NRA-L-000442 / 1829

Letter from L. Chard to Otard Dupuy & Co reporting on British ports and trade prospects, with a personal postscript to P. Guilhem, 1829-02-21

Writing from Glasgow after visits to Whitehaven, Liverpool and Bristol, L. Chard reports to Otard Dupuy & Co on houses approached, orders already placed and prospects for future imports. A separate personal postscript addresses P. Guilhem as a brother and discusses family news, travel and life in Cognac.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000442

NRA-L-000442 image 1 showing the folded manuscript address panel on cream paper, with the written delivery address, postal markings and closure evidence.
Image 1Address panel and postal evidence.
NRA-L-000442 image 2 showing page 1 of the French commercial letter on cream paper.
Image 2Letter text - Page 1.
NRA-L-000442 image 3 showing page 2 of the French commercial letter on cream paper.
Image 3Letter text - Page 2.
NRA-L-000442 image 4 showing page 3 of the French commercial letter on cream paper, including the closing and signature.
Image 4Letter text - Page 3 and signature.

Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Messieurs
Otard Dupuy & Co
à Cognac
France

Notes

Editorial notes:
The address and historical trade-house wording were checked against the authoritative address-panel image and preserved as one correspondent entity.

Address panel

English translation

Messrs.
Otard Dupuy & Co
in Cognac
France

Notes

Editorial notes:
The address and historical trade-house wording were checked against the authoritative address-panel image and preserved as one correspondent entity.

Letter text - page 1

Original transcript

Glasgow 21 Fevrier 1829.
J'ai reçu votre lettre du 7 C.t &
mon arrivé ici le 19 C.t au soir.
Comme vous me l'aviez recommandé, j'ai passé
à Whitehaven, il y ai vu Messrs W. Jefferson &
neuve qui ne notre bonne maison que Messrs Butler
et quelques bonnes maisons de Liverpool m'avaient
recommandé de voir, Messrs Spittall & Matthews
mais ces deux maisons avaient donné leurs
ordres et après m'avoir tenu avec consideration
sur la renommé de la maison, m'ont assuré que
dans leurs prochains importations, ils penseront
et s'adresseront certainement à nous.
Quant a ce que je vous ai écrit de
Bristol et de Lpool, mon entention n'a jamais
été de désirer que vous passiez telle ou telle
note, d'après ce que je vous écrivais, mais je vous
ai fait part de la situation de ces differentes
places et des propositions qui me nous y avaient
fait à Messrs Butler et à moi, pour vous donner
idée de ce qu'est notre Commerce dans ces differents
ports.

Letter text - page 1

English translation

Glasgow February 21, 1829.
I received your letter of the 7th inst. &
my arrival here on the 19th inst. in the evening.
As you had recommended, I passed
through Whitehaven, I saw Messrs W. Jefferson &
neuve there, who is not our good house, but Messrs Butler
and some good houses in Liverpool had
recommended that I see, Messrs Spittall & Matthews
but these two houses had given their
orders and after having held me with consideration
about the reputation of the house, they assured me that
in their next imports, they will think
and will certainly address themselves to us.
As for what I wrote to you from
Bristol and Liverpool, my intention has never
been to desire that you pass such and such
a note, based on what I wrote to you, but I
informed you of the situation of these different
places and of the propositions that had been made there
to Messrs Butler and to me, to give you an
idea of what our Commerce is in these different
ports.

Letter text - page 2

Original transcript

ce sont des notes que je vous transmets
vous en ferez agirez suivant votre maniere de
voir.
Je n'ai que peu de choses a vous dire,
Dieu le [sy?] bien que depuis avant hier je
vous ecrivai tous peu de jours.

Votre respectueux et ami je vous
embrasse de coeur L. Chard

P. Guilhem

Je ne t'ai pas ecrit mon cher frere
depuis deux ou 3 semaines mais sois
bien assuré que les tracas du voyage et
preocupations sont toutes cause de mon
silence, Comment te fais tu a la vie de
Cognac j'espere que tu es maintenant
tout a fait un Coulongour.
J'ai ecrit a Maman et a Louise il
y a une ou deux semaines,
J'ai ecrit a mon oncle avant de Quitter de
Londres mais n'ai pas reçu de reponse
Lorsque ma lettre vous arrivera vous serez

Letter text - page 2

English translation

these are notes that I am sending you
you will act according to your way of
seeing things.
I have only a few things to tell you,
God knows well that since the day before yesterday I
wrote to you all a few days ago.

Your respectful and friend I
embrace you with all my heart L. Chard

P. Guilhem

I have not written to you my dear brother
for two or 3 weeks but be
well assured that the hassles of the trip and
preoccupations are all the cause of my
silence, How are you doing with life in
Cognac I hope that you are now
completely a Coulongour.
I wrote to Mom and to Louise
a week or two ago,
I wrote to my uncle before leaving
London but have not received a reply
When my letter reaches you you will be

Letter text - page 3

Original transcript

dans le port de nos Elections, je desire bien
que vous me donniez des nouvelles comment elles
se seront passées.
J'ai en durant mon voyage depuis
plus de trois mois a peu pres toujours le
même temps et un beau soleil au nord
je n'ai pas pu encore rencontrer de veritable
jour glaciale. hier soir seulement comme
je rentrais un certain vent de [bize?] soufflait
joliment fort et je crus que pour cette fois
je devais avisé que Glasgow et toute l'Ecosse
enseveli sous la neige mais le vent a changé
ce matin et nous avons le temps le plus doux
possible.
Adieu Cher frere je t'embrasse de
tout mon coeur tu ecriras a maman
sous peu de jours, j'ai reçu une charmante
lettre hier de l'Abbé Chaillet il ecrit
parfaitement. Adieu mes bons parents amis
je vous embrasse quoique d'un peu loin
de tout mon coeur et espere vous revoir
avant longtemps.
L. Chard

Letter text - page 3

English translation

at the time of our Elections, I really desire
that you give me news of how they
will have passed.
I have had during my trip for
more than three months almost always the
same weather and a beautiful sun in the north
I have not yet been able to encounter a real
icy day. only yesterday evening as
I was returning a certain north-east wind was blowing
quite strongly and I believed that for this time
I had to be advised that Glasgow and all of Scotland
were buried under the snow but the wind changed
this morning and we have the mildest weather
possible.
Goodbye Dear brother I embrace you with
all my heart you will write to mom
in a few days, I received a charming
letter yesterday from Abbé Chaillet he writes
perfectly. Goodbye my good parents friends
I embrace you although from a little far
with all my heart and hope to see you again
before long.
L. Chard

Discovery Terms

  • Cognac trade
  • Commercial correspondence
  • Market intelligence
  • British ports
  • Import prospects
  • Business travel
  • Personal correspondence
  • L. Chard
  • Otard Dupuy & Co
  • P. Guilhem
  • Glasgow
  • Whitehaven
  • Liverpool
  • Bristol
  • Cognac
  • Otard Dupuy
  • Britain

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