Letter from Valérien Ranc to... (1793)

NRA-L-000667 / 1793

Letter from Valérien Ranc to Louis-Marie Ranc, 14 October 1793

Valérien Ranc writes to his brother Louis-Marie about obtaining a certificate through local officials after the arrival of two commissioners from the Popular Society of Nîmes. A family note asks for clothing for a child and describes the scarcity of goods in Sauve.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000667

NRA-L-000667 image 1 showing a folded address panel to a citizen in Montpellier, with the Sauve postmark and wax-seal remnants. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000667 image 2 showing the first page of a French family letter dated October 1793, written across a folded sheet. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000667 image 3 showing the continuation and closing of the letter together with an additional family message on the same folded sheet. — **Image 3**Letter text - Page 2, closing and additional family message.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000667
Date: 1793-10-14
Original date: ce 14 octobre 1793. lan 2.me de la republique francaise, une et indivisible
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Valérien Ranc
Recipient: Louis-Marie Ranc, at the garden of Widow Boyer
Places: Sauve, Gard, France / Montpellier, Hérault, France
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Address panel and postal evidence; Letter text - Page 1; Letter text - Page 2, closing and additional family message; 3 digital images.
Signature: Valérien Ranc
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000667.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Au citoyen
louis, marie, Ranc, au Jardin
de la citoyene veuve boyer,
vis a vis la merci,
A Montpellier

Address panel

English translation

To Citizen
Louis-Marie Ranc, at the garden
of Citizen Widow Boyer,
opposite La Merci,
Montpellier

Letter text - Page 1

Original transcript

ce 14 octobre 1793. lan 2.me de la republique francaise, une et indivisible
nayant pu voir que hier a huit heures du Soir, les personnes
a qui je devois madresser pour avoir le certificat dont vous
avés besoin mon cher frere, elles me promirent de faire leur
possible pour tacher de le faire delivrer aujourdhui, mais
comme elles ont eté fort occupées ces jours cy relativement
a larrivée de deux commissaires de la societé populaire
de nismes, il seroit fort possible que comme le dimanche
est ordinairement employé a se delasser du travail de
la Semaine, il ne fut point aisé de former une assemblée
dans un jour destiné comme vous Savés a tout autre emploi.
a moins quil ne Soit question des affaires de la republique,
mais soyés entierement convaincu mon cher frere, que je ne negligerai
rien auprés de ceux qui sintéressent a ce qui vous regarde
pour le faire expedier le plus tot possible. Si on me le
remet avant le depart du courrier, je le joindrai a ma
lettre, Si non ce Sera pour le prochain ordinaire. jespere
que vous nen aurés pas besoin, et que vous estes dans

Letter text - Page 1

English translation

14 October 1793, Year 2 of the French Republic, one and indivisible

Having been able to see only yesterday at eight in the evening the people to whom I was to apply for the certificate you need, my dear brother, they promised to do everything possible to try to have it issued today. But as they have been very busy these past few days in connection with the arrival of two commissioners from the Popular Society of Nîmes, it is quite possible that, since Sunday is normally used to rest from the week's work, it will not be easy to form an assembly on a day intended, as you know, for every other activity, unless the affairs of the Republic are at issue. But be entirely convinced, my dear brother, that I will neglect nothing with those who take an interest in your affairs to have it dispatched as soon as possible. If it is handed to me before the courier departs, I shall enclose it with my letter; if not, it will go by the next ordinary post. I hope you will not need it and that you are at present

Letter text - Page 2, closing and additional family message

Original transcript

ce moment ci libre, je ne le desire pas moins ardamant
que de pouvoir vous convaincre dans touts les tems, mon cher
frere quon ne peut vous chérir plus tendrement que je le faits
Valerien ranc

je vous prie de temoigner a ma belle soeur tout le plaisir
que jeprouve de la Savoir en bonne Santé, ditte lui en meme
tems, que le tems començant a devenir plus froit Rousse se
recomande a elle pour Son fils, qui est tout nu, elle lui
rendroit un grand service de lui envoyer quelques vielles
hardes de philippe, si elle nen avoit point, et quelle
fut dans linttention de lui acheter quelque choze elle
fera bien de sen pourvoir a mantpellier, les magazins
de nos marchands estant absolument vuide, cet avec une
peine infinie, que je Suis parvenu a faire enplette de Six
pans dindiane pour la tante de philippe, jembrasse votre
petit fils

Notes

Editorial notes:
The manuscript uses the old southern French unit ‘pan’ for the length of the printed cotton fabric.

Letter text - Page 2, closing and additional family message

English translation

free. I wish for nothing more ardently than to be able to convince you at all times, my dear brother, that no one could cherish you more tenderly than I do.

Valérien Ranc

Please tell my sister-in-law how pleased I am to know that she is in good health. Tell her at the same time that, as the weather is beginning to grow colder, Rousse turns to her on behalf of her son, who has no clothes. She would do him a great service by sending him some of Philippe's old clothes. If she has none and intends to buy him something, she would do well to obtain it in Montpellier, for our merchants' shops are completely empty. It was only with immense difficulty that I managed to purchase six pans of printed cotton fabric for Philippe's aunt. I embrace your grandson.

Notes

Editorial notes:
The manuscript uses the old southern French unit ‘pan’ for the length of the printed cotton fabric.

Discovery Terms

Ranc Family Correspondence
Family correspondence
Certificates
Popular societies
Material scarcity
French Revolution

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