Letters from the navigator that Louis XVI was looking for found

Letters from Jean-André Mongez, discovered in a book, reveal a previously unknown romantic relationship with Louise Victoire Le Cloustier. Mongez expressed regret over past actions and dissatisfaction with her marriage. The letters shed light on his motivations for joining a perilous expedition led by La Pérouse, aimed at rivaling British explorations. The expedition, commissioned by Louis XVI, aimed for scientific and commercial gains but ended in tragedy when the ships disappeared in 1788. The letters are considered rare personal documents amidst mostly scientific records from the expedition.