Letter from J. F. to Frachon, with a... (1838)

NRA-L-000497 / 1838

Letter from J. F. to Frachon, with a note from Victor J., 19 December 1838

J. F. discusses a delayed order for candles, manufacturing work on a cylinder and competition. A separate note signed Victor J. asks his aunt to visit.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000497

NRA-L-000497 image 1 showing a folded address panel to a Frachon correspondent with postal marks, routing notations and paper folds. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000497 image 2 showing a handwritten French letter page with manuscript text and visible fold lines. — **Image 2**Letter text — Page 1.

NRA-L-000497 image 3 showing handwritten French correspondence with its closing and enclosed or appended text. — **Image 3**Letter text, closing and enclosed or appended text.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000497
Date: 1838-12-19
Original date: Voiron le 19 Xbre 1838
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: J. F.; Victor J. (postscript)
Recipient: Frachon; an unidentified aunt (postscript)
Places: Voiron / Annonay
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; Documentary page 3; 3 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000497.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur
Frachon Mᵈ de Vin
Annonay

Address panel

English translation

Monsieur
Frachon, wine merchant
Annonay

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Voiron le 19 Xbre 1838

Mon cher ami

Depuis longtemps je voulais t'écrire pour
solliciter de tes nouvelles, de celles de ta femme & de
tes enfants; mais je n'osais le faire de crainte
de me rendre ensuite importun en te priant de
nous faire adresser des chandelles ou nous dire
si tu peux ou non nous en procurer car alors
nous en demanderons a Lyon où dieu merci
il n'en manque pas. je te répète que nous
souffrons beaucoup par celles que nous sommes
oblige de consommer & qui nous étouffent si le
fab[rican]t a qui tu les a demandé ne veut pas les expédier
de suite fait moi le plaisir de lui dire de les garder
& sur ta reponse j'en ferai venir de Lyon. je sais
bien qu'il n'y a pas de ta faute & y en eut-il que
je ne t'en ferais pas de reproches; tu en convient que
ces chapuis ou autres sont bien desagréables.
Je suis a la veille d'arreter ma fabrication pour
Mettre une Roue a mon Cylindre, dont j'espere un bon Resultat
cela m'ennuye beaucoup parcequ'avec le froid on éprouve bien
des contrariété, & qu'on fait peu d'ouvrage; mais enfin il faut le
faire. Jassumot est en voyage (en Italie m'a t'il dît) tout Roulle

Documentary page 2

English translation

Voiron, 19 December 1838

My dear friend,

For a long time I wanted to write to you to ask for your news, and that of your wife and your children; but I did not dare do so for fear of then making myself a nuisance by begging you to have candles sent to us or to tell us whether or not you can get some for us, for then we will ask for them in Lyon where, thank God, there is no lack of them. I repeat to you that we are suffering a great deal from the ones we are obliged to consume and which are suffocating us. If the manufacturer of whom you asked them does not want to send them immediately, do me the favor of telling him to keep them, and upon your reply I will have some brought from Lyon. I know very well that it is no fault of yours, and even if there were, I would not reproach you for it; you agree that these Chapuis or others are very disagreeable.
I am on the eve of stopping my manufacturing to put a wheel on my cylinder, from which I hope for a good result. This annoys me a lot because with the cold one experiences many setbacks, and one gets little work done; but in short, it must be done. Jassumot is traveling (in Italy, he told me); everything rolls

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

Sur moi, je suis ecrasé de Besognes, encore si a la fin
de l'année on etait dedomagé Sur les benefices; mais aujourd'hui
La concurence est si grande qu'en a celui qui vend le Meiller
Marché.
J'ai apris par Mr Mounin que tu continuais a aller
bien je m'en félicite, prends bien des precaution contre le froid
Sucre est toujours a Lyon, je le Serais etre chercher
si l'especes etait ici, je voulais y envoyer ton frere; mais
Sa mere le trouve trop jeune pour lui Servir de m[on]t[eu]r
Nous allons tous bien & vous embrassons tous
adieu donne moi de tes nouvelles. D Rappelle nous
aux Souvenirs de toute ta famille
adieu
[signature]

Ma chere tante

il y a bien longtemps que je n'ai eu de tes cheres
nouvelles, le temps me dure bien de te voir tu devrais bien
nous faire une petite visite. j'ai écrit a vincent l'autre
jour. adieu je t'embrasse
victor j. [signature]

Documentary page 3

English translation

on me, I am crushed with work; if only at the end of the year one were compensated by the profits; but today competition is so great that it goes to the one who sells cheapest.
I learned from Mr. Mounin that you were continuing to do well. I am glad of it; take good precautions against the cold.
Sucre is still in Lyon; I would have gone to look for him if the cash were here. I wanted to send your brother there, but his mother finds him too young to act as his guardian.
We are all well and send our love to you all. Farewell, give me your news. Remember us to your whole family.
Farewell
[signature]

My dear aunt,

It has been a very long time since I have had any of your dear news, the time seems very long to me until I see you; you really ought to pay us a little visit. I wrote to Vincent the other day. Farewell, I embrace you.
Victor J. [signature]

Discovery Terms

Manufacturing
Candles
Family correspondence
Frachon Family Correspondence

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