Travels through the South of France and the Interior of Provinces of Provence and Languedoc in the Years 1807 and 1808

A young American officer, driven by a lifelong fascination with France, sets out from Baltimore in 1807 and finds himself on a modest trader bound for Liverpool before crossing the Channel. The cramped vessel is captained by the unforgettable Eliab Jones, whose tumultuous past— from a harsh childhood to daring sea adventures and a shipwreck on a remote island—provides vivid anecdotes that color the early days of the voyage. Their conversations reveal a man of plain‑spoken honesty and deep faith, offering the narrator both companionship and a striking portrait of character.

Once on French soil, the narrator receives official permission to explore an unprecedented route along the banks of the Loire, Isère and Garonne rivers. As he travels through the heart of Provence and Languedoc, he records the region’s landscapes, towns and customs with a keen eye, capturing the blend of tradition and the early stirrings of modernity in post‑revolutionary France. The account offers listeners a rich, first‑hand glimpse of early‑19th‑century French life, narrated with the curiosity and clarity of a true traveler.