NRA-L-000530 / 1838

Letter from Frachon to Jn Mᵉ Frachon, 1838-05-31

Frachon reports his father's health, daily walks and a storm in which lightning struck the roof near the middle chimney, damaging the cornice and three tiles.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000530

NRA-L-000530 image 1 showing a folded address panel to a Frachon correspondent with postal marks, routing notes, seals and visible folds.
Image 1Address panel, postal evidence and retained annotations.
NRA-L-000530 image 2 showing a handwritten French letter page with manuscript text, annotations and visible fold lines.
Image 2Letter text — Page 1.
NRA-L-000530 image 3 showing a handwritten French letter continuation with closing, signature, later notes, folds and paper edges.
Image 3Letter text and closing.

Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur
Jn Mᵉ Frachon
chez Mᵉ Duret & Chomel
Annonay

Address panel

English translation

Monsieur
Jn Mᵉ Frachon
chez Mᵉ Duret & Chomel
Annonay

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Tournon 31 mai 1838

Nous sommes depuis plusieurs jours privés du plaisir de recevoir de tes nouvelles, mon cher oncle. Nous espérions que mon oncle Vincent nous aurait écrit avant son départ pour Voiron; il n'aura pas eu le temps de le faire.

Mon père continue à aller assez bien. Nous faisons presque tous les soirs une promenade à pied. Aujourd'hui nous avons été privés de ce plaisir; le temps était à l'orage. On dit même que, sur les midi, la grêle a fait beaucoup de mal à Mauves. Le soir, à cinq heures et demie, le tonnerre est tombé bien près de nous, sur le toit de la maison de mon père, au-dessus de la cheminée du milieu du côté du parterre. La génoise a été percée et trois tuiles cassées: voilà tout le mal. C'est déjà réparé. [Une dernière phrase sur le bruit et les voisins demeure indistincte.]

Adieu, mon cher oncle.

Documentary page 2

English translation

Tournon, 31 May 1838

For several days we have been deprived of the pleasure of receiving news from you, my dear uncle. We hoped Uncle Vincent would write before leaving for Voiron, but he evidently had no time.

My father continues to do fairly well. Almost every evening we take a walk on foot. Today we were deprived of that pleasure because the weather was stormy. It is even said that around noon hail caused considerable damage at Mauves. At half past five in the evening lightning struck very near us, hitting the roof of my father's house above the middle chimney on the garden side. The cornice was pierced and three tiles were broken: that was the whole damage. It has already been repaired. [A final sentence about the noise and neighbours remains indistinct.]

Farewell, my dear uncle.

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

tous ici se joignent à moi pour
l'embrasser de bien bon cœur ainsi que
Ma tante et la petite.
On voudra bien nous rappeler au
souvenir de toute la famille.
Frachon

Documentary page 3

English translation

everyone here joins me in embracing you very heartily as well as my aunt and the little one.
Please remember us to all the family.
Frachon

Discovery Terms

  • family news
  • weather
  • lightning strike
  • Frachon Family Correspondence

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