LETTERS READ INCUBATOR IV: Baron Joseph-Xavier Delfau de Pontalba & the Yellow Fever Epidemic in New Orleans

LETTERS READ

Yesterday, the number of people with the coronavirus who died in the United States exceeded 300,000.

Today we offer another incubator-style, experimental reading from primary source material: Excerpted letters from Baron Joseph-Xavier Delfau de Pontalba written from New Orleans during the first documented Yellow Fever epidemic there.

It was recorded in Sonic Canvas Studio with audio producers Steve Chyzyk and Steve Himmelfarb. The original music is also by Steve. Our reader is Colin Miller.

The material in this reading was graciously translated and provided to us by Pierre Delfau de Pontalba, the Pontalba family historian, son of Charles-Edouard and Isabelle, Baron and Baroness de Pontalba. Further specimens have been excerpted by the Louisiana Museum Foundation.

The subject, Xavier as he was known, was born in 1754 in New Orleans and schooled in France. His father died when he was six. He served in the French and Spanish military retiring from the French army as captain. In 1784 he moved back to manage the family indigo plantation near New Orleans, Married “Ton Ton”, Jeanne Francoise Louise Le Breton. Niece of the most powerful man in Louisiana, then under Spanish rule, Governor Esteban Miro.

When the governorship ended, Miro, was sent back to Spain. Where he died. Xavier’s small family moved back to France. Ton Ton and their young son Celestine preceded. Xavier stayed, preparing the family property—much of which he had profitably developed—for more than two years. During this separation, Xavier wrote often to his wife in a long, epistolary letter sent in a time before regular mail when most post was hand carried.

We now time travel to 1796 New Orleans. Collin reads Xavier’s written thoughts to his wife who was very far away.

Image: Observations sur la fièvre jaune, faites à Cadix, en 1819 / par MM. Pariset et Mazet ... et rédigées par M. Pariset. Pariset, Etienne, 1770-1847.