Family letter from G. E. de Coriolis... (1847)

NRA-L-000017 / 1847

Family letter from G. E. de Coriolis to Monsieur Édouard Blanchard, chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, 1847-09-12

A young mariner newly arrived in Nantes describes purchases and preparations before his ship is ready, dental treatment, life near the vessel, and affectionate news for relatives at La Flèche.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000017

NRA-L-000017 image 2 showing the first page of E. Delavialle's letter from Nantes, dated 12 September 1847. — **Image 1**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000017 image 3 showing the second page and signature of E. Delavialle's 1847 letter. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 2 and signature.

NRA-L-000017 image 1 showing the address panel and postal marks for E. Delavialle's letter to Edouard Blanchard in La Flèche. — **Image 3**Address panel and postal marks.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000017
Date: 1847-09-12
Original date: Nantes le 12 Septembre 1847
Type: Family letter
Language: French / fr
Sender: G. E. de Coriolis
Recipient: Édouard Blanchard [unidentified]
Places: Nantes, Loire-Inférieure, France / La Flèche, Sarthe, France
Extent: 3 web-resolution images; address side and two pages of letter text
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000017.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address Panel

Original transcript

A.
Monsieur Edouard Blanchard
chevalier de la légion d'honneur
Rue des bancs No 22
La flèche
Sarthe

Address Panel

English translation

To
Monsieur Édouard Blanchard
Chevalier of the Legion of Honour
22 Rue des Bancs
La Flèche
Sarthe

Letter Text - Page 1

Original transcript

Nantes le 12 Septembre 1847_
Très cher et bon Cousin_
Me voici à Nantes depuis cinq heures du matin et trop tôt je
vous assure car la moitié de mes emplettes sont faites, et le Na
vire ne sera pas pret avant dix ou quinze jours d'ici.. j'aurais bien
pu passer encore cette semaine près de vous très cher et bon parent
[crossed out: sans] et je n'aurais du partir que Samedi en 8 car Jeudi
au plus tard tout sera fini, et que deviendrai-je alors dans
cette grande ville de Nantes? serai-je obligé dès Vendredi à
aller monter la garde à bord? si j'avais su que cela aurait
été ainsi [comme?] cela j'aurais retardé mon départ comme je vous
l'ai déjà dit d'au moins une semaine. mais il n'est plus tems
tout ce qui est fait est bien fait. — ».. Lorsque j'aurai tout acheté et fini
entièrement ici toutes mes emplettes je vous enverrai une note
exacte de tous les objets avec le prix à coté.. j'ai eu pour
compagnon de voyage de la flèche à Angers un chien de
berger à qui je ne faisais que donner des coups de poing
parce qu'il me mettait sa tête sur ma cuisse et cela me déplaisait
aussi à Angers j'ai dit au Conducteur Halte là je paie ma
place non pour être avec des chiens mais avec des gens de mon
espèce ainsi il faut que j'aie à toute force une place dans
l'intérieur sinon je ne paierai que la moitié de ma place, à
[cette?] ce mot là il est descendu et m'a fait avoir une place comme
je désirais en arrière._

Letter Text - Page 1

English translation

Nantes, 12 September 1847.
Very dear and good Cousin,
Here I am in Nantes since five o'clock this morning, and too early I assure you, for half my purchases are made, and the Ship will not be ready for another ten or fifteen days.. I could well have spent another week with you, very dear and good relative, and I need not have left until Saturday week, for by Thursday at the latest everything will be finished, and what shall become of me then in this great city of Nantes? Shall I be obliged from Friday to go aboard to stand watch? If I had known it would be so, I would have delayed my departure, as I have already told you, by at least a week. But it is too late now; what is done is done. — »..
When I have bought everything and completely finished all my purchases here, I shall send you an exact note of all the articles with the price beside them..
I had for a travelling companion from La Flèche to Angers a sheepdog whom I kept punching because he kept putting his head on my thigh and that displeased me; so at Angers I said to the Conductor, 'Halt there, I pay for my seat not to be with dogs but with people of my own kind, thus I must at all costs have a place inside, otherwise I shall pay only half my fare.' At that word he got down and got me a place such as I desired in the back.

Letter Text - Page 2

Original transcript

J'ai commencé aujourdhui Lundi à me faire arracher deux
chicots de dents comme j'ai souffert ah ! c'est à ce qui pa
rait ma destinée et puisque c'est ainsi il faut m'y conformer
à cela.. Le dentiste est très bon il demande 15 jours au
plus pour m'arranger et nettoyer la bouche ce n'est
pas encore fini je vous assure, j'ai encore à souffrir
et fameusement. - Ah !!! ........ /
Je compte aller voir avec mon très cher Capitaine (à
qui j'ai remit votre lettre) Mr Fruchard et en même
temps lui demander l'argent qu'il a avec lui _
Je suis en Pension chez Madame Luçon tout près
du Navire je mange avec les officiers en un mot j'y suis
très bien. _
Et vous mon cher Cousin comment vous portez vous
ainsi que toute ma très bonne et très devouée fa
mille Fléchoise ? Et ce pauvre diable de Henry que
dit il que fait il, c'est je puis vous assurer un
excellent enfant que j'aime autant qu'un frère.
Je le jure.. Et cette bonne Cécile qui a eu tant de
bontés pour moi a t-elle aussi souvent encore
ses maux de tête dites lui je vous prie que je
ainsi qu'à mon frère
lui adresserai une petite lettre avant mon départ
ainsi qu'à mon frère Dites aussi à Aimée que
j'ai conservé précieusement les fleurs qu'elle
m'a données en partant et que si le bon dieu
me protège et m'accorde le plaisir et le bonheur
de l'embrasser encore une fois que je les lui
montrai . _
J'écrirai à Henry et à maman aussitôt que
j'aurai le tems . _
mon adresse est : Mr G. E. de Coriolis chez Mr Minier rue
Piron No 1 . _
- Nantes,
adieu mon cher Cousin je vous embrasse tendre
ment ainsi que tout le monde là bas . _
Votre très devoué et très affectionné
Cousin et ami
G. E. de Coriolis

Letter Text - Page 2

English translation

I began today, Monday, to have two tooth stumps pulled out; how I suffered, ah! It is, it seems, my destiny, and since it is so, I must submit to it.. The dentist is very good; he asks 15 days at most to put my mouth in order and clean it. It is not yet finished, I assure you, I still have to suffer, and terribly. - Ah !!! ........ /
I intend to go and see Monsieur Fruchard with my very dear Captain (to whom I delivered your letter) and at the same time ask him for the money he has with him.
I am boarding with Madame Luçon very close to the Ship; I eat with the officers; in a word, I am very well there.
And you, my dear Cousin, how are you, as well as all my very good and very devoted family in La Flèche? And that poor devil Henry, what is he saying, what is he doing? He is, I can assure you, an excellent boy whom I love as much as a brother. I swear it.. And that good Cécile who has been so kind to me, does she still have her headaches so often? Please tell her that I shall send her a little letter before my departure, as well as to my brother.
Tell Aimée also that I have carefully preserved the flowers she gave me when I left, and that if the good Lord protects me and grants me the pleasure and happiness of embracing her once again, I shall show them to her.
I shall write to Henry and to Maman as soon as I have the time.
My address is: Monsieur G. E. de Coriolis, care of Monsieur Minier, 1 rue Piron. - Nantes,
Farewell, my dear Cousin, I embrace you tenderly, as well as everyone over there.
Your very devoted and very affectionate Cousin and friend,
G. E. de Coriolis

Discovery Terms

Historical correspondence
Private collection
Family letter
French language

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