Letter from J. F. to Jn Mᵉ Frachon (1840)

NRA-L-000510 / 1840

Letter from J. F. to Jn Mᵉ Frachon, 1840-02-05

The sender apologizes for the infrequent correspondence and discusses the wave of bankruptcies hitting Annonay, expressing relief that their cousins are not involved. The letter also inquires about the financial status of a neighbor, Mr. Court, in relation to the Peyron affair, and mentions a bankrupt individual named L'artauge. The sender shares family news, including Laure's pregnancy and Francois's promotion to quartermaster sergeant.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000510

NRA-L-000510 image 1 showing a folded address panel to a Frachon correspondent with postal marks, routing notations and visible folds. — **Image 1**Address panel, postal evidence and retained annotations.

NRA-L-000510 image 2 showing a handwritten French letter page with manuscript text, annotations and visible fold lines. — **Image 2**Letter text — Page 1.

NRA-L-000510 image 3 showing a handwritten French letter continuation with closing, signature, later notes, folds and paper edges. — **Image 3**Letter text and closing.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000510
Date: 1840-02-05
Original date: Voiron le 5 février 1840
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: J. F.
Recipient: Jn Mᵉ Frachon
Places: Voiron / Annonay
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; Documentary page 3; 3 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000510.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

A Monsieur
Jn Mᵉ Frachon
à Annonay

Address panel

English translation

A Monsieur
Jn Mᵉ Frachon
at Annonay

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Voiron Le 5 fevrier 1840

notre correspondance cher frere se ralenti
bien nous ne nous en aimons pas moins mais en
devennant vieux nous devennons aussi paresseux
tachons de nous corriger & ecrivons nous plus souvent
c'est un plaisir que nous pouvons facilement nous
procurer Si nous ne pouvons pas nous voir & nous embrasser
la pauvre ville d'annonay est bien malheureuse
les faillite, l'ecrasent on m'a dit qu'il y en avait 10
ou douze, sans m'indiquer le nom des maisons qui sont
en faillite, j'ai apris avec plaisir que nos cousins
etaient assex heureux pour ne pas se trouver dans aucune
leur obligeance me faisait craindre pour eux, tu me
ferais plaisir de me donner la notte des maisons qui
ont suspendu leur payement avec le chiffre de ce
qu'elles doivent. l'affaire peyron a ce qu'on
m'assure est en voye d'arrangement je le desire
bien & Surtout que mon voisin mr Court puisse
garder le Capital que peyron lui avait Confié; car
S'il etait obligé de rembourser desuite je pense que
dans ce moment ou toutes les bourses se resserrent
& ou tant de Capitaux sont arrettés par Suite de
nombreuses faillites qui de tout coté ont eclatées
je pense dis je qu'il Serait bien contrarié pour rembours=
=ner une aussi forte Somme, je n'ai pas vu Court
depuis la malheureuse affaire de peyron on m'a
dit qu'il était allé a annonay, je voudrais bien
Savoir ce qu'on a decide a son Sujet, cecia par
curiosité & par Suite de l'interet que je lui porte car
je n'ai point de Cte avec lui & nos relations Sont bien
rares.

Documentary page 2

English translation

Voiron, February 5, 1840

our correspondence dear brother is slowing down
very much we do not love each other any less for it but in
getting old we are also getting lazy
let us try to correct ourselves & write to each other more often
it is a pleasure that we can easily procure for
ourselves if we cannot see & embrace each other
the poor town of Annonay is very unfortunate
the bankruptcies, crush it I was told there were 10
or twelve, without telling me the name of the houses which are
bankrupt, I learned with pleasure that our cousins
were fortunate enough not to be involved in any
their kindness made me fear for them, you would
please me by giving me the list of the houses which
have suspended their payments with the amount of what
they owe. the Peyron affair, I am
assured, is on the way to a settlement, I wish it
very much & especially that my neighbor mr Court may
keep the capital that Peyron had entrusted to him; because
if he were obliged to reimburse immediately I think that
at this moment when all the purses are tightening
& where so many capitals are stopped as a result of
numerous bankruptcies which have broken out on all sides
I think, I say, that he would be very upset to reim=
=burse such a large sum, I have not seen Court
since the unfortunate affair of Peyron I was
told that he had gone to Annonay, I would very much like
to know what has been decided about him, this out of
curiosity & as a result of the interest I bear him because
I have no account with him & our relations are very
rare.

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

Dis a Martheron que L'artauge sur qui jl
M'avait recouvré un effete qui heureusement a été Payé, est
en faillite; jl m'avait demandé des Renseign[emen]t que je
ne lui avais Pas pu donner.
nous alons tous bien ici, Laure avance heureus[emen]t
dans Sa grossesse elle est très grosse & très gaie, nous
attendons Son Mari le 11 c[ouran]t. Si tu Pouvais
venir tu nous Surprendrais bien a greabl[emen]t.
francois par ecrit Pr M'annoncer Sa
nomination de Sergent fourrier, jl avance
Rapidem[en]t en grade, C'est une Preuve de
Sa bonne Conduite, en attendant que je lui
Reponde fais lui mes amitiés
Rapelle moi au bon Souvenir de toute la famille
& Surtout embrasse bien ta femme & ta fille Pour
moi, j'espere qu'elles se decidera aux 1er Jours des
beaux temps, a venir nous voir quand on doit
(ca va de soi) ou doit les rendre
adieu cher & bon frere aime moi comme
je t'aime je t'embrasse pour moi & Pour tous
les miens
H.

Marie Reclame le chocolat & autres articles
expedie Sa demande

Documentary page 3

English translation

Tell Martheron that L'artauge on whom he
had recovered a draft for me which fortunately was paid, is
bankrupt; he had asked me for information that I
had not been able to give him.
we are all doing well here, Laure is advancing happily
in her pregnancy she is very big & very cheerful, we
are expecting her husband on the 11th inst. If you could
come you would surprise us very pleasantly.
francois by writing [pour?] announce to me his
nomination as quartermaster sergeant, he is advancing
rapidly in rank, it is a proof of
his good conduct, while waiting for me to
answer him give him my regards
remember me to the good memory of all the family
& especially kiss your wife & your daughter well for
me, I hope that they will decide at the first days of
fine weather, to come and see us when one owes
(it goes without saying) one must return them
farewell dear & good brother love me as
I love you I kiss you for myself & for all
my people
H.

Marie claims the chocolate & other articles
send her request

Discovery Terms

Bankruptcies
Financial matters
Family news
Frachon Family Correspondence

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