HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
363 
CHAPTER XVII. 
Life of M. d'Apr es de Mannevillette, Knight of the Order of the King , Corres¬ 
pondent of the Royal Academy of Sciences > and Associate of the Royal Marine 
Academy . 
John Baptiste Nicolas Denis d’Apres de Mannevillette, was born at Havre de 
Grace, on the 1 ith of February, 1707 : his father was John Baptiste Claude d’Apres, 
Esquire and Lord of the Manor of Blangy, Captain of a ship in the service of the 
East India Company: his mother was Mademoiselle Francoise Marion. 
“ M. d’Apres de Blangy did not confide to a stranger, the important care of 
forming the mind of his son to science, and his heart to virtue : he was himself the 
preceptor of his child; and he fulfilled that office which affords the most sensible 
delight to a parent, as it is the most sacred of his duties. 
“ The young d’Apres manifested, in his earliest years, a decided preference for 
the profession of his father, and his education was anxiously directed to that object. 
Nor was the parental care disappointed; for he was far advanced in the study of 
the mathematics, at an age when the generality of children can scarce stammer forth 
a dead language, which is of less utility to the marine, than any other profession. 
In short, never did sentiments of enthusiasm for a maritime life appear at an earlier 
hour, and with a more decided energy, than in the character of M. d’Apres de 
Mannevillette. 
“ In 1719, M. d’Apres de Blangy was appointed to the command of the Solide, 
which the India Company had destined for Bengal. The early age of his son had 
determined him to leave the boy at Havre; but his earnest entreaties prevailed, and 
he was permitted at length to accompany his father; while an honorary commission 
of Ensign on board the ship was obtained for him. 
“ The Solide touched at the Isle of Bourbon for refreshment, and then proceeded 
to Pondicherry, where it arrived after a passage of twenty-seven days, having pur¬ 
sued the general track, and with a degree of celerity of which there is no other 
example. 
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