname, of the inhabitants of Mauritius at 28 November 1776, showing for each individual occupation, age, birthplace, date of arrival, and current abode. A twenty-two page appendix is an alphabetical index of ships mentioned in the census, showing date of voyage (Item 13)

Lerot, Louis François "Mémoire ou essay tendant à démontrer la nécessité du rétablissement de la Compagnie des Indes, avec tous les droits de souveraineté autant pour la conservation du commerce au delà du Cap de Bonne. Esperance que pour les avantages des Finances de l'Etat, et ceux des armateurs particuliers du Royame. Dédié a la mémoire du célèbre La Bourdonnais." 1784. 95 pages. Lerot was a former officer of the Compagnie des Indes (the French East Indian Company) (Item 14)

Cossighy, D. Charpentier de. Letterbook: internal correspondence August 1790 - June 1792. Cossigny was administrator of the Mascarene Islands during this period, and the letterbook contains copies of letters written by him in his official capacity, many of them dealing with defence matters (Item 15)

L'Echelle, Louis. Order to pay, 1793 (Item 16)

Modeste. "Journal de navigation, Juin 1794." This item is a fragment consisting of one leaf, dated 19-20 June 1794. describing a battle with Dutch ships. It includes a note to the effect that it was written by a Lieutenant Bonamy aboard the corsair Modeste (Item 17)

"Recueil contenant huit copies de manuscrits inédits sur l'Ile de Madagascar", c. 1809 - c. 1820 (Item 18)

(1) Extrait du Journal d'un voyage fait à Madagascar en 1809 sur la goelette l'Uranie par M. Mellar. 15 pages.

(2) Sur une coutume de Madagascar dont parle Flacourt, par M.E.G., membre de la Société d'Emulation de l'Isle de France (c. 1809). 16 pages. Published in Annales des voyages, vol. 14, page 304+(1811).

(3) Apercu de mon voyage à Ancove en avril et mai 1808 (by N. Mayeur?). 60 pages.

(4) Extrait des considerations sur l'île de Madagascar. 60 pages.

(5) Lettre de Thompson (?) a Telfair, datée de Tamatave, 12 mai 1814. 50 pages.

(6) Notes sur des graines diverses provenant de Madagascar.

(7) Introduction of the alphabet (into Madagascar). (in English). 124 pages. An analysis of and commentary on "the Jahwee characters" or Malay language, with examples of vocabulary and grammatical forms.

(1) Extrait du Journal d'un voyage fait à Madagascar en 1809 sur la goelette l'Uranie

(2) Sur une coutume de Madagascar dont parle Flacourt, par M.E.G., membre de la Société d'Emulation de l'Isle de France (c. 1809). 16 pages. Published in Annales des voyages, vol. 14, page 304+(1811).

(3) Apercu de mon voyage à Ancove en avril et mai 1808 (by N. Mayeur?). 16 pages. Published in Annales des voyages, vol. 14, page 304+(1811).

(4) Extrait des considerations sur l'île de Madagascar

(5) Lettre de Thompson (?) a Telfair, datée de Tamatave, 12 mai 1814

(6) Notes sur des graines diverses provenant de Madagascar.

(7) Introduction of the alphabet (into Madagascar). (in English). 124 pages. An analysis of and commentary on "the Jahwee characters" or Malay language, with examples of vocabulary and grammatical forms.

Kent. Ship's journal 17 February - 23 June 1800. The Kent, an East Indiaman of 1200 tons, with 38 guns, sailed from England in April 1800, bound for Bengal. An entry showing simply "1800, 7 Octobre" is accompanied by a clipping (of later date) stating that the Kent, an English vessel, was seized by Robert Surcouf leading a mere handful of men. Surcouf, a famous corsair, was in command of the French privateer Confiance in 1811 (Item 19)

De Caen, C.M.I., General, Legal document nominating as judge M. Morin, signed at Isle de France, 6 March 1807 (Item 20)

"Account of the conquest of Mauritius with some notices on the history, soil, products, defences, and the political importance of this island, to which is added a sketch and map explanatory of the military operations: by an officer who served on the expedition." Bound transcript, 70 pages, of the book published in London, 1811, for T. Egerton, Military Library, Whitehall. The final eight pages contain the terms of capitulation of Mauritius to the British (Item 21)

Froberville, Barthèlemy Huet de. 303 page volume of poetry, 1801-1832, including" La Ruspaĭde ou Les incomparables faits et gestes de Frère Jérome dit Ruspa." p. 146-236, a satirical poem written in 1832 whose subject is Reverend Edward Slater, a priest on Mauritius (Item 22)

Leven. Journal 15 July - 19 August 1824 (in French) of a voyage in the British ship Leven, captain W.F.W. Owen. The writer (unnamed) was employed as a botanist on the Leven, collecting specimens, mainly from Madagascar, for the Royal Horticultural Society in London (Item 23)

Register of tombs of the cemetery at Port Louis, Mauritius, 1825-1841, consisting of two volumes, being account books kept to record payment of the tax introduced in October 1825 on the erection of tombstones. The first book contains a schedule of rates to be paid and balance sheets 1825-1838, with register of tombstones erected 17 November 1837 to 23 August 1841, showing date, name of deceased, person paying the levy, and amount paid. The second book contains the register from 1 November 1825 to 15 November 1837 (Item 24)

Legal document, signed at Port Louis, Mauritius on 15 December 1829, appointing Sir Robert Farquhar as attorney and London representative of twenty-three merchants and residents of Mauritius. He was to act on their behalf in prosecuting for libel those connected with the publication of "A picture of the Negro slavery existing in the Mauritius" in The Anti-slavery reporter, no. 44, 1829 (Item 25)

Dupont, Evenor Letters 1829-1839 written mainly from London, from Adrien d'Epinay, Prosper d'Epinay and Herman Geffroy, concerning the abolition of slavery and political events effecting Mauritius (Item 26-39)

Kelsey, T.S. Four letters 1846, exchanged between Kelsey and Lord Grey, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, concerning Kelsey's salary and request for leave of absence from his post of Receiver of Registration Dues, Mauritius (Item 40)

Circular 1851 in English, from Procureur and Advocate General's Chambers requesting returns of marriages celebrated between Indians and Creole women, and Indians and Indian women (Item 41)

A copy of Lord Campbell's Act, to amend the Law of Evidence, 7 August 1851 (Item 42)

Bonnefoy, T. Manuscript (ca 500 pages) for a book, entitled "Table généraledes lois transcrites ou deposées au greffe de la cour d' appel de l'ile Maurice, ci-devant Ile de France, 1853." A preamble summarises administrative changes 1722-1843, the period covered by the book. The manuscript is in the form of an alphabetic subject index, giving under each subject the title of the act, with date, date of regulations, and name of administration during which the act was passed. Bonnefoy was at one time archivist to the cour d'appel (Item 43)

Stevenson, Sir William, governor of Mauritius. Nine memoranda 1857-1859 written in English by Stevenson to government officials relating to auditing and treasury affairs (Item 44-52)

Dumat, Père (Item 53-53a)

(i) Five letters and notes, 1863, including one of eleven pages, written between Dumat and Bridet, captain of the port of Bourbon, Réunion. These papers discuss the provenance of articles, such as cannon, salvaged from the Ile aux Sables, and voyages and shipwrecks in the area, especially ca 1818.

(ii) Draft unsigned letter in French 28 September 1849, prepared by Dumat, accompanied by an English version dated 26 October 1849 and signed by Dumat. The letters request the governor of Mauritius, Sir W. Anderson, to consider a plan outlined in the letters for supplying the Seychelles islands with Indian immigrant labour. Dumat was a landholder in the Seychelles.

"Météorologie, faits divers, extraits, et évènements remarquables ayant eu lieu a l'Ile Maurice depuis 1709 a 1869..." Sixty-page book containing clippings from newspapers and other printed sources, concerning Mauritius and the nearby islands; biographical note on Bridet, director of the Saint-Denis observatory, 1851 (Item 54-54d)

Withers, James. Letter 10 September 1878 from the Colonial Secretary to Withers, concerning a contract (Item 55)

Osughrüe, Françoise. Share certificate 1879 in the Credit Agricole et Commercial, Mauritius (Item 56)

Margry, G. Two personal letters 1882-1883, the first from Julien Vinson, the second from Vice-Admiral E. Jurien (Item 57-58)

Connal, Michel, surveyor-general of Mauritius. Report, with covering letter 26 October 1883, entitled "Water for household purposes." (Item 59)

Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Mauritius. Bronze medal certificate, 1884 (Item 60)

Noel, M. "Memoire sur la situation des intérêts religieux à l'Ile Maurice, presenté à son Eminence le Cardinal Préfet de la Propagande par l'Union Catholique de cette île." Seventeen-page memorandum dated 1 March 1885 dealing with topics such as Church-State relations, education, and the role of the laity (Item 61)

Newton, Sir William (fl. 1850-1916). Twelve letters 1881-1916 received by Newton, Kings Counsel and Member of the Mauritius Council. He was a delegate for Mauritius in London in the latter part of the nineteenth century, but lived at various times on Mauritius. His correspondents include Sultan Abdullah of Perak in the Seychelles, G.H. Griffiths; Maurice Bouchas, C. Baissac and George Guibert. Some of the letters relate to official and political matters such as the Pope-Hennessy controversy and administration of the Seychelles by G.H. Griffiths, while others are personal (Item 62-72)

Laval, E. Circular letter, in French, dated 3 June 1897, seeking assistance for proposed celebrations in Mauritius for Queen Victoria's Jubilee (Item 73)

Pope-Hennessy, Sir John (1834-1891), governor of Mauritius 1883-1889. Letter 8 March 1887 introducing Alphonse Gaud, his private secretary, to the Bishop of Madagascar (Item 74)

Daruty de Grandpré, Emile. Eight letters 1890-1911, written mainly by Albert Pitot, historian, editor and publisher, concerning literary and publishing matters; an invitation to attend a function for the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, 1901 (Item 75-83)

Boyer de la Giroday, Vincent. Descendance de Françoise Chatelain de Clorcy. Saint-Denis, Réunion, Drouhet, n.d. 35 sheets. Genealogy of the descendants of Françoise Chatelain (1659-1730), member of a group of fifteen girls sent from France in 1673 to be brides of colonists on Bourbon. There is much material of Mauritian interest in the extensive family tree, compiled between 1930 and 1938 (Item 84)

Gillet, Gabriel. Draft of a circular earlier 1908, in French, written by Gillet, seeking support for the establishment of a journal to publish literary and historical articles relating to Mauritius (Item 85)

O'Connor, Owen L. Volume of press cuttings and notes compiled by O'Connor in 1910 relating to Sir John Pope-Hennessy (1834-1891) and his period as Governor of Mauritius, 1883-1889 (Item 86)

Three miscellaneous letters dated 1911, 1912 and 1949 (Item 87-90)

Addressees and writers not known, though the latter is written by a cleric and mentions plans to go Rome.

Wilson, Frank. Typescript report by Wilson 1932 entitled "Notes on cane planting" ca 100 pages (Item 91)

Lorquet, P.W. Handwritten poem entitled "Les deux Simone" signed, 1946: 67p (Item 92)

Ignace, Brother. An address broadcast by Brother Ignaca on 27 February 1948 on the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the establishment of St Joseph's College in Curepipe. Signed, typescript 7p (Item 93)

Heeringa, K. "De nederlanders op Mauritius en Madagascar." Published in De Indische Gids, June 1895: 864-892 and July 1895: 1005-1036. French translation, 42p (Item 94)

Le Merle, André de Chapuiset, Mauritian bibliophile. Family and general correspondence arranged in two files: the family correspondence 1951-1956 consists of letters received by Le Merle together with copies of some replies to his children Robert, Pierre, Irène, André and Ellen (items 95-150). The general file (items 151-193) contains letters 1912-1963, received by Le Merle. Correspondents include Charles Maclean, Professor P.A. Rémy, Louis Baissac, Arthur Martial, André Masson, Edwin de Robilliard, P. de Sornay, A.N. Sookia, R.G. Vaughan. Matters dealt with include philately, historical research, the Heeringa manuscript, erection of the 1598 monument, conservation of books and manuscripts, and disposal of Le Merle's collection of books (Item 95-193)

Desvaux de Marigny. Two documents, one a sketch of an armorial bearing labelled. "Dumorier desvaux," the other an authorisation (1819?) to Robert De Marigny by the Royal Volunteers of Rouen, enabling him to wear the "décoration du lys." (Item 194)

Mahé Genealogy of the Mahé family. Bertrand François Mahé de la Bourdonnais (1694-1753) is included in the pedigree (Item 195)

Gueuvin family. Photographs and incomplete small family tree (Item 196)

Six small books containing press cutttings on the following subjects: native unrest, cyclones, visitors to Mauritius, the criminal Nanard who was executed in 1828, K. Hazareesingh's book A history of Indians in Mauritius, 1950 (Item 197)

Le Cyclone 29 Avril 1892 Cahier 1-6. Volume containing press cuttings (Item 198)

Letter, undated (Item 199)

(Found in Asian Collections MAUR 750)

'Magical isle for Princess', an undated newspaper clipping regarding a week long visit by Princess Margaret to Mauritius (Item 200)

(Found in Asian Collections MAUR 706)

Part of an enveloped addressed to Monsieur A. Duruty. Postmark illegible (Item 201)

(Found in Asian Collections MAUR 898)

'Incendies de 1896'. A small notebook of cuttings (Item 202)

(Found in Asian Collections MAUR 234)

Letter, 1907 and also letter 1911 to D'Emmerez de Charmoy replying to a query about a beetle found in the Mauritius cane fields, from the Natal Entomologist, Claude Fuller (Item 203)

(Found in Asian Collections MAUR 921)

Two photographs of headstone for Antoine Buonavita, 1833-1933 (Item 204)

(Found in Asian Collections MAUR 718)

Mauritius Government Printing Department receipt for a copy of a Select Committee Report on the Ward Report on Education, 1944 (Item 205)

(Found in a copy of the report Asian Collections MAUR 811)

Letter from Pierre de Sornay, Chimiste Conseil, 1958 (Item 206)

(Found in Asian Collections MAUR 908)

'Un appel a la conscience nationale', issued by the Bureau Central de l'Information, Port Louis, in 1961 (Item 207)

(Found in Asian Collections MAUR 841)

Government of Mauritius receipt for books, 1963 (Item 208)

(Found in Asian Collections MAUR 694)

'The suspension of Sir John Pope Hennessy', 1969, a newspaper cutting which is loose in a small notebook (Item 209)

(Found in Asian Collections MAU 247)


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