Family letter from Darricau (possibly... (1834)

NRA-L-000015 / 1834

Family letter from Darricau (possibly d'Arricau) to Monsieur Michel, notaire, rue St Dizier, à Nancy, 1834-03-01

Darricau thanks Michel for handling a matter involving his mother, reports that Toulon is peaceful despite newspaper rumours, mentions recent duels, and describes repairs to a frigate.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000015

NRA-L-000015 image 1 showing the address panel, postal marks and exterior annotations for Darricau's letter to Monsieur Michel, notary, in Nancy. — **Image 1**Address panel, postal marks and exterior annotations.

NRA-L-000015 image 2 showing Darricau's letter from Toulon, dated 1 March 1832, discussing local calm, duels and repairs to a frigate. — **Image 2**Letter text and signature.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000015
Date: 1834-03-01
Original date: Toulon le 1er mars / 1 March 1834
Type: Family letter
Language: French / fr
Sender: Darricau / d'Arricau [unidentified]
Recipient: Jean-Baptiste-François Michel, notary at Nancy [high confidence]
Places: Toulon, Var, France / Nancy, Meurthe, France
Extent: 2 web-resolution images; address side and one page of letter text
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000015.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address Panel

Original transcript

à Monsieur
Monsieur Michel notaire rue
st Dizier
à Nancy
Meurthe

Address Panel

English translation

To Monsieur
Monsieur Michel, notary
Rue Saint-Dizier
Nancy
Meurthe

Letter Text

Original transcript

Toulon le 1er mars
Mon cher ami
J'ai reçu ta lettre et je te remercie de la manière dont tu
en as agi avec ma mère tu as bien fait de ne pas la
contredire et de ne pas lui en dire tout ce que tu en sais
tout sera terminé comme cela elle ne t'en parlera que
lorsqu'elle te demandera la Rente.
Je suis fâché de la peine que je t'ai donnée, mon ami,
mais tu sais que ce seroit avec le plus grand plaisir que
je ferais tout ce qui peut t'être agréable.
Quoique quelques journaux ayent eu l'air de dire que nous avons
eu des troubles dans ce pays, il n'en est rien, tout y est très tranquille
au contraire et à l'exception de sept à huit mauvais sujets
chargés depuis longtems du mépris général, tout le monde ici pense bien,
cherit le Repos.
Depuis deux jours nous avons eu quelques duels, mais il s'agissait
de femmes et non d'affaires politiques ; il faut que jeunesse se
passe, nos jeunes étourdis s'amusent à s'envoyer des balles par la tête.
J'ai toujours le plus beau tems du monde pour continuer mes
réparations mais je doute fort que je puisse être prêt
avant deux mois la pauvre frégate étoit en mauvais état.
Je te prie de ne pas m'oublier auprès de ta Dame et des amis
Gely et Mandel
Adieu mon ami.
Darricau

Letter Text

English translation

Toulon, 1 March 1834
My dear friend,
I received your letter and I thank you for the way you dealt with my mother you did well not to contradict her and not to tell her everything you know about it everything will be settled that way she will speak to you about it only when she asks you for the annuity.
I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you, my friend, but you know that it would be with the greatest pleasure that I would do anything that might please you.
Although some newspapers have seemed to say that we have had disturbances in this region, that is not at all the case, everything here is very peaceful on the contrary and with the exception of seven or eight bad characters who have long been generally despised, everyone here is right-minded, cherishes Repose.
Over the last two days we have had a few duels, but they concerned women and not political affairs; youth must have its fling, our scatterbrained young men amuse themselves by firing bullets at one another's heads.
I continue to have the finest weather in the world to carry on with my repairs but I very much doubt that I can be ready within two months the poor frigate was in a bad state.
Please remember me to your lady and to friends Gely and Mandel
Farewell my friend.
Darricau

Notes

Rente is translated as annuity. The phrase pense bien is rendered as is right-minded and carries a political undertone. Il faut que jeunesse se passe is translated as Youth must have its fling.

Discovery Terms

Historical correspondence
Private collection
Family letter
French language

Transcriptions and English translations are provided as working scholarly aids, not as replacements for the images of the original documents. Some readings may remain uncertain, especially where handwriting, spelling, damage, abbreviations, names or places are difficult.

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