Written by a professor at Townsville's James Cook University , A Woman of Courage , about Rose de Freycinet , who snuck aboard her husband's ship in 1817 at the start of an historic three year round the world French scientific expedition , which included Australia , attracted much attention when it was published by the National Library of Australia in l996.
The above illustration , from the NLA's news magazine for October l996, explained her diary had been translated and edited in English for the first time by Professor Marc Serge Riviere , Associate Professor of French and Dean of Arts for 10 years at JCU .
It told how Rose, 22, married for three years to naval officer Louis-Claude de Saulces de Freycinet , stowed away aboard the French Government vessel Uranie , which he commanded at the start of the major voyage.
Dressed in an officer's uniform, a blue frock-coat and trousers, she stole aboard the ship after midnight on September 17, l817- the day it was to set sail from Toulon. There were 125 men on the sailing ship . She remained in disguise until reaching Gibraltar.
Naturally, French reporters went crazy when the word eventually came back that she was aboard ship. Louis XVlll was reportedly amused when informed and said her act of conjugal devotion was to be excused , since it was unlikely to be imitated.
The voyage included Western Australia and New South Wales, Hawaii, Timor, New Guinea, and other Pacific Islands .
The December NLA magazine featured an extensive article about the book, headed The Captain's Wife Stows Away . It included a watercolor from the NLA collection of the official reception for the Uranie at Dili, Portuguese Timor .
From Timor, the ship sailed to Port Jackson, where Rose de Freycinet recorded interesting views on Sydney society .
As luck would have it , the latest acquisitions list from Douglas Stewart Fine Books, Melbourne, includes the above l927 published letters of Rose de Freycinet (1794-1832), written while aboard Uranie, sent to her friend Caroline de Nanteuil .
The letters were edited by Charles Duplomb , Paris : Societé d’Éditions Géographiques, Maritimes et Coloniales, with an introduction by Baron de Freycinet, a direct descendant.
NOTE: Professor Riviere took up the Chair of French at Limerick University, Ireland , soon after publication of his book. He published more than 35 books in French and English , one Travels with Voltaire:academic memoirs , which covered his life experiences and travels from Mauritius to Scotland,Canada , Australia, Ireland and back to Mauitius on retirement. He was decorated by the French government .
(French. Stowaway. Pacific.)
