Letters

The letters, in verse and prose, cover a variety of topics related to the island. Its geography, geology, and climate are discussed, including references to La Grande Soufrière, a volcano on Basse-Terre; the springs of Bouillante; and to a hurricane that swept Guadeloupe and Dominica, an island to the south. He also describes local flora and cultivated crops, including sugar cane. Many letters touch on the creole population, his estimation of their abilities and health as well as attitudes about their customs, especially funeral practices.

The numbering of the letters indicates that we do not have the complete set. We have all or part of letters 2-3, 7-11, and 13-19. Letters 2-16, as far as we have their beginnings, were written from Pointe à Pitre, with letters 17-19 originating in Basse-Terre.

A transcription and translation into English is available. The translation is fairly literal, preserving the wording and syntax of the original as much as possible.