NRA-L-000015 / 1832
Family letter from Darricau (possibly d'Arricau) to Monsieur Michel, notaire, rue St Dizier, à Nancy, 1832-03-01
Private-collection record for a family letter dated 1832-03-01 from Darricau (possibly d'Arricau) to Monsieur Michel, notaire, rue St Dizier, à Nancy. Related places: Toulon, Var, France; Nancy, Meurthe, France. Source language: French.
Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000015
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 (1832)
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 1832
My dear friend,
I received your letter and 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 the matter. 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 I would do anything that might please you with the greatest pleasure.
Although some newspapers have seemed to suggest that there have been disturbances in this region, that is not at all the case. On the contrary, everything here is very peaceful and, apart from seven or eight bad characters who have long borne the general contempt, everyone here is right-minded and cherishes peace.
Over the last two days we have had a few duels, but they concerned women rather than 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 for carrying on with my repairs, but I very much doubt that I can be ready within two months. The poor frigate was in a bad condition.
Please remember me to your wife and to our 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