NRA-L-000494 / 1838
Letter from E. Jasson and V. F. to Jn Mᵉ Frachon, 28 August 1838
E. Jasson writes to an uncle about personal expenses for food, lodging, music lessons, clothing, coffee and needed shirts. A second writer signing only V. F. forwards the letter and adds family and travel news.
Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000494
Transcript and English translation
working scholarly aid
Address panel
Original transcript
A Monsieur
Jn Mᵉ Frachon
à Annonay
Address panel
English translation
To Monsieur
Jn Mᵉ Frachon
at Annonay
Letter text — Page 1
Original transcript
Voiron le 28 aout 1838
voici bien longtems, mon cher oncle, que j'aurois dû repondre a ta
derniere lettre, mais je ne pouvois t'ecrire Sans te parler un peu de mes
affaires et de mes depenses, et je Savois par mon oncle vincent, que tu
avois eu la chose trop a cœur, pour que cette communication, ne devint
embarassante pour moi, mais comme je pourrois attribuer mon Silence
a l'irritation causée par la fermeté dont tu as fait preuve dans cette
circonstance, je me decide a attaquer le Sujet pour te rassurer d'abord de
l'affection et de l'interêt dont tu fais preuve a mon egard, et ensuite, pour
tacher de te demontrer que bien que blamable, je n' ait cependant pas
[crossed out: je]
Sans motif d'excuse.
ainsi-je n'ai pris chaque mois que 150 f. pour ma nourriture, le payement
de ma chambre & de mes leçons de musique etes tu vois donc que ç'a
ne fait au bout du compte qu'une très petite depense. a present venons
en aux depenses les plus fortes celle de mon tailleur par Exemple. je
conviens avec toi qu'elle est effrayante, mais quant tu Sauras, mon
cher oncle, que j'eus en cette anneé la depense d'un manteau, celle
ensuite d'un habillement complet pour le deuil de grand mere qu' [crossed out: on] a peine
m'a eté annoncé au moment ou j'etois depourvu de tout vetement noir;
tu comprendras, que bien que la Somme etonne de prime abord, elle est
cependant en quelque Sorte legitimeé par les motifs que je te donnes. tu
dois bien Savoir du reste, qu' [crossed out: ceste] ce n'est pas par le luxe des vetements
que j'aie jamais eté remarquable, au contraire, on m'a reproché bien
Souvent de ne pas appoter assez de Soin a ma toilette. il a donc fallu
les circonstances extraordinaires dont j' t'ai fait part pour m'entrainer
dans un Semblable ecart.
Letter text — Page 1
English translation
Voiron, August 28, 1838
It has been a long time, my dear uncle, that I should have answered your last letter, but I could not write to you without speaking a little about my affairs and my expenses, and I knew from my uncle Vincent that you took the matter too much to heart for this communication not to become embarrassing for me, but as I could attribute my silence to the irritation caused by the firmness you showed in this circumstance, I decided to tackle the subject to reassure you first of the affection and the interest you show towards me, and then, to try to demonstrate to you that although blameworthy, I am however not without a motive for excuse.
Thus I only took 150 f. each month for my food, the payment of my room and my music lessons and you see therefore that it makes in the end a very small expense. Now let's come to the heaviest expenses, that of my tailor for example. I agree with you that it is frightening, but when you know, my dear uncle, that I had this year the expense of a coat, that then of a complete suit for the mourning of grandmother which was barely announced to me at the moment when I was deprived of all black clothing; you will understand that although the sum is astonishing at first glance, it is nevertheless somewhat legitimized by the motives I give you. You must well know besides, that it is not by the luxury of clothes that I have ever been remarkable, on the contrary, I have been blamed very often for not paying enough attention to my dressing. Therefore it took the extraordinary circumstances of which I told you to lead me into such a deviation.
Letter text — Page 2
Original transcript
quant a la depense du Café, c'est la Seule dont je me reconnoisse completement
incapable. En S'elevant a 150 f. env. pour 7 mois, cela n'est pas bien
considerable, mais quoique je me Sois en quelque Sorte contraint
de rendre les honnetetés que je recois, j'aurois bien pu, m'en tirer
a meilleur compte.
enfin, mon cher oncle, les depenses Sont faites et payer n'en parlons plus,
Surtout oncle vincent, m'a fait en tems et lieu, toutes les observations
les plus flatteuses a cet egard, il m'a fait part de l'ennui, que vous en
avez ressenti, l'un et l'autre, et te promets ainsi qu'a lui
de ne plus contracter de dettes dont j'aie a craindre l'accusation.
puisque nous Sommes Sur le chapitre des aveux,
je dois encor te dire que je Suis presque depourvu de chemises,
celles de toile qu'on m'avoit faites dans le tems Sont presqu'
importables, C'est une depense a laquelle je te prie de vouloir bien donner
ton consentement, attendu que tu dois comprendre qu'elle est indispensable.
adieu mon cher oncle, je termine ma lettre, en
te renouvellant l'assurance de l'affection qu' [crossed out: et de la reconnoissance] par
laquelle ta conduite a mon egard, te donnent un droit bien legitime,
ton devoue' neveu
[crossed out: je t'embrasse, car] E Jasson
mes compliments a ma tante et a [crossed out: mes] mes cousines, que j'aurai je
l'espere d'embrasser dans un mois a peu pres.
Letter text — Page 2
English translation
As for the coffee expense, it is the only one of which I recognize myself completely incapable. Ascending to about 150 f. for 7 months, that is not very considerable, but although I am somewhat forced to return the courtesies I receive, I could well have gotten away with a better account.
Finally, my dear uncle, the expenses are made and paid let's talk no more about them, especially uncle Vincent, made me in time and place, all the most flattering observations in this regard, he informed me of the trouble, that you have both felt from it, and I promise you as well as him not to contract any more debts of which I have to fear the accusation.
Since we are on the chapter of confessions, I must still tell you that I am almost devoid of shirts, those of cloth that were made for me in the past are almost unwearable, it is an expense to which I beg you to kindly give your consent, seeing that you must understand that it is indispensable.
Farewell my dear uncle, I finish my letter, by renewing to you the assurance of affection by which your conduct towards me, gives you a very legitimate right,
your devoted nephew
E Jasson
My compliments to my aunt and to my cousins, whom I will have I hope to kiss in about a month.
Letter text — Page 3
Original transcript
Eugene [added: etant] [crossed out: etait] venu me voir m'a remis sa [crossed out: demie de] lettre
pr te l'adresser, Il a autant tardé a l'ecrire dans l'embarras ou
il se trouvait de le faire de maniere a Se faire excuser [crossed out: e]
J'espere que tu approuveras sa lettre & je te Confirme qu'il
m'a a loccasion exprimé Sa Reconnaissance dans L'interet
que tu lui porte.
Ma femme est toujours a Lyon je Croyais devoir
l'aller chercher Cette Semaine je Serai privé de ce plaisir
l'affaire S'est Derangée pour un voyage assez long
et je Suis obligé de laisser revenir ma femme Seule. je pense
elle restera encore une 10ne de jours a lyon quoique Se
proposa de revenir vendredi.
Je Serai charmé de te Savoir venu par la et [crossed out: d]
bien aise de venir me faire une visite & de proffiter
du beau temps que nous avons en me disant que
l'air pure de la [bise] vous amenera voir & visiter
nos belles campagnes qu'une pluye rafraichie de
3 Jours a ranimée quoiqu'elle ne Souffrait pas de
la Secheresse, je pense que Vous avez Recu cette
belle & bonne pluye.
adieu J'aprendrai avec plaisir que ta femme est
Rétablie ainsi que babete embrasse les pour moi
je te prie. je t'embrasse
[Signature monogram: V. F.]
Letter text — Page 3
English translation
Eugene having come to see me handed me his letter to address it to you, he delayed so much in writing it in the embarrassment where he found himself to do it in a way to excuse himself. I hope that you will approve his letter & I confirm to you that he has on the occasion expressed his Gratitude in the interest that you bear him.
My wife is still in Lyon I thought I should go and get her This Week I will be deprived of this pleasure the business is Upset for a rather long trip and I am obliged to let my wife return Alone. I think she will stay another 10 days in lyon although she intended to return Friday.
I will be delighted to know you have come this way and very glad to come pay me a visit & profit from the beautiful weather that we have telling me that the pure air of the [bise] will bring you to see & visit our beautiful countrysides that a rain refreshed of 3 Days has revived although it did not suffer from the drought, I think you have Received this beautiful & good rain.
Farewell I will learn with pleasure that your wife is Recovered as well as babete kiss them for me I pray you. I kiss you
[V. F.]
Discovery Terms
- Family correspondence
- Personal finances
- Clothing
- Travel
- Frachon Family Correspondence