Voyages XII–XIII · American Steamers · 1852–1853
Franklin · Humboldt
New York → Le Havre · Le Havre → New York · 1852–1853
XII — Franklin, New York to Le Havre, 10 May 1852. Our trading partnership being dissolved — though we were not at a loss — my 2 partners, who wanted the liquidation, found places for themselves, and I set out again in search of a position in the world, my pockets as empty as when I had left 11 years before.
Mr Crooks (?), father of Mme Gerard, had introduced me to Bonaparte-Paterson, son of Jérôme. He was going to see his son, an officer of cuirassiers of the Guard. This Bonaparte, already old, had the Napoleonic profile. He talked well, and drank grain brandy from his own estate.
He gave me a host of interesting details about the household of Napoléon III, about his lawsuit with his brother plon-plon, pleaded by Berrier. Most complimentary where his sister the Princess Mathilde was concerned, he dwelt at length on the kindness of the Empress Eugénie.
Here I am once more in France, with no hope of being able to stay. Our crossing had lasted only eleven days.
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XIII — Humboldt, Le Havre to New York, 4 June 1853, 12 days. Nothing in particular. Regular run. Favorable weather. By dint of coasting along the English shore, I came to know every point of it. I enter the house of Gerard frères & Cie.
