Letter from Donitay to Pierre Lacour (1837)

NRA-L-000419 / 1837

Letter from Donitay to Pierre Lacour, 1837-04-07

Donitay warns his cousin Pierre Lacour that Espenan fraudulently obtained fifty francs in his name, describes the man's reported movements and relatives, and urges Lacour to have him arrested.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000419

NRA-L-000419 image 1 showing the folded address panel with postal marks, manuscript docketing and sealing evidence. — **Image 1**Address panel with postal marks, docketing and sealing evidence.

NRA-L-000419 image 2 showing the first page of a handwritten French letter dated 7 April 1837. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000419 image 3 showing the continuation of the handwritten French letter. — **Image 3**Letter text - Page 2.

NRA-L-000419 image 4 showing the closing page and signature of the handwritten French letter, with paper loss and sealing evidence. — **Image 4**Letter text - Page 3 and signature, with paper loss and sealing evidence.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000419
Date: 1837-04-07
Original date: Marmande Le 7. avril 1837
Type: Personal correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Donitay
Recipient: Pierre Lacour
Places: Marmande / Saintes
Extent: 4 documentary sides: Address panel; Letter text - Page 1; Letter text - Page 2; Letter text - Page 3; 4 digital images.
Signature: Donitay
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000419.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur
Monsieur pierre Lacour
traiteur
Charrante inferieure
à Saintes

Address panel

English translation

Monsieur
Monsieur Pierre Lacour
caterer
Charente-Inférieure
in Saintes

Letter text - Page 1

Original transcript

Marmande Le 7. avril 1837

Mon cher cousin

C'est avec Mal au cœur que
j'ai Reçu ta Lettre m'apprenant
le tour d'Escroquerie que t'a
fait ce mauvais Gueux d'espenan
qui a passé & resté chez toi, pendant
trois Jours & ensuite s'etre en
allé pour prétexte à la rochelle
chercher des papiers pour poursuivre
un individu; tout cela n'est que
mensonge, et Surtout lorsqu'il
t'a demandé pour moi. 50 f. Je
n'aurais Employé personne si
j'avais été dans le cas d'avoir
Besoin d'un Service de toi.
Je te dois dire aussi que ce
n'est qu'après Son depart de
Marmande que j'ai appris ce
qu'il etait, la bonne m'a donné

Letter text - Page 1

English translation

Marmande, April 7, 1837

My dear cousin,

It was with a heavy heart that I received your letter telling me of the swindle perpetrated against you by that wretched scoundrel Espenan. He spent three days at your home and then left on the pretext of going to La Rochelle to obtain papers with which to prosecute someone. All of that is nothing but lies, especially his request that you give him 50 francs on my behalf. Had I needed a service from you, I would not have employed anyone else.

I must also tell you that it was only after his departure from Marmande that I learned what kind of man he was; the maid gave me

Letter text - Page 2

Original transcript

que de mauvais renseignements Sur
Son compte; Je te plains du profond
de mon Cœur, que tu aies été la duppe
d'un pareil frippon; fais tout ce que tu
pourras pour le faire arreter, je l'approu
verai avec plaisir -
quant à Sa famille, il a quelques
parents, oncles à Marmande, mais
Son père demeure du coté de pau le
Bearn, à un Endroit nommé Jeanne,
près Garlin, arrondt de pau -
vois ce que tu as à faire, dans cet
objet, je Suis très Eloigné de penser
que Son pere paye, a moins qu'il ne
le fit, si toutes fois tu le faisais
ou du moins si tu parvenais à le faire
arreter. C'est de quoi je Serai Bien
Content -
La veille de Son depart de marmande
il me dit qu'il allait du coté de
Blaye, alors je lui dis, que s'il passait

Letter text - Page 2

English translation

nothing but bad reports about him. I pity you from the bottom of my heart for having been duped by such a rogue. Do everything you can to have him arrested; I shall be very glad to approve it.

As for his family, he has some relatives—uncles—in Marmande, but his father lives toward Pau, in Béarn, at a place called Jeanne, near Garlin, in the arrondissement of Pau.

Decide what you should do in this matter. I very much doubt that his father will pay, unless he were to do so if you acted—or at least if you managed to have the man arrested. I should be very pleased by that.

On the eve of his departure from Marmande, he told me that he was going toward Blaye. I then told him that, if he passed

Letter text - Page 3

Original transcript

par Saintes, je le priais Seulement
de te voir & de te faire mes compliments
voila tout; je ne lui ai donné
aucune lettre pour toi, comme
je te l'ai dit plus haut, si j'avais eu
Besoin de toi, je t'aurais Ecrit
directement -
Je Suis on ne peut plus faché
que ce coquin t'ait fait un pareil
tour,
adieu mon cher amy
crois pour toujours à un Bien Bon
Cousin, & te prie de faire mes
Compliments à tous chez toi
Donitay

Letter text - Page 3

English translation

through Saintes, I asked him only to visit you and convey my regards. That is all. I gave him no letter for you. As I said above, had I needed you, I would have written to you directly.

I could not be more upset that this rascal played such a trick on you.

Farewell, my dear friend. Believe me always your very good cousin, and please give my regards to everyone in your household.

Donitay

Discovery Terms

Fraud
Family correspondence
Fifty francs
Marmande
Saintes

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.

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