NRA-L-000598 / 1840

Letter from J. P. to Jean Marie Frachon, 1840-11-18

J. P. sends Jean Marie Frachon news from François about his promotion to sergeant-major in the 30th Line Regiment and reports a renewed rise of the Rhône into the ground floor.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000598

NRA-L-000598 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 1Address panel to a Frachon correspondent at Annonay, with postal evidence and retained annotations.
NRA-L-000598 image 2 showing a handwritten French letter page with manuscript dateline and text, visible fold lines and complete physical paper edges.
Image 2Letter text - Page 1.
NRA-L-000598 image 3 showing a handwritten French letter continuation with closing, retained marginal or later annotations, visible folds and complete physical paper edges.
Image 3Letter text and closing.

Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur
Jn M.e Frachon nég.t
à Annonay
Ardèche

Address panel

English translation

Mr.
Jn M.e Frachon, merchant
at Annonay
Ardèche

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Tournon, le 18. 9bre 1840

quoique je t'aie ecrit hier, mon cher jean marie
je me hate de te faire part de ce que m'ecrit
françois Par une Lettre du 16 ct. de Bourges, car
quoiqu'il est possible qu'il n'ait pû t'ecrire
le meme jour et pour ne pas Retarder le
Plaisir que tu auras, d'apprendre sa nomination
au grade de sergent major; je copie.
"Depuis ce matin je suis bien content je suis
"passé sergent major à la 4e comp.e du 1r. Bataillon
"à la datte de dimanche 15 de ce mois. c'est une comp.e
"de nouvelle formation, pour Remplacer celle du
"meme no. qui est passée au. 73e Regiment de ligne
"qu'on forme en Entier. je ne doute pas que
"c'est grace à vos nombreuses, Recommandations
"a Mr. Boissy d'anglas qui m'a valu cette
"derniere preuve de protection de mon Colonel
"laquelle je ne m'attendois pas encore sitot et dont
"je vous suis doublement Reconnoissant, j'espere
"pouvoir m'en servir a vous prouver que je ne suis
"pas indigne de vos bontés pour moi et me donne
"une position pour l'avenir; il m'est très avantageux
"d'avoir pû passer maintenant, car je
"prend mon ancienneté et aurai toujours des
"droits a l'avancement avant ceux qui ne
"passeront qu'après moi.
"je Partirai probablement dimanche matin

Documentary page 2

English translation

Tournon, November 18, 1840

Although I wrote to you yesterday, my dear Jean Marie, I hasten to share with you what François writes me in a letter from the 16th inst. from Bourges, for although it is possible he could not write to you the same day and so as not to delay the pleasure you will have in learning of his nomination to the rank of sergeant major; I copy it.
"Since this morning I am very happy, I was promoted to sergeant major in the 4th company of the 1st Battalion dating from Sunday the 15th of this month. It is a newly formed company, to replace the one of the same number that was transferred to the 73rd Infantry Regiment which is being formed in its entirety. I have no doubt that this is thanks to your numerous recommendations to Mr. Boissy d'Anglas which earned me this latest proof of protection from my Colonel, which I did not expect so soon and for which I am doubly grateful to you. I hope to be able to use it to prove to you that I am not unworthy of your kindness towards me, and it gives me a position for the future; it is very advantageous for me to have been able to cross over now, because I am taking my seniority and will always have rights to promotion ahead of those who will cross over only after me.
"I will probably leave on Sunday morning

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

"Pour fontevrault ou j'arriverai du 18 au 20.
"c'est donc a fontevrault depart de maine
"& loire que tu devras addresser tes lettres
"a ......... sergent major au 30e. de Ligne
"1er. Bataillon 4e comp.e."
je t'aurois Envoyé la Lettre de françois
s'il ne me parloit, de ses camarades aux familles
desquels, je suis bien aise de la faire voir
quoique par ma Lettre d'hier, je t'aie
fait Pressentir une nouvelle crue du Rhone
je ne m'attendois pas qu'elle fut aussi
forte (Pres de deux Pieds) hier dans l'apres
midi elle etoit Revesnüe dans le Rez de
chausée occupé par notre Locataire
aujourd'hui il [y a de baisse?]
Tout a toi
J. P.

Documentary page 3

English translation

"for Fontevrault where I will arrive between the 18th and 20th. It is therefore to Fontevrault, Maine-et-Loire department, that you will have to address your letters to ......... sergeant major in the 30th Line Regiment, 1st Battalion, 4th company."
I would have sent you François's letter if he hadn't spoken to me about his comrades to whose families I am very glad to show it.
Although in my letter yesterday, I made you anticipate a new rising of the Rhône, I did not expect it to be so strong (nearly two feet); yesterday afternoon it had returned to the ground floor occupied by our tenant, today there is a [drop in the water level?].
All yours,
J. P.

Discovery Terms

  • Family correspondence
  • Military promotion
  • French Army
  • Flooding
  • Frachon Family Correspondence

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