Letter from J. P. to M. Frachon (1840)

NRA-L-000596 / 1840

Letter from J. P. to M. Frachon, 1840-08-11

J. P. asks after M. Frachon's health, discusses François's military ambitions, Vincent's prospects, family news from Bruyère and the effects of dry weather on the grapes.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000596

NRA-L-000596 image 1 showing a folded address panel to a Frachon correspondent at Annonay, with handwritten delivery address, postal marks, sealing evidence, folds and retained annotations. — **Image 1**Address panel to a Frachon correspondent at Annonay, with postal evidence and retained annotations.

NRA-L-000596 image 2 showing a handwritten French letter page with manuscript dateline and text, visible fold lines and complete physical paper edges. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000596 image 3 showing a handwritten French letter continuation with closing, retained marginal or later annotations, visible folds and complete physical paper edges. — **Image 3**Letter text and closing.

NRA-L-000596 image 4 showing the reverse of a folded French letter with postal evidence, manuscript calculations, retained annotations, sealing evidence and complete physical paper edges. — **Image 4**Postal evidence and retained calculations or later annotations.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000596
Date: 1840-08-11
Original date: Tournon le 11 Aout 40
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: J. P.
Recipient: M. Frachon
Extent: 4 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; Documentary page 3; Documentary page 4; 4 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000596.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur
M.r Frachon nég.t
à Annonay
Ardèche

Address panel

English translation

Mr.
M. Frachon, merchant
at Annonay
Ardèche

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Tournon le 11 Aout 40

quelques jours passés à serrieres avec ma femme m'ont
empêché de m'inquieter de ton long silence mais
samedi à mon arrivée ne trouvant aucune lettre
de toi, je pensai, mon cher ami, que tu devois être malade,
lorsque ta lettre d'hier est venue me rassurer. tu parois
avoir bien souffert de cette fluxion, et du mouvement
d'humeur qui s'est porté sur l'Estomac, heureusement
tu étois mieux et assés bien pour venir dans la
journée au magazin.
Tu as de bonnes nouvelles de tes Enfants, l'humeur
guerrière de François ne m'etonne pas, c'est le désir
de tous les militaires, j'apprends avec le plus grand
plaisir tout ce que dit Mad. Koch de vincent.
il est fâcheux qu'il ne puisse rester dans la
maison ou il est, le grand nombre d'Enfants,
ne lui laisseroit aucune perspective d'avancement,
mais ces chefs qui le connoissent avantageusement
mad.e Koch, M. Perret, trouveront soit à [francfort?]
ou ailleurs à le bien placer convenablement.
Rappelle moi au souvenir de M. Perret quand
tu ecriras et mes amitiés à vincent.
Louis, des grands que nous avons vus un instant
à son retour de Beaumanoir, nous a fait l'éloge
de charles, je partage bien la satisfaction que te
donnent tes enfants. les miens se portent à

Documentary page 2

English translation

Tournon, August 11, '40

A few days spent in Serrières with my wife prevented me from worrying about your long silence, but upon my arrival on Saturday, finding no letter from you, I thought, my dear friend, that you must be ill, when your letter of yesterday came to reassure me. You seem to have suffered a lot from this fluxion, and from the movement of humors that settled on your stomach; fortunately you were better and well enough to come to the store during the day.
You have good news of your children; François's warlike mood does not surprise me, it is the desire of all military men; I learn with the greatest pleasure all that Madame Koch says about Vincent. It is unfortunate that he cannot stay in the house where he is; the large number of children would leave him no prospect of advancement, but these bosses who know him advantageously, Madame Koch, Mr. Perret, will find a way, either in Frankfurt or elsewhere, to place him suitably. Remember me to Mr. Perret when you write, and my regards to Vincent.
Louis, of the grown-ups we saw for a moment upon his return from Beaumanoir, praised Charles to us; I fully share the satisfaction your children give you. Mine are doing

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

merveille ils attendent avec impatience le moment
des vacances, pour aller à serrieres, c'est le 28
de ce mois qu'a lieu la distribution des prix
a notre collége.
vincent ne peut tarder d'aller chercher sa
femme qui a été bien Longtems absente,
j'ai de Bonnes nouvelles, Bruyère
j'espere que ta prochaine me confirmera que tu es mieux,
donne moi aussi des nouvelles de mes Beaux freres
de tous Leurs Enfants, de Mad.e Lucie et de nos neveux
et du Bon Cousin [douet?] le docteur pour qui j'avois
mis une Lettre dans la d.re que je t'ai Ecrit.
adieu, mon Bon ami, menage toi Bien
et recois pour toi et tous les tiens nos embrassemens
les plus affectueux. J. P.

nous n'avons pas Eu d'occasion pour faire prendre
les pieces de toile. ce sera quand il s'en presentera
[rien ne presse?] de les Recevoir.

j'ai appris que vous aviés Eu de la pluye,
c'est bien heureux; Elle n'est pas venue jusqu'a
serrieres et Encore moins ici, on dit que les Raisins
sechent

Documentary page 3

English translation

wonderfully; they are impatiently awaiting the moment of the holidays to go to Serrières, it is on the 28th of this month that the prize distribution takes place at our college.
Vincent cannot delay in going to fetch his wife who has been absent for a very long time. I have good news, Bruyère
I hope that your next letter will confirm that you are better; give me also news of my brothers-in-law, of all their children, of Madame Lucie and our nephews, and of our good cousin Douet the doctor for whom I had put a letter in the last one I wrote to you.
Farewell, my good friend, take good care of yourself and receive for yourself and all yours our most affectionate kisses. J. P.

We have not had an opportunity to have the pieces of linen picked up. It will be when one presents itself; there is no rush to receive them.

I learned that you had some rain, which is very fortunate; it did not come as far as Serrières and even less here, they say the grapes are drying up.

Discovery Terms

Family correspondence
Health and illness
Employment
Military service
Weather
Frachon Family Correspondence

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