Letter from Antoine Conti to Jean... (1859)

NRA-L-000051 / 1859

Letter from Antoine Conti to Jean Conti, March 22, 1859

A French family letter from Ajaccio discussing a proposed episcopal residence, the sender's health, family news and correspondence.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000051

NRA-L-000051 image 1 showing the address panel to an addressee in Mâcon, with a blue postage stamp and postal cancellations. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000051 image 2 showing the opening page of the French letter, dated 24 March 1857 at Ajaccio. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000051 image 3 showing two adjoining pages of French letter text on blue paper. — **Image 3**Letter text - Pages 2-3.

NRA-L-000051 image 4 showing the final letter text, closing and Antoine Conti signature on blue paper. — **Image 4**Letter text - Final page and signature.

NRA-L-000051 image 5 showing the reverse of the folded cover with postal cancellations and a seal remnant. — **Image 5**Reverse with postal marks and seal.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000051
Date: 1859-03-22
Original date: 1859-03-22
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Antoine Conti
Recipient: Jean Conti
Places: Ajaccio, France / Mâcon, France
Extent: 5 web-resolution images
Signature: Antoine Conti
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000051.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel and postal evidence

Original transcript

Monsieur
Jean Conti Percepteur
Macon
Saône et Loire

Notes

Postal marks:
AJACCIO / 26 / MARS / 59

Address panel and postal evidence

English translation

Mr.
Jean Conti, tax collector
Mâcon
Saône-et-Loire

Notes

Postal marks:
AJACCIO / 26 / MARS / 59

Letter text - Page 1

Original transcript

Ajaccio 22 Mars 1859.

Mon Léon,

Je n'ai répondu ni à Steph ni à toi parce
que je me reposais sur Modeste pour vous
donner de mes nouvelles, et que d'autre part
j'étais tellement occupé que je n'avais guère
le tems de me donner à mes affections. Je
n'en ai pas moins pris en très grande considération
toutes les marques de tendresse que vous m'avez
témoignées. Suivant votre désir je m'occupe avec
la plus grande activité de la liquidation de ma
portion afin de pouvoir demander mon
changement de résidence. J'ai proposé à Monseigneur,
d'après l'acquisition de ma maison, il paraît
vouloir y consentir à la condition que l'architecte
diocésain la trouve propre à l'établissement
épiscopal. Monseigneur est encore à Vico, il

Letter text - Page 1

English translation

Ajaccio, March 22, 1859.

My dear Léon,

I have replied neither to Steph nor to you because I relied on Modeste to give you news of me, and because, on the other hand, I was so busy that I scarcely had time to devote to my affections. I have nevertheless given the greatest consideration to all the signs of tenderness you have shown me. In accordance with your wish, I am working with the greatest activity on settling my share so that I may request a change of residence. I have made a proposal to Monseigneur concerning the acquisition of my house; he seems willing to consent on condition that the diocesan architect finds it suitable for the episcopal establishment. Monseigneur is still at Vico; he

Letter text - Pages 2-3 on one opened sheet

Original transcript

se propose de revenir à Ajaccio samedi prochain
et ce n'est qu'à son retour que je pourrai
prendre des dispositions pour conduire cette affaire
à bonne fin. Mon projet est d'obtenir de lui
une lettre par laquelle il consentirait à établir
le palais épiscopal dans ma maison si l'architecte
diocésain la juge convenable. Muni de cette
lettre je partirai pour Paris et avec l'aide
de [Bonavita?] et de [Carabacena?] j'espère arriver
avec d'autant plus de facilité à mes fins, que
l'état y trouvera un grand avantage et que
je lui accorderai pour le payement tout le délai
qu'il voudra.

Depuis mon retour à Ajaccio ma santé a été
de nouveau éprouvée. Mais je commence à me
remettre. La fièvre m'a quitté et par suite j'ai
éprouvé une grande amélioration dans mon
affection des voies urinaires. J'ai remarqué que
cette affection correspondait aux sentimens de fièvre.
Donc j'ai conclu que c'est à la fièvre que je dois
son origine.

La mère m'annonce qu'elle sera ici vendredi
prochain malgré le besoin de repos qu'elle éprouve.
Elle a été occupée depuis son arrivée à Livourne
à chercher un bon placement pour [Bonavita?].
Elle a reçu de lui à cette occasion les lettres les
plus affectueuses et les plus dévouées; il ne faudrait
parler de ces circonstances à personne.

Tu feras part de cette lettre à Steph et tu lui
diras que ma plus grande distraction dans ce pays
est de recevoir de vos lettres, mais qu'il ne faut
pas s'attendre de ma part à une correspondance
bien suivie, mes occupations sont si nombreuses
et si épineuses qu'elles m'absorbent tout entier.
J'ai pris une bien vive part aux inquiétudes
que vous a données la maladie de notre chère Fifi;
Dieu merci la voilà rétablie. Les enfants de Steph et

Notes

Editorial notes:
This capture contains two adjoining written panels of one opened sheet; the text is transcribed once in reading order from the left panel to the right panel.

Letter text - Pages 2-3 on one opened sheet

English translation

plans to return to Ajaccio next Saturday, and only after his return will I be able to make arrangements to bring this matter to a successful conclusion. My plan is to obtain from him a letter by which he would consent to establish the episcopal palace in my house if the diocesan architect judges it suitable. Armed with this letter I shall leave for Paris, and with the help of [Bonavita?] and [Carabacena?] I hope to achieve my ends all the more easily because the state will gain a great advantage from it and because I shall allow it whatever period it wants for payment.

Since my return to Ajaccio my health has again been tested. But I am beginning to recover. The fever has left me and, as a result, I have experienced a great improvement in my urinary ailment. I have noticed that this ailment corresponded with the sensations of fever. I have therefore concluded that I owe its origin to the fever.

Mother tells me that she will be here next Friday despite her need for rest. Since arriving in Livorno she has been occupied in seeking a good position for [Bonavita?]. On this occasion she has received from him the most affectionate and devoted letters; these circumstances must not be mentioned to anyone.

You will share this letter with Steph and tell him that my greatest diversion in this country is receiving your letters, but that he must not expect regular correspondence from me; my occupations are so numerous and so thorny that they absorb me entirely. I felt very deeply the anxiety caused to you by the illness of our dear Fifi; thank God she is now recovered. The children of Steph and

Notes

Editorial notes:
This capture contains two adjoining written panels of one opened sheet; the text is transcribed once in reading order from the left panel to the right panel.

Letter text - Final page and signature

Original transcript

Modeste se portent à ravir. Lolo a pris des couleurs
roses que je ne lui avais jamais connues; il est
vrai qu'il ne trouve jamais la journée assez
longue pour jouer.

Tu me parleras de la position que [Carabacena?]
aurait obtenue dans une ville laquelle? [Bonavita?]
ne m'a pas plus informé que toi.

Adieu, mon cher Léon, reçois avec Steph,
Marie et Adele mes embrassements les plus
tendres et n'oublie pas d'offrir mes compliments
les plus affectueux à la famille Chatel.

Ton père bien affectionné
Antoine Conti

Letter text - Final page and signature

English translation

Modeste are doing wonderfully. Lolo has taken on rosy colours such as I had never seen in him; it is true that he never finds the day long enough for playing.

You will tell me about the position that [Carabacena?] is said to have obtained in a town—which one? [Bonavita?] has informed me no more than you have.

Farewell, my dear Léon. Receive, together with Steph, Marie and Adele, my tenderest embraces, and do not forget to offer my most affectionate compliments to the Chatel family.

Your very affectionate father,
Antoine Conti

Reverse with postal marks and seal

Original transcript

[No running manuscript text]

Reverse with postal marks and seal

English translation

[Later annotations]
Envelope reverse with postal marks and seal; no manuscript delivery address or letter text is visible.

Discovery Terms

Family correspondence
Health
Property
Ajaccio
Mâcon

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