Letter from Jules Simon to Henfort... (1849)

NRA-L-000661 / 1849

Letter from Jules Simon to Henfort, 22 May 1849

Jules Simon asks the notary Henfort and Louis-Antoine Dufilhol to help bring a private domestic arrangement to a successful conclusion, explaining how deeply he longs to establish a home of his own.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000661

NRA-L-000661 image 1 showing the manuscript address panel, postal marks and related docketing. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000661 image 2 showing handwritten letter text page 1. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000661 image 3 showing handwritten letter text page 2. — **Image 3**Letter text - Page 2.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000661
Date: 1849-05-22
Original date: 22 Mai 1849
Type: Personal correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Jules Simon
Recipient: Henfort
Places: Paris, France / Pacé, Ille-et-Vilaine, France
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Letter page 1; Letter page 2; Address side; 3 digital images.
Signature: Jules Simon
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000661.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Letter page 1

Original transcript

22 Mai 1849. N.o 6.

J'ai si peu de tems, mon cher Henfort, que je
ne vous répondrai que deux lignes. Votre lettre
arrivée ce matin m'a causé le plus vif plaisir.
Je vous prie maintenant, vous et M. Du-
filhol de faire en sorte que rien ne vienne se
jeter à la traverse. J'avais depuis quelque tems
l'âme tellement triste, que mon esprit en souffrait,
et ma santé s'en était ressentie. Si, grâce à vous
deux, j'ai bientôt un intérieur, je vous en au-
rai plus d'obligation que vous ne le pensez
peut-être. Après tout, ce qui importe le
plus, c'est un caractère aimable, digne d'une
amitié comme celle que je puis offrir, c'est à
dire chaude, fidelle et dévouée. J'attendrai pour
partir que le signal me vienne de Rennes, mais
je partirai aussitôt. Par exemple si Dufilhol

Letter page 1

English translation

22 May 1849. No. 6.

I have so little time, my dear Henfort, that I shall answer you in only two lines. Your letter, which arrived this morning, gave me the keenest pleasure. I now ask you and Mr Dufilhol to make sure that nothing gets in the way. For some time my soul had been so sad that my mind suffered and my health was affected. If, thanks to the two of you, I soon have a home of my own, I shall owe you more than you perhaps imagine. After all, what matters most is an amiable character, worthy of a friendship such as I can offer—that is to say, warm, faithful and devoted. I shall wait to leave until the signal reaches me from Rennes, but I shall set out at once. For example, if Dufilhol

Letter page 2

Original transcript

m'écrit cette semaine de partir, je prendrai
la poste le mercredi 31 mai. Je ne pourrai
rester à Rennes que deux jours, mais je retour-
nerai presqu'aussitôt. Je ne vous dis pas, ni
à vous, ni à M. Dufilhol, la moitié du desir
que j'ai de voir cette affaire tourner à bonne fin.
Si vous m'aviez vu ici pendant le mois qui
a suivi la mort de mon père, vous compren-
driez ce qui se passe en moi. Adieu. Embras-
sez bien M. Dufilhol pour moi, et exhortez-
le à m'envoyer bientôt de bonnes nouvelles.

Mille amitiés
Jules Simon

Letter page 2

English translation

writes this week telling me to leave, I shall take the post on Wednesday, 31 May. I can stay at Rennes only two days, but I shall return almost immediately. I am not telling either you or Mr Dufilhol half of how much I long to see this affair end well. If you had seen me here during the month that followed my father's death, you would understand what is going on within me. Farewell. Embrace Mr Dufilhol warmly for me, and urge him to send me good news soon.

A thousand expressions of friendship,
Jules Simon

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur
Monsieur Henfort, notaire
à Pacé, près Rennes. Ille et vilaine

Address panel

English translation

Mr Henfort
Notary
Pacé, near Rennes
Ille-et-Vilaine

Discovery Terms

Personal correspondence
Domestic arrangements
Bereavement
Friendship

Transcriptions and English translations are provided as working scholarly aids, not as replacements for the images of the original documents. Some readings may remain uncertain, especially where handwriting, spelling, damage, abbreviations, names or places are difficult.

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