Letter from Henry Druard to Henry... (1848)

NRA-L-000662 / 1848

Letter from Henry Druard to Henry Cordelier, 7 December 1848

The artist Henry Druard asks his cousin Henry Cordelier for 250 francs to meet debts to a bootmaker and upholsterer, National Guard expenses and the cost of models for an exhibition painting; he also mentions a delayed journey to Chalon, a possible return to Africa and threats from the gendarmerie.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000662

NRA-L-000662 image 1 showing a handwritten continuation surrounding the address panel and postal evidence. — **Image 1**Letter continuation, address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000662 image 2 showing handwritten letter text page 2. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 2.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000662
Date: 1848-12-07
Original date: Paris 7 Xbre 1848
Type: Personal correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Henry Druard (signed “Hy Druard”)
Recipient: Henry Cordelier
Places: Paris, France / Seurre, Côte-d'Or, France
Extent: 2 documentary sides: Continuation and address side; Letter page 2; 2 digital images.
Signature: Hy Druard
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000662.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur
Monsieur Henry Cordelier, chez
Mr Sordet Pere Banquier à Seurre
côte d'or

Address panel

English translation

Mr Henry Cordelier
Care of Mr Sordet senior, banker
Seurre
Côte-d'Or

Letter text - Image 1

Original transcript

Paris 7 Xbre 1848.
Mon cher Henry
je te prie de m'envoyer tout de
suite 250 f. je croyais partir pour
chalon avant hier mais ce ne
sera je pense que pour la fin
du mois ou le commencement de
l'autre, ce qui me fera une dépense
de plus et c'est a cause de ce prochain
voyage que je vous demande cette
somme, il faudra peut-être que
je me fasse bientot habiller pour
la garde national, et peut-être
retournerai je en afrique pour
y terminer mes affaires
adieu mon cher henry je
suis bien ennuyé maintenant on me
menace de la gendarmerie et toute
la journée je suis en démarches
pour obtenir du repit bien des choses
a toute la famille
ton cousin et ami
hy Druard
T. s. v. p.

[Address]

Letter text - Image 1

English translation

Paris, 7 December 1848.

My dear Henry,

Please send me 250 francs at once. I thought I would leave for Chalon the day before yesterday, but I now think it will not be until the end of the month or the beginning of next month. That will mean an additional expense, and it is because of this forthcoming journey that I am asking you for this sum. I may soon have to have a National Guard uniform made, and perhaps I shall return to Africa to settle my affairs there.

Farewell, my dear Henry. I am greatly troubled at present: I am being threatened with the gendarmerie, and I spend the whole day trying to obtain a respite. Give my regards to the whole family.

Your cousin and friend,
Hy Druard

Please turn over.

[Address]

Letter text continuation - Image 2

Original transcript

Mon cher henry
Je profitte de la lettre d'hyppolyte
pour te prier de m'envoyer 250 f.
au lieu de 200 - et cela pour le
20 ou 25 au plutard La raison est
que je dois 100 f. a mon bottier et que
je ne pensais pas le payer encore
Deplus j'ai pour le 25. un billet de
100 f. à mon tapissier eu a donner
pour mes meubles = sur les 200 f. que
j'ai reçu ce mois ci j'ai eu a payer 80 f
pour mon équipement de garde Nationale
je t'avais écrit de ne m'envoyer 200 f. que
la fin de dec parceque je ne pensais pas
avoir cette dépense a faire de plus je
croyois pouvoir payer mon billet de
100 f. le 25 avec mon mois - mais je
suis dans l'impossibilité de le faire -
ainsi mon cher henry je compte sur
toi pour ce que je te demande de plus
Je fais en ce moment un petit tableau
pour l'exposition ça va me couter au
moins 60 f. de Modeles ce qui me
contrarie assez
adieu je vous embrasse tous en
attendant de vos nouvelles
ton tout Devoué
hy Druard
no 1. r. st Dominique st gn

Letter text continuation - Image 2

English translation

My dear Henry,

I am taking advantage of Hippolyte's letter to ask you to send me 250 francs instead of 200, by the 20th or 25th at the latest. The reason is that I owe 100 francs to my bootmaker, whom I had not expected to pay yet. In addition, on the 25th I have a note for 100 francs due to my upholsterer for my furniture. Out of the 200 francs I received this month, I had to pay 80 francs for my National Guard equipment. I had written to you not to send me the 200 francs until the end of December, because I did not expect this additional expense. I also thought I could pay the 100-franc note on the 25th from my monthly allowance, but I am unable to do so. Thus, my dear Henry, I am counting on you for the extra amount I am asking.

I am presently making a small painting for the exhibition. It will cost me at least 60 francs for models, which vexes me considerably.

Farewell. I embrace you all while awaiting news from you.

Entirely yours,
Hy Druard

No. 1, Rue Saint-Dominique-Saint-Germain.

Discovery Terms

Artists
Debt and credit
National Guard
Art exhibitions
Travel

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