Letter from Du Sommerard to Baron P.... (1837)

NRA-L-000072 / 1837

Letter from Du Sommerard to Baron P. Duchateau, January 27, 1837

Du Sommerard writes to Baron P. Duchateau about a long silence, a missed journey to Touraine and the harvest, a search for property, and New Year greetings to family and friends.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000072

NRA-L-000072 image 1 showing an address panel to Paris with circular postal cancellations. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000072 image 2 showing the opening page of a French personal letter. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000072 image 3 showing the continuation and signed closing dated 27 January 1837. — **Image 3**Letter text - Page 2 and signature.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000072
Date: 1837-01-27
Original date: 1837-01-27
Type: Personal correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Du Sommerard
Recipient: Baron P. Duchateau
Places: Cloyes, Eure-et-Loir, France / Paris, France
Extent: 3 web-resolution images
Signature: Du Sommerard
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000072.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel and postal evidence

Original transcript

Monsieur
Monsieur le baron P. Duchateau,
Capitaine de Cavalerie,
Avenue d'Antin — 7 ou 21
Champs élisées.
= Paris

Notes

Postal marks:
CLOYE / 28 / JANV. / 1837 / (27)
[Faint circular postmark, partially legible:] ... JANV ... 37

Address panel and postal evidence

English translation

Monsieur
Monsieur the Baron P. Duchateau,
Cavalry Captain,
Avenue d'Antin — 7 or 21
Champs-Élysées.
= Paris

Notes

Postal marks:
CLOYE / 28 / JANV. / 1837 / (27)
[Faint circular postmark, partially legible:] ... JANV ... 37

Letter text - Page 1

Original transcript

Cher baron,

Le long silence que Vous gardez avec moi, fait
que j'éprouve de Vives inquiétudes à votre
encontre; mort ou fondu, malade ou bien portant,
je ne sais que conjecturer.
Voici pourtant le nouvel an qui commence
et pour la première fois il m'arrive d'être en
retard; Vous savez bien cependant que la faute
n'en est pas à l'affection que je vous porte
Elle est toujours aussi vive que par le passé.
Vers le dernier mois d'octobre j'avais fait tous
mes petits préparatifs de Voyage pour la touraine,
et la Veille du Jour ou j'allais prendre mes
ébats, Voici qu'un Monsieur (d'après Vos
instructions sans doute) Vient jeter un long
baton à travers les roues.
Vos

Letter text - Page 1

English translation

Dear Baron,

The long silence you keep with me causes me to feel deep anxiety about you; dead or vanished, sick or in good health, I know not what to conjecture.
Yet here is the new year beginning and for the first time I happen to be late; you know well however that the fault does not lie with the affection I bear you. It is still as lively as in the past.
Around the last month of October I had made all my little travel preparations for Touraine, and the Eve of the Day when I was going to take my recreation, here comes a Gentleman (following Your instructions without doubt) who comes to throw a long stick in the wheels.
Your

Letter text - Page 2 and signature

Original transcript

Vendanges à ce qu'il parait se sont faites hors
Votre présence et moi j'ai été privé du
plaisir de Vous Voir.
Il semble aussi que vous êtes fort en
retard avec tous Vos correspondans car aucuns
de ceux que je connais n'ont pu me donner
de Vos nouvelles.
Soyez moins paresseux cher ami, tenez-moi
mieux au courant de ce qui Vous intéresse.
Mme Bonnard quitte définitivement
le castel de Romainville.
M. Sponi que j'ai vu il y a quelque
tems m'a dit que Vous n'étiez point encore
fixé sur le choix d'une propriété.
C'est à tout hazard que je Vous écris
à Paris, j'ai grand' peur que ma lettre
ne Vous parvienne point.
En tout état de cause mes souhaits
Vous suivront en quelque lieu
qu'il Vous plaise habiter.
Je Vous serre la main avec
affection et Vous embrasse bien
cordialement.
Souffrez que j'offre aussi mes
devoirs à Madame.
Dusommerard
27 Janv. 1837.

Letter text - Page 2 and signature

English translation

grape harvests, from what it seems, were done outside Your presence and I was deprived of the pleasure of Seeing You.
It also seems that you are very late with all Your correspondents for none of those I know have been able to give me any of Your news.
Be less lazy dear friend, keep me better informed of what interests You.
Mme Bonnard is definitively leaving the castle of Romainville.
M. Sponi whom I saw some time ago told me that You were not yet settled on the choice of a property.
It is entirely by chance that I write to You in Paris, I am very afraid that my letter may not reach You at all.
In any case my wishes will follow You in whatever place
it pleases You to live.
I shake Your hand with affection and embrace You very cordially.
Allow me to also offer my respects to Madame.
Dusommerard
27 Jan. 1837.

Discovery Terms

Friendship
Travel
Property
New Year greetings
Cloyes
Paris

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