Letter from Delangle to Dureffyle (1844)

NRA-L-000538 / 1844

Letter from Delangle to Dureffyle, 1844-08-08

Delangle asks his brother to obtain a mayoral certificate supporting an application for military leave and encloses model wording for it.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000538

NRA-L-000538 image 1 showing a folded address panel to a Frachon correspondent with postal marks, forwarding notes, seals and visible folds. — **Image 1**Address panel, postal evidence and retained annotations.

NRA-L-000538 image 2 showing a handwritten French letter page with manuscript text, annotations and visible fold lines. — **Image 2**Letter text — Page 1.

NRA-L-000538 image 3 showing an enclosed manuscript or official document retained with the correspondence, including its headings, folds and paper edges. — **Image 3**Enclosed documentary text.

NRA-L-000538 image 4 showing a handwritten French letter continuation with closing, signature, later notes, folds and paper edges. — **Image 4**Letter text and closing.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000538
Date: 1844-08-08
Original date: Valence le 8 Août 1844
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Delangle
Recipient: Dureffyle
Places: Valence / Solignac
Extent: 4 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; Documentary page 3; Documentary page 4; 4 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000538.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur
Dureffyle, ancien cultivateur
à Solignac
commune de St Jean de Bonnefonds
Loire

Address panel

English translation

Monsieur
Dureffyle, ancien cultivateur
à Solignac
commune de St Jean de Bonnefonds
Loire

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Valence le 8 Août 1844
Mon Cher Frère
Aujourd'hui on a demandé le nom de tous les
hommes qui désirent avoir des congés de sémestre.
Mais comme le nombre de ceux qui ont
demandé excéde de beaucoup celui qu'on peut
en accorder il est très probable qu'il n'y aura
que ceux qui auront des Certificats qui
pourront en obtenir. Comme la classe de 1838
va partir au 1er 8bre et que je suis de la classe
de 39 une fois à la maison, je pourrai facilement
obtenir un congé de libération provisoire
Je t'envoie donc le modèle d'un certificat
que je te prie de faire faire à la mairie et de
m'envoyer le plutôt possible; je suis persuadé
d'avance que Mr le Maire ne refusera pas

Documentary page 2

English translation

Valence, August 8, 1844
My Dear Brother,
Today we were asked for the names of all the men who wish to have a semester leave. But as the number of those who have asked greatly exceeds the number that can be granted, it is very likely that only those who have Certificates will be able to get one. Since the class of 1838 is leaving on October 1st and I am from the class of 39, once at home, I will easily be able to get a provisional release leave.
I am therefore sending you the model of a certificate that I ask you to have made at the town hall and to send to me as soon as possible; I am persuaded in advance that the Mayor will not refuse

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

de m'obliger dans cette occasion, car il m'a toujours
temoigné beaucoup d'amitié.

Commune de ....
[line]
Canton de ....
[line]
Départ. de ....
[line]
Nous maire de la Commune de . . . . .
Canton de . . . . . arrondt de . . . . . Dépt.
de . . . . . Certifions que le Mr Delangle
Jean, 1er Canonnier à la 2e Batterie du
11e Régt d'Artillerie en garnison à Valence
(Drôme) a des affaires d'intérêt à régler
dans sa famille par suite de la mort
de ses père et mère décédés il y a quelque
tems, qui rendent sa présence indispensable
dans ses foyers
En foi de quoi nous lui avons
delivré le présent pour lui servir et
valoir ce que de droit
Fait à la mairie de ... le . . 1844
Le Maire

Documentary page 3

English translation

to oblige me on this occasion, because he has always shown me a great deal of friendship.
Commune of ....
[line]
Canton of ....
[line]
Department of ....
[line]
We, mayor of the Commune of . . . . .
Canton of . . . . . district of . . . . . Dept.
of . . . . . Certify that Mr. Delangle Jean, 1st Gunner in the 2nd Battery of the 11th Artillery Regiment in garrison in Valence (Drôme) has business matters to settle in his family following the death of his father and mother who died some time ago, which make his presence indispensable in his home.
In witness whereof we have delivered the present to him to serve and be valid for him in law
Done at the town hall of ... the . . 1844
The Mayor

Documentary page 4

Original transcript

Ce Certificat ne peut compromettre personne
puisque une fois que mon Capitaine l'aura
vu il me le rendra de suite.
Nul doute qu'avec ce certificat
j'obtiendrai le Congé que je vais demander.
Mais pour plus grande sureté, je te
prie de faire faire une lettre par quelqu'un
qui s'y connaisse et de l'adresser à mon
Capitaine. Dans cette lettre tu lui diras que
depuis 4 ans que je suis au service, je
n'ai jamais pu obtenir ni congé ni permission
et qu'il importe beaucoup pour mon interêt
que je revienne pour quelque tems ne serais
ce que pour un mois (je suis toujours sur
qu'il ne m'en donnera pas d'un mois, puisque
le moins qu'il pourra m'accorder sera 3 mois)
mais il faut toujours demander peu afin d'obtenir
beaucoup. tu lui diras aussi que tu a attendu
jusqu'à présent pour lui faire cette demande
car tu a pensé qu'après l'Insp on Génerale

[marginalia in left margin]
il serais plus facile d'en obtenir qu'à toute autre epoque
Enfin je te prie d'arranger cela pour le
mieux et de faire des complimens de ma part à amand
Je ne peu t'en dire davantage, car la place me manque. ton frere
Delangle

Documentary page 4

English translation

This Certificate cannot compromise anyone since once my Captain has seen it he will return it to me right away.
No doubt that with this certificate I will obtain the Leave that I am going to ask for. But for greater safety, I ask you to have a letter written by someone who knows about it and to address it to my Captain. In this letter you will tell him that for 4 years that I have been in the service, I have never been able to obtain a leave or a pass and that it is very important for my interest that I return for some time if only for a month (I am still sure that he will not give me a month, since the least he can grant me will be 3 months) but it is always necessary to ask for a little in order to obtain a lot. you will also tell him that you have waited until now to make this request to him because you thought that after the General Inspection
[marginalia] it would be easier to obtain one than at any other time. Finally I beg you to arrange this for the best and to give my compliments to Amand I cannot say more, because I lack space. your brother Delangle

Discovery Terms

Military leave
Family matters
Frachon Family Correspondence

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