Letter from Camille to his wife, 17... (1852)

NRA-L-000654 / 1852

Letter from Camille to his wife, 17 August 1852

Camille writes affectionately to his wife about missing the family, travelling through Nîmes, Béziers, Marseille, Aix and probably Pertuis, a night boat trip, cotton prices, a patronal festival and the high price of Nativity models.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000654

NRA-L-000654 image 1 showing the opening text together with the address and postal evidence. — **Image 1**Opening letter text, address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000654 image 2 showing the handwritten closing and signature. — **Image 2**Letter text and signature.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000654
Date: 1852-08-17
Original date: Béziers 17 aout 1852.
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Camille
Recipient: Wife of Camille (addressed care of Edgard Lombard)
Places: Béziers, France / Forcalquier, Basses-Alpes, France
Extent: 2 documentary sides: Opening text and address side; Closing page; 2 digital images.
Signature: Camille
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000654.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur
Edgard Lombard
fourrier à la compagnie de gendarmerie
Forcalquier
basses alpes

Address panel

English translation

Mr Edgard Lombard
Quartermaster in the gendarmerie company
Forcalquier
Basses-Alpes

Letter text - Image 1

Original transcript

Béziers 17 aout 1852.
Ma bien chere amie
Je n'ai pu résister au Desir de
t'écrire pour te donner de mes nouvelles,
et te demander une réponse immédiate, je
crois que ma lettre te trouvera dans
notre petit paradis, a moins que les
fêtes ne durent encore. ah! ma chere
combien je regrette notre solitude et
que tu [me manques?] ainsi que [celle?] de tes chers
enfans. vive bientot Dimanche que je voie ces
ces anges que mon cœur réclame incesament
L'ainé ne te donne t_il point trop
de peine? O le fripon a t il
payé ?. Camille te boude_t_il bien? dis
moi tout ça ma chere petite femme
afin que les dix jours qui nous separent
encore ne me paraissent pas trop longs.
En passant à Nimes j'ai diné

[Address]

Letter text - Image 1

English translation

Béziers, 17 August 1852.

My dearest friend,

I could not resist the urge to write and give you my news, and to ask you for an immediate reply. I think my letter will find you in our little paradise, unless the festivities are still going on. Ah, my dear, how I miss our solitude and [the following words are unclear] your dear children. If only Sunday would come soon, so that I might see those angels whom my heart longs for constantly. Is the eldest not giving you too much trouble? Oh, has the rascal paid? Is Camille sulking badly at you? Tell me all of this, my dear little wife, so that the ten days which still separate us may not seem too long.

Passing through Nîmes, I dined

[Address]

Letter text continuation - Image 2

Original transcript

avec [Ligne?] Boutin et passé une partie
de la journée de Lundi avec Biou, le
soir de notre mariage. nous avons
fait en mer une promenade delicieuse, la
nuit nous était propice et notre barque bondissait
[légère?] sur les flots. nous etions montés entierement
par des femmes qui chantaient à bord de
ce bateau. c'était presque effrayant d'où je
conserverai un souvenir charmant de cette course.
Le roi coton ne m'a point été propice
au prix de cour, point d'achat je suis
désesperé de cette course. je
ne me reporte plus vers mes envirrons
à Béziers Dimanche matin je ne me doutais
pas d'assister à la fete patronale du pays
qui dure encore. hier soir je me
suis promené au bal en plein air et la
buvette où les chappaux noirs seuls etaient
admis je n'y ai vu qu'un [fou?]
Hier dans la journée nous etions allés
voir une riche usine de Mr Le Sire bâtie
à neuf à 1/2 lieue.
L'affaire qui m'appellait dans ce pays ne
me retiendra pas de mon voyage j'espère que
Je serai demain Soir Dimanche, ou Lundi
à [Pertuis?] où J'y ferai atteler une voiture qui
m'amenera paisiblement pres de Vous
Demain Soir pour Aix
En passant à Marseille J'ai été chez
Mr Roux il a un bien autre magazin. l'on
m'a fait voir quelques models de nativité
dont le moin cher etait de 80 fr.
somme c'est peu possible pour cette
aquisition. les marchands n'ayant encore
quelques models dont ils ne se defont qu'a
des prix exhorbitants. dis moi si je
dois y [borner?] tes desirs. sur
ce point j'ai cru devoir m'arreter avant
de nouvelles demandes.
Le docteur [J...?] m'a fait un [tableau?] suffi-
sant pour m'oter l'idee de te faire faire ce
long voyage en chemin de fer pour Marseille.
Je termine chere amie ce griffonage
j'arriverai près de vous tous. embrasse
ma chere ange un millier de fois n'y
oublie point mon Idole mes baisers les
plus tendres et recois pour toi meme.
ton amant mari
Camille

Letter text continuation - Image 2

English translation

with [given name unclear] Boutin and spent part of Monday with Biou. On the evening of our wedding, we took a delightful trip at sea. The night favoured us and our boat bounded [lightly?] over the waves. It was crewed entirely by women who sang aboard. It was almost frightening, yet I shall retain a charming memory of the excursion.

King Cotton was not kind to me: at the current price there was nothing to buy, and I am in despair over this journey. I [unclear phrase concerning his return or surroundings]. On Sunday morning in Béziers I had no idea that I would be attending the town's patronal festival, which is still going on. Last night I walked about the open-air ball and the refreshment enclosure, where only black hats were admitted; I saw only one [word unclear]. Yesterday we went to see a prosperous factory belonging to Mr Le Sire, newly built half a league away.

The business that brought me to this region will not delay my journey. I hope to be at [Pertuis?] tomorrow evening, Sunday, or on Monday; there I shall have a carriage harnessed to bring me peacefully back near you. Tomorrow evening, onward to Aix.

While passing through Marseille, I called on Mr Roux; his shop is of quite another order. I was shown several Nativity models, the cheapest of which cost 80 francs. At that price the purchase is scarcely possible. The merchants still have only a few models and will part with them only at exorbitant prices. Tell me whether I must limit your wishes on that point. I thought it best to stop before making any further inquiries.

Doctor [name unclear] gave me a sufficiently alarming picture to make me abandon the idea of having you undertake that long railway journey to Marseille.

I shall end this scrawl, my dear friend; I shall soon be back with you all. Kiss my dear angel a thousand times, do not forget my idol, give them my tenderest kisses, and accept them for yourself as well.

Your loving husband,
Camille

Discovery Terms

Family correspondence
Travel
Cotton trade
Festivals
Nativity models

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