Rare love letters reveal personal side of La Pérouse expedition

Louis XVI reportedly asked about Jean-François de La Pérouse on the day of his execution in 1793, highlighting the significance of the lost French expedition.

La Pérouse, a naval officer, led a scientific mission in 1785 to rival British explorer Captain James Cook. His ships, La Boussole and L’Astrolabe, disappeared in 1788.

Rare love letters from Jean-André Mongez, a scientist on the expedition, were discovered in a 19th-century book of engravings. The letters, addressed to Louise Victoire Le Cloustier, a married noblewoman, were described as veiled and personal.

Ludovic Miran, a book expert, noted that the letters provide a new perspective on the expedition, revealing Mongez's emotional struggles and his relationship with Le Cloustier.

Mongez expressed regret for past behavior and vowed to change, writing, 'I will be back, I will be another man, a better man.' The letters suggest a close but troubled relationship, possibly influencing Mongez's decision to join the perilous journey.

The letters also describe the hardships of the voyage, including the massacre of crew members and the emotional toll of the expedition. Mongez’s final letter indicates he was eager to return home, disillusioned with the scientific outcomes.

Le Cloustier, who died in 1821, kept the letters, which were likely hidden from her husband. The auctioneer who discovered them noted the letters were carefully preserved, suggesting their personal significance.