Nicolas Baudin et Louis Petitain : dupe et dupeur

When the Géographe left Le Havre in 1800, there was no bookkeeper on board; there was only a secretary by the name of Petitain, who was in reality a trader whose presence Baudin, the commander, had forced the minister to accept. With the agreement of the commander, and in full view of all, Petitain had brought crates on board, some containing cheap trade goods, others printing materials. All were destined for the Île de France. In allowing these goods to be carried on board, the commander was defying the Navy’s strict prohibition against engaging in commerce. An unpublished letter reveals that Baudin himself hoped to profit from this enterprise, but he was duped: Petitain never passed his share on to him.