Letter from Maria to Madame... (1840)

NRA-L-000485 / 1840

Letter from Maria to Madame Jean-Marie Frachon, November 1840

Frachon family correspondence.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000485

NRA-L-000485 image 1 showing an unfolded sheet with the beginning of a French letter on the right and an address panel to a Frachon correspondent in Annonay on the left, with a red wax seal, postal marks and a receipt note. — **Image 1**Letter text, address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000485 image 2 showing dense continuation text across an unfolded French letter, with closing, signature, folds and faint reverse evidence. — **Image 2**Letter text continuation and signature.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000485
Date: 1840-11-10
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Maria
Recipient: Madame Jean-Marie Frachon
Places: Voiron / Annonay
Extent: 2 documentary sides: Letter text and address panel — Side 1; Letter text continuation — Side 2; 2 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000485.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Madame
Madame Jean-Marie Frachon
à Annonay

Address panel

English translation

Madame
Madame Jean-Marie Frachon
at Annonay

Letter text - Image 1

Original transcript

Quoique j'aie bien tardé à remplir
la promesse que je t'avais faite de t'écrire,
j'espère, bonne tante, que tu recevras ma
lettre avec ton indulgence ordinaire. Depuis
trois mois j'ai vécu dans un état d'inquiétude
ou de malaise continuel, et l'indisposition
d'Edouard qui a été malade la semaine dernière
sera, je pense, la fin de cette longue série
de misères. Après avoir bien partagé le
chagrin que te donnaient les souffrances de
notre cher oncle, nous sommes heureux de
savoir que son état s'améliore quoique
lentement, et pour mon propre compte
j'espère d'autant plus une heureuse terminaison
que la conviction d'Edouard à cet égard
m'influence beaucoup. Avec de la patience
et du régime on est sûr de guérir
ces cruelles maladies. Je compte vous tous

Letter text - Image 1

English translation

Although I have delayed much in fulfilling
the promise I made to write to you,
I hope, good aunt, that you will receive my
letter with your usual indulgence. For
three months I have lived in a state of continuous anxiety
or discomfort, and the indisposition
of Edouard who was ill last week
will be, I think, the end of this long series
of miseries. After having well shared the
sorrow that the sufferings of
our dear uncle gave you, we are happy to
know that his condition is improving although
slowly, and for my own part
I hope all the more for a happy conclusion
as Edouard's conviction in this regard
influences me a lot. With patience
and a diet one is sure to cure
these cruel illnesses. I expect to find you all

Letter text continuation — Side 2

Original transcript

trouver tous heureux et bien portans
l'année prochaine lorsque j'irai vous faire
une visite. l'oncle Vincent a été presque
constamment indisposé depuis son arrivée;
mais son état n'offre rien d'alarmant; seulement
il exige des précautions continuelles. Sa tante
va bien. Notre pays ne souffre pas des
désastres que le littoral du Rhône éprouve.
L'Isère ne donne aucune espèce d'inquiétude,
et la petite rivière qui longe notre maison
se borne à la troubler un peu plus
près; mais il est affreux de songer aux nombreuses
victimes du Lyonnais et de tant de villes
inondées de Lyon à Marseille. L'orage
que nous avons eu cette nuit encore
nous fait craindre que les malheurs ne
soient pas encore à leur fin. Pourtant le
baromètre monte et le soleil est superbe.
J'apprends avec plaisir qu'Annonay ne
souffre pas d'une manière trop forte; dans
ces moments de crise on doit remercier la
providence d'être éloigné des grandes rivières.

Je ne te donne pas de détails sur
nos enfans parceque l'oncle et la tante t'ont
parlé de nos nouvelles.
J'ai commencé ma lettre il y a 3
jours et me voilà seulement aujourd'hui bien
libre de la finir. Notre tems est toujours
à peu près le même: un peu de soleil
et puis de la pluie. Notre pays aurait
cependant bien besoin d'un beau jour demain
grande foire de Voiron. L'oncle est mieux
que le jour où j'ai commencé à t'écrire.
Que fait ma petite cousine dont j'
aime à recevoir les caresses ? Pense-t-elle
à moi ? Fais lui mille et mille choses tendres de
ma part et donne lui un baiser pour moi.
Et Edouard qui à ma droite m'étourdit pas
mal. sur ce, Adieu, bonne tante,
je n'ose te demander de m'écrire profitant
avec avidité de tes lettres à l'oncle Vincent
pour avoir de vos nouvelles. et d'ailleurs puis
que si je me plains du manque de bras
tu dois bien plus que moi être lassée du
tien si utilement employé à soigner notre cher oncle

Letter text continuation — Side 2

English translation

happy and well
next year when I will go to pay you
a visit. Uncle Vincent has been almost
constantly indisposed since his arrival;
but his condition offers nothing alarming; only
it requires continuous precautions. His aunt
is well. Our region does not suffer from the
disasters that the coast of the Rhône is experiencing.
The Isère gives no kind of anxiety,
and the little river that runs along our house
restricts itself to muddying it a little
closer; but it is awful to think of the numerous
victims in the Lyonnais and of so many towns
flooded from Lyon to Marseille. The storm
that we had this night again
makes us fear that the misfortunes are
not yet at their end. However the
barometer is rising and the sun is superb.
I learn with pleasure that Annonay is not
suffering in too strong a manner; in
these moments of crisis one must thank
providence for being far from the great rivers.

I am not giving you details about
our children because the uncle and aunt have
spoken to you of our news.
I started my letter 3
days ago and here I am only today quite
free to finish it. Our weather is still
roughly the same: a little sun
and then rain. Our region would
however have great need of a beautiful day tomorrow
for the great fair of Voiron. The uncle is better
than the day I started to write to you.
What is my little cousin doing whose
caresses I like to receive? Does she think
of me? Give her a thousand and a thousand tender things on
my behalf and give her a kiss for me.
And Edouard who on my right is deafening me quite
a bit. On this, Farewell, good aunt,
I dare not ask you to write to me, profiting
with avidity from your letters to uncle Vincent
to have your news. And besides, since
if I complain of a lack of arms
you must much more than me be tired of
yours so usefully employed in caring for our dear uncle

Closing - Image 1

Original transcript

Edouard mes enfans et moi nous réunissons
pour vous embrasser tous comme nous vous
aimons. Votre affectionnée nièce
Maria

Closing - Image 1

English translation

Edouard, my children and I join together
to kiss you all as we
love you. Your affectionate niece
Maria

Discovery Terms

Family health
Flooding of the Rhône and Lyonnais
Weather conditions
Voiron fair
Frachon Family Correspondence

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