NRA-L-000682
Possibly incomplete letter about allied troops in Issoudun and local affairs
The surviving text reports the passage and billeting of allied troops through Issoudun, disruptions to the court, deaths, fires, municipal affairs, legal disputes and family news. The first part of the letter may be missing; the order of the final two text-bearing sides is plausible but not physically proved. The last side carries a postscript and the delivery address to a former lawyer at Bar-le-Duc. The exact authorial date remains uncertain.
Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000682
Transcript and English translation
working scholarly aid
Letter text — Image 3
Original transcript
Vous m'avés fait l'an dernier un tableau, Monsieur [l'avoué?],
qui n'étoit pas brillant, j'attend cette année son pendant, et
j'[espère?] qu'il ne sera pas plus gay ni plus satisfaisant, et
qu'au contraire votre position n'aura fait qu'empirer, si j'en
juge par les détails qui nous parviennent des endroits Voisins
des notre, et qui sont ainsi que Vous à la disposition de ces
Etrangers, qui se disent nos alliés. Il faut convenir que le
degré de [parenté?] qui nous lie nous sera bien funeste. - - - -
A notre Egard nous n'aurons qu'à nous plaindre de ces
Réquisitions indispensables [dans?] la grande Réunion de troupes
dans nos Villes trop resserées pour les contenir, et par les logemt.
La population d'Issoudun que Vous Savez être de 10,500. a été
obligée de recevoir 16,000 hom. [interligne : par jour] de tout armes Sans compter
Les chevaux, qui ne trouvant pas d'écurie étoient parqués
Dans un champ appartenant à [Le?] charbonnier [Casselier?]
qui est parallèle à la maison de M. Heurtault Dumez ;
Ils l'étoient aussy dans un pré appartenant à la Veuve
Louis, derrière St paterne, et dans les champs, on
Jamais Issoudun n'avoit Vu autant d'hommes d'armes,
De chevaux, d'attirail de guerre de tout espèce, et
ce passage a duré long temps, L'on fait nombre de plus
De 100 mille hom. qui ont passé ou qui y ont stationné.
Notes
Editorial notes: The surviving text begins mid-discussion; an earlier opening leaf may be missing. The darker '11 9bre 1815' note is not securely an authorial date.
Letter text — Image 3
English translation
Last year you painted me a picture, Monsieur [the lawyer?], which was not a bright one. I await its counterpart this year, and I [hope?] it will be no more cheerful or satisfactory; on the contrary, your position will only have worsened, if I judge by the details reaching us from places neighbouring ours, places which, like you, are at the disposal of these foreigners who call themselves our allies. We must admit that the degree of [kinship?] that binds us will prove very harmful to us. As for ourselves, we have only to complain of these indispensable requisitions [amid?] the great gathering of troops in our towns, too cramped to contain them, and of their billeting. The population of Issoudun, which you know to be 10,500, has been obliged to receive 16,000 men [interlinear addition: each day], of all arms, not counting the horses. Unable to find stables, the horses were penned in a field belonging to [the?] charcoal merchant [Casselier?], parallel to the house of Mr Heurtault Dumez. They were also penned in a meadow belonging to the widow Louis, behind Saint-Paterne, and in the fields. Never had Issoudun seen so many armed men, horses and military equipment of every kind. This passage lasted a long time; the number is reckoned at more than 100,000 men who passed through or were stationed there.
Notes
Editorial notes: The surviving text begins mid-discussion; an earlier opening leaf may be missing. The darker '11 9bre 1815' note is not securely an authorial date.
Letter text continued — Image 4
Original transcript
Cependt. les journaux réduisoient l'armée de la loire à
63 mille hom.
Vous sentez bien que pendant ce long passage, Notre tribunal
n'a pu s'occuper d'affaires, chacun de nous étant Nécessaire chez
Soi, d'ailleurs Il a Eprouvé des pertes qui l'ont forcé à donner
Vacances, Je Vous ai parlé de la mort de Desjobert père, de Digeon,
De la femme gautier, La mort ne s'est pas contenté de ces
Victimes. Il a fallu encore qu'elle attaqua notre parquet, Leconte
étoit allé respirer L'air de la Campagne, Il étoit à 7 à 8 heures
du soir à sa porte à Voir Jouer des Enfans, à onze heures
il n'existoit plus, Guymon père l'a suivi de près, à la suite
d'une maladie Longue. Ces deux fonctionnaires n'ont point
encore Eté remplacés, L'on parle cependt. d'un [av.t?] de paris
qui succèdera à Leconte, qui porte le même nom que notre
président.
Nous n'avons pas été heureux dans le Choix que nous
avions fait des candidats. aucun de ceux désignés n'ont
Eté nommés, La Châtre et leblanc s'étant réunis et
fort bien entendus ont exclus M.M. Taillandier, heurtault
Et [biffé : illisible] Belsunce Sully, que nous avions élus. Vous avez
Sçu que c'étoit M. Gadeau d'[Heutreigne?] qui nous présidoit.
Notre maire M. [Baucheron-La Châtre?], avoit éprouvé
quelques désagrémens pendant le passage des troupes
qui l'avoient mis dans le cas de se démettre, cependt. il a
repris à la sollicitation du Conseil et des habitans.
Letter text continued — Image 4
English translation
Nevertheless, the newspapers put the Army of the Loire at 63,000 men. You will understand that, during this long passage, our court could not attend to its cases, each of us being needed at home. Besides, it suffered losses that forced it to suspend sittings. I have told you of the deaths of Desjobert senior, Digeon and Mrs Gautier. Death was not content with these victims: it had to strike our prosecutor's office as well. Leconte had gone to breathe the country air; between seven and eight in the evening he was at his door watching children play, and by eleven he was no longer alive. Guymon senior followed him soon afterwards, after a long illness. These two officials have not yet been replaced. There is nevertheless talk of a [lawyer?] from Paris succeeding Leconte, who bears the same name as our president. We have not been fortunate in our choice of candidates. None of those designated was appointed: La Châtre and Leblanc, having joined forces and come to a good understanding, excluded Messrs Taillandier, Heurtault and Belsunce Sully, whom we had chosen. You have heard that Mr Gadeau d'[Heutreigne?] presided over us. Our mayor, Mr [Baucheron-La Châtre?], had experienced some unpleasantness during the passage of the troops that had put him in the position of resigning; nevertheless, at the urging of the council and the inhabitants, he resumed his post.
Letter text continued — Image 5
Original transcript
Ici comme partout nous avons nos royalistes et nos Bonapartistes, mais
dans [ces/les?] premiers on compte beaucoup de femmes.
Moreau tanneur rue des boucheries est riche, pour Economiser
une Journée il a fait chauffer La Lessive par quelqu'un de chez
lui, qui obligée de veiller dans l'Interieur laissoit là la Lessive, le
deffaut de surveillance a occasionné un incendie qui alloit
Embrasser toutes les maisons qui bordent la riviere, heureusement
que le Jeu des pompes que l'on avoit placé dans la Riviere a fait
tout L'effet que l'on pouvoit attendre de ce secours, une seule [fenacle?]
a brulé. Il y a eu du dommage à des maisons voisines qui a été
reparé aux frais de L'avare. Il y a cinq à six jours que le
feu a pris à [l'eclairie?] qui est en face du moulin de la fosse en pleine nuit,
de prompts secours ont borné le dommage au batiment même,
Le temps étoit calme, car sans cela L'incendie eût été horrible,
l'on prétend que le feu a été mis par méchanceté.
Nous avons pour sous préfet un M. [Mesillas?] cet homme
qui n'avoit jamais eu d'autorité abuse de celle que lui donne
Sa place dont il ne connoit pas même Les attributions, il
S'avise d'empêcher les comédiens de Jouer, de faire cesser les
Représentations commencées &. Il a été [morigéné?] par quelques
Officiers dont il troubloit les innocens plaisirs, et il est plus circonspect,
mais il n'en est pas plus prudent, Si quelqu'un s'avise de
prononcer le nom de Bonnaparte et qu'il l'entende il fait les
fonctions de la force armée, saisit le délinquant et le conduit en
prison, il vouloit agir de la Sorte envers un M. godard tailleur
que Vous connoissez, sa femme a eu la témérité de donner
un pied au cul à cette autorité, Les grenadiers de la garde ont facilité
L'évasion du coupable mais après leur départ il a été pris et constitué
prisonnier, on instruit [de?] son procès ... L'inquisition est si grande
Letter text continued — Image 5
English translation
Here, as everywhere, we have our royalists and our Bonapartists, but among the former there are many women.
Moreau, a tanner in Rue des Boucheries, is rich. To save a day's labour, he had someone in his household heat the wash. [The clause about this person's duty to keep watch indoors and leaving the wash is difficult to construe.] The lack of supervision caused a fire that was about to engulf all the houses along the river. Fortunately, the pumps placed in the river worked as well as could be hoped from that help; only one [structure — the manuscript noun is uncertain] burned. Neighbouring houses were damaged, and the damage was repaired at the miser's expense. Five or six days ago a fire broke out at [an unidentified place or structure] opposite the mill of La Fosse, in the middle of the night. Prompt assistance confined the damage to the building itself. The weather was calm; otherwise the fire would have been terrible. People claim that the fire was started maliciously.
We have as sub-prefect a Mr [Mesillas?]. This man, who had never held authority, abuses the authority his office gives him, although he does not even understand its powers. He takes it upon himself to stop actors from performing and to bring performances already begun to an end, and so forth. Several officers, whose innocent amusements he was disrupting, [reprimanded him?]; he is more circumspect now, but no more prudent. If someone happens to utter Bonaparte's name and he hears it, he assumes the functions of the armed force, seizes the offender and takes him to prison. He intended to behave in this way towards Mr Godard, a tailor whom you know. His wife had the temerity to kick this authority in the backside. The guards' grenadiers helped the offender escape, but after they had left he was caught and imprisoned; proceedings are being prepared against him. The inquisitorial scrutiny is so great—
Letter text continued — Image 6
Original transcript
qu'il y a maintenant plusieurs femmes en arrestation pour le
même crime, et l'on juge combien notre sous préfet est Vénéré.
M. [Delaparand?] qui avant lui occupoit la place est allé fixer
son domicile à Tours.
Demonferrand père que la goutte avoit reduit à quitter la
culotte et à prendre le cotillon est maintenant en culotte grace aux soins
de M. heurtault justement célèbre dans la science d'esculape.
L'emprunt n'a pas laissé de tater un peu Vivement nos
Capitalistes, Moreau Bouchage a été taxé 3338 f. [Mayet?] [minime?]
qui represente feu Gillou et son beau frere [1?30] f. Reneaume cy devt
M[d?] Epicier 1300 f. [Dudoujon?] 930 f. mais les riches prop[riétai]res
ne sont atteints que foiblement en comparaison.
[Guymon?] fils sollicite la place de Comm[issai]re de police dont son pere
est mort pourvu.
M. [Eneau?] de [Touraille?] qui a longtps pleuré le partage
de la pologne est allé de Vie à trepas. (Une pauvre pologne disoit-il.)
M. [Caignare?] continue d'écrire, mais il donne au public
Les Critiques que l'on fait de ses ouvrages pour en demontrer
Le Vuide ce qui exerce sa Verve et sa plume ! M. [Doza?] aussi
est à sa 4e tragedie, la 3e est intitulée, Clotilde.
L'escalier de l'orgue a été suprimé on l'a replacé à coté
de l'orloge de la paroisse, par ce moyen il ne gene personne.
On abat dans ce moment tous les batimens qui longoient
la rue basse du ci-devt Couvent des ursulines ils sont
remplacés par un mur de cloture qui est rentré de maniere
que la rue est plus large et plus spacieuse, a mesure qu'il se
fait des batisses on recule ou avance selon l'alignement.
Le Pere [Baucheron-Boissoudy?] est mort à Paris Laissant à
therese [Cloquier?] sa concubine 40,000 f. [Bergerioux?] Menuisier de
[l'endroit?] en a fait autant Laissant à ses enfans 60,000 f. et M[r]
Letter text continued — Image 6
English translation
—that several women are now under arrest for the same offence, and one may judge how much our sub-prefect is revered.
Mr [Delaparand?], who held the position before him, has gone to settle in Tours.
Demonferrand senior, whom gout had forced to give up his breeches and take to a petticoat, is now back in breeches, thanks to the care of Mr Heurtault, justly celebrated in the healing art [literally, the science of Aesculapius].
The loan has tested our capitalists rather sharply: Moreau Bouchage was assessed 3,338 francs; [Mayet?] [minime?], who represents the late Gillou and his brother-in-law, [1?30] francs; Reneaume, formerly a [merchant?] grocer, 1,300 francs; and [Dudoujon?], 930 francs. Yet the wealthy property owners are affected only slightly by comparison.
[Guymon?] junior is seeking the post of police commissioner, which his father held when he died.
Mr [Eneau?] de [Touraille?], who had long lamented the partition of Poland, has died. (“Poor Poland,” he used to say.)
Mr [Caignare?] continues to write, but he makes public the criticisms levelled at his works in order to demonstrate how empty they are [the referent of “they” is not wholly explicit]; this gives exercise to his wit and his pen. Mr [Doza?] is also working on his fourth tragedy; the third is entitled *Clotilde*.
The organ staircase has been removed and put back beside the parish clock, where it troubles no one. They are now demolishing all the buildings that ran along the lower street of the former Ursuline convent. These are being replaced by an enclosure wall set back so that the street is wider and more spacious. As new buildings go up, each is set farther back or forward according to the alignment.
Father [Baucheron-Boissoudy?] died in Paris, leaving 40,000 francs to Thérèse [Cloquier?], described by the writer as his concubine. [Bergerioux?], a carpenter [of this place?], has likewise died, leaving 60,000 francs to his children, and Mr—
Letter text continued — Image 2
Original transcript
Delalande, Lavergne, Gromel pere, Leconte, Boireau sont décédés.
M. [Doza?] Delerbay avoit disposé de ses biens en faveur
de Mlle Hortense sa nièce, fille de son frère, moyennant 2500 f.
de pension viagère. Cette nièce a épousé un M. Blanchard que son
mérite éminent attira à Issoudun comme contrôleur ; il étoit
veuf et avoit de son premier mariage deux filles nommées
l'une Laura, et l'autre Adelle. À l'époque de son mariage
Mlle Hortense fit don à ces deux demoiselles de chacune 15000 f.,
ce qui leur avoit procuré des établissemens honnêtes, Mlle Laura
en épousant votre neveu, et la seconde Félix Laborie. Mme
Ve [Doza?] habitoit avec sa fille dans une ville de Normandie
où l'état de son gendre l'avoit attiré. Mlle Hortense
est décédée ; qu'est-il arrivé ? M. Blanchard a mis dehors
sa belle mère qui est maintenant à mal affaire ; elle a cru
trouver un azile chez son beau frère [Doza?] ; celui-ci l'a accablée
d'injures et n'a pas voulu la recevoir. L'on dit que M. [Doza?]
est résolu de faire casser la donation ; alors Mrs Delalande et
Laborie se trouveront avoir épousé des femmes presque sans fortune.
Il y a quelques années que Serrier qui, comme vous
savez, tient la boutique de son père, avoit le projet de se
retirer ; il fit annoncer son fond de boutique au prix coûtant ; il
vendit considérablement. L'on reconnut que c'étoit un leurre et qu'il
n'avoit pas tenu parole. Aujourd'hui cette même boutique
se vend à l'encan, le prop[riétai]re ayant intention de se retirer à Charost.
Je me suis occupé sérieusement de vos intérêts ; j'avouerai q[u'il?]
[?] été dégoûté par un non succès dans une affaire de [Livres?]
où il y a beaucoup de négligence ; dans ce moment j'assignerai
[mots incertains] dès qu[e] l'on ne répond pas à plusieurs avertissemens
donnés à beaucoup d'intervalles.
Letter text continued — Image 2
English translation
Delalande, Lavergne, Gromel senior, Leconte and Boireau have died. Mr [Doza?] Delerbay had made arrangements for his property in favour of Miss Hortense, his niece and his brother's daughter, in return for a life annuity of 2,500 francs. This niece married Mr Blanchard, whose outstanding merit brought him to Issoudun as a controller. He was a widower with two daughters from his first marriage, Laura and Adelle. At the time of her marriage, Miss Hortense gave each of these two young women 15,000 francs, which enabled them to make respectable marriages: Laura married your nephew, and the other married Félix Laborie. Widow [Doza?] lived with her daughter in a Norman town to which her son-in-law's employment had brought him. Miss Hortense has died. What happened? Mr Blanchard turned his mother-in-law out; she is now in difficult circumstances. She thought she could find refuge with her brother-in-law [Doza?], but he abused her and refused to receive her. It is said that Mr [Doza?] intends to have the gift annulled; in that event Messrs Delalande and Laborie will find themselves married to women with almost no fortune.
Some years ago Serrier, who, as you know, runs his father's shop, planned to retire. He advertised his stock for sale at cost price and sold a great deal. People realised that this was a lure and that he had not kept his word. The same shop is now being sold at auction, its owner intending to retire to Charost.
I have attended seriously to your interests. I must confess that I [unclear words] was disheartened by a lack of success in a matter concerning [books?], in which there has been much negligence. I shall now issue summonses [object and wording unclear] after a number of warnings, given at widely spaced intervals, have gone unanswered.
Letter conclusion and postscript — Image 1
Original transcript
Vous vous doutez bien que dans l'état présent les dénonciations
sont sans bornes ; notre préfet M. [Desolles?] se conduit dans
une réserve et une circonspection qui lui gagne tous les cœurs.
Il y a déjà plusieurs de ces dénonciateurs arrêtés dont les
intentions étoient aussi perfides que criminelles.
M. [Delatang?] [d'Auxerre?] est en guerre ouverte avec un M. [Malivoire?]
qui a 3 ou 4 [épaulettes?] ; celui-ci est accusé d'avoir fait couper 19 arpens d'arbres
au prétendu baron. Il y a eu instance à la police correctionnelle ; [mots incertains]
tellement que le tribunal l'a trouvé coupable et l'a
condamné à 3 mois de prison. Il y a appel à Châteauroux. Cette affaire
pique la curiosité en raison des personnes attachées au délit.
Nous avons dans ce moment 200 h[ommes] du 2e d'hussards qui sont fort
tranquilles. Les nouvelles nous apprennent que votre ville a une forte
garnison de ces alliés ; il faut se consoler de tout. [J. B.?] Sartin
[Post-scriptum perpendiculaire]
Mme Delalande se porte bien ; elle a passé quelque temps à la
campagne ; elle me charge de vous dire bien des choses
gracieuses de sa part. Gaschet aîné vient de mourir
ainsi que Mme de Lacherolles.
Notes
Editorial notes: The connection with the preceding surviving side is plausible but cannot be proved from the scans; the letter may be incomplete.
Letter conclusion and postscript — Image 1
English translation
You can well imagine that, in the present circumstances, denunciations know no bounds. Our prefect, Mr [Desolles?], behaves with reserve and circumspection, winning everyone's affection. Several of these informers have already been arrested; their intentions were as treacherous as they were criminal.
Mr [Delatang?] [of Auxerre?] is in open conflict with a Mr [Malivoire?], who has three or four [epaulettes?]. The latter is accused of having had nineteen arpents of trees cut down, belonging to the self-styled baron. Proceedings were brought before the correctional court; [the intervening wording is uncertain], so that the court found [the defendant, not securely identified here] guilty and sentenced [that person] to three months in prison. An appeal is pending at Châteauroux. The case arouses curiosity because of the people implicated in the offence.
We currently have 200 men of the 2nd Hussars, who are very quiet. News tells us that your town has a substantial garrison of these allies; one must put up with everything. [J. B.?] Sartin.
[Perpendicular postscript]
Madame Delalande is well. She spent some time in the countryside and sends you many kind regards. Gaschet senior has just died, as has Madame de Lacherolles.
Notes
Editorial notes: The connection with the preceding surviving side is plausible but cannot be proved from the scans; the letter may be incomplete.
Address panel — Image 1
Original transcript
Monsieur
M[acheux?] ancien avocat, département de
La Meuse
à Bar-le-Duc sur
L'ornain
Address panel — Image 1
English translation
Monsieur
M[acheux?], former lawyer, department of the Meuse
at Bar-le-Duc on the Ornain.
Discovery Terms
- Troop movements and billeting
- Local news in Issoudun
- Legal and family affairs