Letter from A. Matter to Sergeant Major...

NRA-L-000052

Letter from A. Matter to Sergeant Major [Sébatant?], undated

An incomplete French letter with family and agricultural news, including wine, vineyards, taxes and hopes for the recipient's military advancement.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000052

NRA-L-000052 image 1 showing an address panel to a soldier of the 36th Regiment near Algiers, with postal marks. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000052 image 2 showing a dense page of French letter text with its closing and signature. — **Image 2**Letter text and signature.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000052
Date: undated
Original date: undated
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: A. Matter
Recipient: Sergeant Major [Sébatant?]
Places: Châteauneuf, France / Staouéli, Algeria
Extent: 2 web-resolution images
Signature: A. Matter
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000052.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel and postal evidence

Original transcript

Monsieur [Sébatant?]
Sergent major à la 3me Compie
du 2me Bon au 36me de ligne
au camp de Staouéli
près Alger

Notes

Postal marks:
TOURS / 29
ALGER

Editorial notes:
Faint writing elsewhere on the folded outer side appears to be show-through from the letter and is not repeated as manuscript text.

Address panel and postal evidence

English translation

Mr. [Sébatant?]
Sergeant major in the 3rd Company
of the 2nd Battalion, 36th Regiment of the Line
at the Staouéli camp
near Algiers

Notes

Editorial notes:
Faint writing elsewhere on the folded outer side appears to be show-through from the letter and is not repeated as manuscript text.

Postal marks:
TOURS / 29
ALGER

Letter text and signature

Original transcript

[Début incomplet]
[…] l'automne prochain, moi je m'amuse à aimer
des riens, de petites habitudes adaptées à mes [années?], plus
souvent à moi-même. J'avais au [pensionnat?] tenté
d'aborder le drame, mais l'ébauche est restée gisante
dans une vieille boîte. Décidément je n'ai pas assez de
loisir pour songer à faire le poète.

Il est temps de causer raison, ma feuille touchant à sa fin.
[Monsieur?] de la lettre de [Ploërmel?] a remis à Mlle [Mounette?] la
lettre. Mlle [Mounette?] l'a chargé de vous présenter ses civilités et de
vous dire qu'elle était mariée depuis 6 mois. La recette a fourni
quinze pièces de vin d'assez bonne qualité. Il n'en a encore été
vendues dans les arbres, à bas prix. Il n'est pas encore
marié (le [Cloriot?]) mais il faut qu'il se marie car il a absolument
besoin d'une vache qui lui fasse du fumier. Voyez si vous voulez,
mais c'est cela. Du reste j'aime mieux transcrire :

« Je ne suis pas encore marié, mais ma mère est toujours au-
près de moi. Je ne peux cependant pas être longtemps sans me
marier, car il faut que j'aie une vache pour me faire du fumier. »

J'ai payé les impôts dernièrement. J'ai été chez Mr Duclos
pour le faire patienter. J'ai été chez Mr Chambard
prier de s'occuper de la location de Châteauvieux, et je m'en
occupe moi-même. Je vais ensuite [faire?] ma récolte,
les bouteilles vides afin que vous puissiez le boire à votre prochain
retour. Je fais beaucoup de travaux dans les vignes; j'ai arraché
dans les endroits les plus mauvais.

Ma sœur, la femme à Jean, est accouchée d'un gros garçon;
c'est une mère qui l'élève.
Assurances de dévouement de la part de père et de la mère
Silets, et de la mienne.

M. Choubert ne m'ayant rien envoyé je termine en vous
disant que toute notre famille, sensible à votre bon souvenir,
forme des vœux pour vous. Le mien est de vous revoir bientôt
dans notre pittoresque et hospitalière ville de Châteauneuf au sein
de votre famille avec l'épaulette de commandant.
Mes respects à Madame. Embrassez Fernand pour moi.
Tout à vous
A. Matter

Notes

Editorial notes:
The surviving text begins in mid-sentence; no opening leaf is present among the supplied scans.

Letter text and signature

English translation

[Beginning incomplete]
[…] next autumn; for my part I amuse myself by cherishing trifles and small habits suited to my [years?], more often by myself. At the [boarding school?] I had tried to tackle drama, but the sketch remained lying in an old box. Decidedly, I do not have enough leisure to think of becoming a poet.

It is time to speak seriously, as my sheet is nearing its end. [The gentleman?] connected with the letter from [Ploërmel?] delivered the letter to Miss [Mounette?]. Miss [Mounette?] asked him to present her compliments to you and to tell you that she had been married for six months. The harvest produced fifteen casks of fairly good wine. Some has not yet been sold [uncertain wording], at a low price. [Cloriot?] is not yet married, but he must marry because he absolutely needs a cow to make manure for him. Take it as you will, but that is how it is. I would rather transcribe his own words:

“I am not yet married, but my mother is still with me. I cannot, however, remain long without marrying, because I need a cow to make manure for me.”

I paid the taxes recently. I went to Mr. Duclos to ask him to be patient. I went to Mr. Chambard to ask him to attend to renting Châteauvieux, and I am attending to it myself. I shall next [deal with?] my harvest and the empty bottles so that you may drink it on your next return. I am doing a great deal of work in the vineyards; I have pulled up the worst areas.

My sister, Jean's wife, has given birth to a large boy; she is nursing him herself. Father and Mother Silets send assurances of their devotion, as do I.

As Mr. Choubert has sent me nothing, I shall end by telling you that our whole family, touched by your kind remembrance, sends good wishes for you. My own wish is to see you soon in our picturesque and hospitable town of Châteauneuf, among your family and wearing a commander's epaulette. My respects to Madame. Embrace Fernand for me.
Yours always,
A. Matter

Notes

Editorial notes:
The surviving text begins in mid-sentence; no opening leaf is present among the supplied scans.

Discovery Terms

Family correspondence
Agriculture
Wine
Military service
Châteauneuf
Staouéli

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.

Some transcriptions and translations may be prepared with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by Neruda Archives before publication. Better readings, corrections and alternative translations are welcome when they are supported by the manuscript image, context or reliable sources.

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