28
Draft of reply
on address side, dated “22 Févr. 1767,” discusses the possible purchase of the
Villeneuve property and plans a visit to Villeneuve au Roy.
AD 143 AVED, [Charles-François], Chaumont en Bassigny, 26 Février 1767. 3pp.
Aved is willing to purchase the Villeneuve property for Adanson in his own name, to be
reimbursed by Adanson later. Will introduce Adanson to his beautiful sister [-in-law] and seeks
Adanson’s advice on how to improve Aved’s garden. Will show him a book of Wallerius Essais
chimiques d’agriculture. Asks for 300 or 400 asparagus “pattes” and seed of Cardons.
No draft of reply. Adanson instead went to Chaumont [AD 366] on 3 March 1767 to see the
Villeneuve property, returning on the 9th.
AD 144 AVED, [Charles-François], Chaumont en Bassigny, 9 Mars 1767.
Regrets inability to have crayfish for Adanson for dinner, but just after his departure, 200
crayfish were available. Aved’s wife reminds Adanson of his word to return in August to
construct a building at Villeneuve.
A draft of Adanson’s reply dated “14 Mars 1767,” reports delivering the snipes to Aved’s mother
and of embracing her on behalf of Aved and his spouse. Notes that Aved’s daughter did not
permit him to do so; such was the situation in which a man finds himself when not too bold with
the fairer sex. The coach gave him continuous inconvenience; the body broke in two and an iron
strip and ropes used for repair made it as rough as a “charette,” causing him pains that still
inconvenience him. In Paris Adanson prepared about 100 fruit trees, flower bulbs and some of
the most rare plants of his garden for shipment to Chaumont; a list of the plants is given as well
as instructions for handling and planting them. Four hundred asparagus plants were sent to Mlle.
de Magnac with the comment that, this “amiable philosophe” will not have found Adanson very
gallant.
AD 145 AVED, [Charles-François], Chaumont en Bassigny, 19 Mars 1767. 4 pp.
Acknowledges Adanson’s letter of 14 March. Reports that the owner of the Villeneuve property
has not replied. In case the Villeneuve acquisition might not succeed, another property 1.5 miles
away is discussed. Mentions the possibility of his living part of the year in Paris.
AD 146 AVED, [Charles-François], Chaumont en Bassigny, 28 Mars 1767. 4 pp.
Reports that he waited in vain for an answer from the owner of the Villeneuve property.
Discusses other properties in the neighborhood. Makes plans for their living and gardening
together either in Reclancourt, Harlicourt or elsewhere for the coming summer. All, from his
wife to the cat, love Adanson but he needs solitude for himself to finish his great work.
AD 147 AVED, [Charles-François], Chaumont en Bassigny, [18 Avril] 1767. 3 pp.
29
Reports he will do all he can to have Adanson as a neighbor. Mentions plants Adanson sent to
him; the Passion-flower remains dormant; tulips and hyacinths do not flower and their leaves
begin to wither. The niece of a friend is in Paris for a few days and the small thermometer could
be sent back by her. Aved asks in a postscript for two pomegranate trees with simple flowers and
reports placing the fig trees en pleine terre and will try to carry them through the winter in
accordance with Adanson’s advice.
Adanson’s draft in reply, dated 8 May 1767, discusses return of repaired thermometer and
pomegranate trees with cultural instructions for many of Aved’s plants.
Says to abandon plans
for the Villeneuve property, for he must live near Paris to attend to Académie affairs, and is
buying the house where now living. Seeks land from the king for his wheat experiments [cf. AD
130] and Aved can help in locating same in his region. If these plans fail, he will acquire a small
property not more than about 5 to 6 lieues from Paris, to enable him to go to and return from
Paris the same day.
AD 148 AVED, [Charles-François], Chaumont en Bassigny, 12 May 1767. 3 pp.
Aved describes again an available property which he will finance for Adanson. Expresses his
warm lifelong feeling of friendship. Aved will visit Adanson in Paris and promises to take him
again to the “rentrée de l’Académie” in his carriage. Apparently this letter was sent before
Adanson’s reply to AD 147. See AD 149 for draft of reply.
AD 149 AVED, [Charles-François], Chaumont en Bassigny, 19 May 1767. 3 pp.
Reports that everyone was sorry to learn of Adanson’s decision not to buy a residence in
Villeneuve. A new scheme is proposed in great detail for residence for Adanson at almost no
expense to him.
Draft of reply [to AD 148 and 149,] dated Paris 28 May 1767. Expresses his gratitude for
sacrifices offered in his favour, and trusts that Aved will sense his embarrassment. Renounces his
experiments with cereals; government aid is needed for the success of such a project which is
completely beyond the capacity of a private individual, but will continue experiments on a small
scale.
AD 150 AVED, [Charles-François], Chaumont en Bassigny, 4 Aout 1767. 3 pp.
Another property is described and suggested to Adanson. With this letter is an undated leaf of a
letter of Aved to his mother, in Paris, describing some properties in
Harlicourt to be provided to
Adanson, which she apparently did, as Adanson’s address is in a hand other than Aved’s.
AD 151 AVED, [Charles-François], Chaumont en Bassigny, 26 Mars 1768. 3 pp.
Proposes to Adanson the free use of a property inherited from the Comte De Magnac at
Chatronge [Chartronges is Chevalier’s spelling (1934, p. 99)], fifteen lieues from Paris.