Urgent letter from Pauline Genevrier... (1852)

NRA-L-000660 / 1852

Urgent letter from Pauline Genevrier to Monsieur Genevrier, circa 21 July 1852

In an urgent and emotionally charged letter, Pauline Genevrier begs Monsieur Genevrier to return, discuss a division of family money, pay debts, avoid damaging gossip, and respond after a month of silence amid political and financial uncertainty.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000660

NRA-L-000660 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-000660 image 2 showing the handwritten closing and signature. — **Image 2**Letter text and signature.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000660
Date: 1852-07-21
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Pauline Genevrier
Recipient: Monsieur Genevrier
Places: Lyon, France / Pommiers (Loire)
Extent: 2 documentary sides: Opening text and address side; Closing page; 2 digital images.
Signature: Pauline Genevrier
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000660.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur,
Monsieur Genevrier,
propriétaire à Pommiers
par St Germain laval
Loire
pressée

Address panel

English translation

Mr Genevrier
Proprietor at Pommiers
Via Saint-Germain-Laval
Loire
Urgent

Letter text - Image 1

Original transcript

Mon ami,

enfin que deviens-tu ou en es tu a quoi penses-tu enfin
Si tu ne m'aimes plus dis le j'aurai au moins de tes
nouvelles tu ne te fais pas une idée de ma position
quelqu'un te conseille sans doute d'abandonner
la mère de tes enfants ou de la punir de t'aimer
pas une lettre depuis un mois pas ligne de
toi ni pour toi ni pour mon pere ni pour moi
et dans un moment comme celui ci car enfin nous
ne savons pas ce que cette constitution va nous
donner Si tu n'es pas d'accord avec mon frere
ne vous mangez pas il parait qu'il y a
[trou] je le presentais toi meme de l'argent
[trou] mon frere se decide a partager une somme
assez forte tu verras Si j'aurai pu nous mettre
d'accord je ne peux avoir aucune communication
avec mon pere Si je veux avoir la paix la
somme que tu as en depot mon frere dit qu'il
ne la demandera plus enfin nous verrons
il n'ai pas bien portant viens si ta presence
te retiens ici plus long temps à lors je partirai
de suite a Vezelin mais je tiendrai a etre ici
lorsque tu viendras d'ailleurs je ne sais ou je pourrai
te rejoindre auparavant il est necessaire que je te
parle il ne faut pas croire ceux qui te dise qu'il
ne faut pas partager à present les dispositions
de mon frere m'ont fait changer d'opinion
ainsi viens viens c'est une affaire majeure
mon pere est bien disposé ainsi que mon frere
Si vous n'êtes pas d'accord tu seras promptement

[Address]

Letter text - Image 1

English translation

My dear,

What has become of you? Where are you? What are you thinking? If you no longer love me, say so; at least then I shall have some news of you. You have no idea of my position. No doubt someone is advising you to abandon the mother of your children, or to punish her for loving you. Not one letter for a month, not a line from you—not for you, not for my father, and not for me—at a time like this, when we do not know what this constitution will bring us.

If you and my brother disagree, do not tear each other apart. It appears that [two short passages are lost where the paper is torn]. My brother has decided to divide a fairly large sum; you will see whether I have managed to bring us to an agreement. I cannot communicate with my father if I want peace. As for the sum you hold on deposit, my brother says that he will no longer ask for it. We shall see. He is not well.

Come. If your presence keeps you there any longer, I shall leave at once for Vezelin, but I intend to be here when you arrive. Besides, I do not know where I could meet you beforehand, and I must speak to you. Do not believe those who tell you that no division should be made now. My brother's attitude has made me change my mind. So come—come; this is a matter of the greatest importance. My father is well disposed, and so is my brother. If you cannot agree, you will quickly be

[Address]

Letter text continuation - Image 2

Original transcript

de retour à tes affaires tu me disais que je
restais à Vezelin et que je gagnais 4 francs pour
perdre 10000 francs je t'adresse le meme
reproche il ne faut pas non plus qu'il en
soit question de cette cause que l'on
n'a rien fait avant les decrets du gouvernemen[t]
je t'en prie dans l'interet de tes enfants
fais moi ce plaisir viens viens et de suite
vezelin ne resteras pas trois jours seul d'ailleurs
[Clément?] ou Annette, mais je sais que cette dernière
n'est pas disposée dans ce moment à se décider
et peu partisante d'un arrangement
je crois moi que cela nous convient
nous payerons nos dettes et nous aurons du bon
et bel argent je ne peux tout te raconter
c'est pour cela que je t'attends n'amene
point de domestique ici adieu mon ami
arrive donne moi de quelque façon que ce
soit de tes nouvelles mais donne m'en ou
je deviendrais folle il ne faut parler
de nos affaires à personne de ta famille
les bavardages ne peuvent que nous nuire
tu sais tout ce que je te recommande dans mes
lettres precedentes j'espere que tu y reflechiras
et executeras ce que je te recommande
adieu mon ami dis moi oui reponds
moi mais que je sache si tu es mort
ou en vie mon dieu comme tu me fais
de la peine tu me tues je crois que tu prends
un mauvais temps viens je t'en prie

agissons vite on s'attends avec impatience
ce nouveau gouvernement tous vendent tout
avoir de l'argent qui ne rend rien et nous
payons des interets et encore un capital
qui peut etre en l'air d'un moment à l'autre
par les evenements qui courent
on monte la garde regulierement à Bully
Clément est capitaine adieu encore je t'attends
j'ai trop peur que tu ne viennes pas
assez vite cette incertitude me tue

ta fidèle amie
Pauline Genevrier

recommande aux
domestique de veiller à
tout on peut bien rester 3 ou 4 jours sans battre
n'écoute personne que moi et viens je serai
seule mon affaire d'ailleurs tu veras le pour
et le contre et cela ne t'engagera à
rien d'ailleurs tu le dois je veux te prouver
que ceux de ta famille qui cherchent à faire la pluie et le beau temps
dans ma maison n'y ont pas mis l'abondance
quand tu ferais tes efforts pour la mettre
dans ta maison la mienne propre et voila
tout la brouillerie ne valait pas mieux dans
une famille que dans la tienne viens si
tu es malade dis le jamais je ne me suis vue
à pareille fête tu veux me tuer par ton
indiference

Letter text continuation - Image 2

English translation

back to your own affairs. You used to tell me that I remained at Vezelin and earned four francs only to lose 10,000; I make the same reproach to you. Nor should there any longer be talk of the claim that nothing was done before the government's decrees. For your children's sake, I beg you: do me this kindness and come at once.

Vezelin cannot be left alone for three days. Besides, [Clément?] or Annette [might attend to it], but I know that the latter is not presently disposed to make a decision and is little inclined towards an arrangement. I myself believe it would suit us: we shall pay our debts and still have good, sound money. I cannot tell you everything, which is why I am waiting for you. Do not bring a servant here.

Farewell, my dear. Come; send me news of yourself by any means at all, but send some, or I shall go mad. Do not speak of our affairs to anyone in your family; gossip can only harm us. You know everything I urged upon you in my previous letters. I hope you will reflect on it and do what I ask.

Farewell, my dear. Say yes; answer me. Let me know whether you are dead or alive. My God, how you make me suffer. You are killing me. I think you are taking a very bad course. Come, I beg you.

Let us act quickly. Come—they are waiting for it impatiently. Under this new government everyone is selling everything in order to have money that yields nothing, while we are paying interest and also have capital that may be swept away at any moment by current events. Guard is mounted regularly at Bully; Clément is captain. Farewell once more. I am waiting for you. I am terribly afraid that you will not come soon enough. This uncertainty is killing me.

Your faithful friend,
Pauline Genevrier

Tell the servants to watch over everything. They can manage for three or four days without threshing. Listen to no one but me, and come. I shall be alone. In any event, you will see the arguments for and against my proposal, and that will commit you to nothing. Besides, you owe me this. I want to prove to you that those in your family who seek to rule the roost in my house have not brought prosperity to it. Even if you were to make every effort to bring prosperity into your house—my own house—and that is all, discord is no better in one family than in yours. Come. If you are ill, say so. Never have I found myself in such a state. You mean to kill me with your indifference.

Discovery Terms

Family dispute
Marriage
Debt and credit
Inheritance or division of assets
Political uncertainty

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