Letter from S to Adèle de St Joseph... (1821)

NRA-L-000659 / 1821

Letter from S to Adèle de St Joseph, 6 August 1821

An intensely affectionate letter from S to his wife Adèle, longing for their reunion, discussing their son's health and travel arrangements, and reviewing the household accounts for July.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000659

NRA-L-000659 image 1 showing handwritten letter page 1. — **Image 1**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000659 image 2 showing handwritten letter page 2. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 2.

NRA-L-000659 image 3 showing the handwritten closing and signature. — **Image 3**Letter text and signature.

NRA-L-000659 image 4 showing the address panel and postal evidence. — **Image 4**Address panel and postal evidence.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000659
Date: 1821-08-06
Original date: St. Joseph, le 6 août, 1821.
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: S
Recipient: Adèle de St. Joseph
Places: St. Joseph / Bailly, France (forwarded from Paris via Versailles)
Extent: 4 documentary sides: Letter page 1; Letter page 2; Closing page; Address side; 4 digital images.
Signature: S
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000659.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Letter page 1

Original transcript

n: 34.
St. Joseph, le 6 août, 1821.
A mon tour, mon Adèle, ma bien aimée, 
je soupire après tes lettres; combien j' serais
fâché que les courriers du Dép.t du Var ne m'aient
pas permis de te donner plus souvent de mes
nouvelles, tu en auras souffert comme je souffre dans
ce moment et c'est vraiment une chose cruelle que
de n' avoir pas à touts momens des nouvelles de tout
ce que l'on aime. Mon Amie, plus je me rapproche
du moment qui doit nous réunir plus mon impatience
de t'embrasser, de te presser contre mon cœur augmente,
je ne suis bien nulle part, j'éprouve un vuide qui
fait que je ne puis jouir de rien, je ne pourrai
retrouver du bonheur qu'à ton arrivée, presse-la
autant que tu pourras, ma bien aimée, sans toi
je ne puis exister; j'ai écrit à Gonare il y a deux
jours, toute ma lettre est remplie de Maman et
de mes recommandations pour qu'elle ne retarde
pas ton départ, je lui demande avec instances 
ce témoignages de sa tendresse. Cependant mon
amour pour mon Adèle parle à son tour, après
les longs et pénibles sacrifices que nous lui
avons faits; n'en détruisons pas le bienfait par
un voyage qui pût nuire à sa santé; faisons-
le nous passer avant nous, de tes bagages nécessaires,

Letter page 1

English translation

No. 34.
Saint-Joseph, 6 August 1821.

It is my turn, my dearest Adèle. I long for your letters. How sorry I should be if the mails from the department of Var had not allowed me to send you news more often. You will have suffered from it as I am suffering now; it is truly cruel not to have news at every moment of all those one loves.

My love, the nearer I come to the moment that is to reunite us, the more impatient I become to embrace you and press you to my heart. I am at ease nowhere; I feel an emptiness that prevents me from taking pleasure in anything, and I shall not find happiness again until you arrive. Hasten that arrival as much as you can, my beloved: without you I cannot exist.

I wrote to Gonare two days ago. My whole letter was about Mother and filled with recommendations that she not delay your departure; I earnestly asked her for this proof of her affection. Yet my love for Adèle must also speak in its turn. After the long and painful sacrifices we have made for her, let us not undo their benefit by a journey that might harm her health. Let us have [him or the necessary luggage—the syntax is unclear] sent ahead of us,

Letter page 2

Original transcript

prenons Mr Bigot pour juge et rapportons-nous
en à sa décision. Mais que de mal ce cher fils
me fera s'il te retient encore loin de moi! Il t'écrit
ce jour dimanche; j'ai passé la journée ici avec mon
fils toujours très occupé de votre arrivée et visitant
partout pour que tout soit en état; je ne l'ai
pas quitté et partageois ses soins avec plaisir. Après
cela seul je suis allé dans tous les lieux où je te
conduirai, je m' arrêtai où je m'asseierai avec toi, je
te voyois à mes côtés, je l[illisible] à me faire
illusion, je me représentais les momens où tu y serais
réellement, mais mon cœur soupiroit dans cette
triste solitude, rien que mon Adèle peut y répandre
le bonheur.
Mon Père est parti le soir, je
suis resté seul avec Beaumais; j'ai erré toute
la soirée dans les campagnes, la lune l'éclairoit,
je me suis surtout arrêté au bout de l'Erment,
j'avois à travailler je suis rentré et j'ai été
encore avec toi je me suis occupé de mes comptes
pour le mois de Juillet. Je les ai mis en règle
jusqu'au jour dit j'ai vu avec satisfaction que
pour le mois entier nous n'avons dépensé entre tous
deux que Fr. 941. 95. Mes dépenses pendant mon
voyage seront presqu' entièrement couvertes par mon
indemnité est 15 fr par jour. Et il me restera les

Letter page 2

English translation

and let us take Mr Bigot as arbiter and abide by his decision. But how much pain this dear son will cause me if he keeps you far from me any longer! He is writing to you today, Sunday. I spent the day here with my son, still very busy preparing for your arrival and inspecting everything so that it will all be in order. I did not leave him and gladly shared his cares.

Afterwards I went alone to all the places where I shall take you. I stopped where I shall sit with you; I saw you beside me and [unclear word] myself into the illusion, imagining the moments when you would truly be there. But my heart sighed in that sad solitude: only my Adèle can bring happiness to it.

My father left in the evening, and I remained alone with Beaumais. I wandered through the countryside all evening under the moonlight, stopping especially at the end of [l'Erment—the place-name is uncertain]. I had work to do, so I went back inside; yet I was still with you in thought while I attended to my accounts for July. I brought them up to date and saw with satisfaction that, for the whole month, the two of us had spent only 941 francs 95 centimes. My expenses during the journey will be almost entirely covered by my allowance of 15 francs a day, leaving me

Closing page

Original transcript

Fr 602 de mes appointemens de Juillet J'en suis
Joyeux pour toi, pour mon Erment, tout ce qui je
puis épargner pour embellir notre existence est le
plus grand bonheur qui puisse m'arriver.
Dis moi pour quel objet sont les
impositions de 13 fr que Mad.e Kinganjor t'a fait
payer. J'attends ton compte de Juillet pour
en régler la dépense.
Adieu, mon Amie, mon Epouse, tu
auras encore un mot de moi de Marseilles où je me
rendrai; reçois toujours le cœur de ton Ami et tout

Je t'écrirai ma lettre à Marseille, le [jeudi]
m'a dérangé beaucoup d'ouvrages, et actuellement
je n'ai que le tems de t'envoyer de plus
tendres, les plus amoureuses baisers, et tes
mille caresses à notre Erment.
S

Closing page

English translation

the 602 francs from my July salary. I am happy about this for you and for my Erment; everything I can save to improve our life is the greatest happiness that could come to me.

Tell me what the 13 francs in taxes were for that Madame [Kinganjor?] made you pay. I am waiting for your July account so that I can settle the expense.

Farewell, my friend, my wife. You will have another note from me from Marseille, where I am going. Always accept the heart of your loving friend and all [the text breaks off here].

I shall finish my letter at Marseille. The [word unclear] has disrupted much of my work, and now I have time only to send you the tenderest, most loving kisses, and a thousand caresses for our Erment.

S

Address panel

Original transcript

Aude
Madame
Madame De St. Joseph
(rue taitbout, n: 20.)
Paris
Versailles
parti Chez m de belleville
a bailly

Address panel

English translation

Aude
Madame de St Joseph
20 Rue Taitbout
Paris
Forwarded via Versailles to Mr de Belleville at Bailly

Discovery Terms

Marriage
Family correspondence
Travel
Household accounts
Longing and separation

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