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Malta again

From: Valetoux <valetoux~at~wanadoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:41:43 +0100 (Paris, Madrid)
To: "Ian Thompson" <ithompson~at~ges.gla.ac.uk>
Cc: <jvf~at~Gilead.org.il>

 
Ian,
 
Congratulations for your investigations.
You ask me about 3 points:
 
- yes, the night on board SM III before landing was quite hard, due to
weather, sea and lack of coal.
Ashore, as maritime agent (in french, the exact term is "consignataire"),
Samuel Grech was very helpful for all the ship's activities and refit.
It was traditionnal for the agents at that time to ask satisfaction
certificates, so they could later get captains confidence,
and obtain business with the new ships arriving.
Jules went to Samuel Grech office on the sunday june 22th morning and write
the asked certificate (confirmed by the carnet).
The exact text of this paper has been discovered by Piero, as mentioned in
the BSJV N°25 (1973).
"Le steam-yacht SM, ayant été consigné à la maison Samuel Grech et co, nous
sommes heureux de pouvoir reconnaitre ici les bons soins de MM. Grech, et
nous engageons vivement nos amis et connaissances à s'adresser à eux, si
leur bonne fortune les amenait jamais à Malte.
Donc tous nos compliments et remerciements à la maison S. Grech et co.
Malte (Valetta) 22 juin 1884,
Jules Verne".
Note that Jules didn't note in his carnet any failure in the steam-engine
off Malta, but a shortage of coal.
On the 20th may (Vigo), Jules note engine troubles repaired on the 21. May
be he remember this problem when writing Sandorff, adding more pression to
the tempest situation?
When alongside, it is confirmed that coal has been loaded again in 2 shifts,
first on the saturday 21th ("9 tonnes à 16 "),
and second on the sunday 22 ("fait charbon à 32 francs; 9 tonnes").
 
- yes, Jules has been invited by lord Simmons. On the monday 23 at 1h30 (PM)
 Paul and Jules visit the palace, galeries, artillerymuseum, etc.
Then, they recover Honorine and Lady Simmons for dining. After the lunch,
Lady Simmons show his photographic album. Later, Jule note: "les signatures
du traité de Berlin". (This remark has to be clarified); The SM left Valetta
at 6 PM.
In deed, the problem of health clearance for Paul and Maurice being
successfully solved, Jules was received with great honours and sympathy by
the authorities, but don't forget that Malta is a small island and that it
was not so common at that time to get a "star of litterature" at home.
 
- on the 21th june, Jules and Paul went to the club, where M. Barry
presented them to the clubmen.
They drink a glass of Vermouth, then left for the governor palace to pick up
charts. A colonel, member of the Maltese headquarter, proposed to guide them
through the fortifications and to let them see heavy guns. It is not
indicated if this officer is british,
but i think so, as Malta was under British authority.
Note once more that Jules, who had never been in the activ army and refuse
to fight for France against Prussia,
was fond of forts, citadels, guns, warships, etc.
One contradiction more. But who has not?
 
Waiting for new flash from Malta.
Dear friend, you are really vern 'ian!
 
Philippe
 
 

Received on Tue 31 Oct 2006 - 18:41:53 IST

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