NRA-L-000684 / 1851
Gasparo Bolognesi to Samuele Finzi, 1851-08-14
A business letter disputing the recorded weight of two bales, with two commercial drafts on the address side.
Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000684
Transcript and English translation
working scholarly aid
Incoming letter — Image 2
Original transcript
Ferrara
Stimat.o Signore Samuele Finzi
Senigallia li 14 Agosto 1851
In risposta alla sua Amat.a in data 1.o Agosto 1851. Mi sembra che Lei vadi
fuori dei Limini, e giusto dovere giacché non si può chiamare insulto quando un
galant'uomo non chiede che il suo giusto come a convenzione stabilita di ricevere
le due Balle salde al mio peso, e non a quello d'Ancona, quindi a mia giusta regola lo
feci ripesare dal Publico Pesatore ed in presenza di un Mezzano Patentato d[perdita di carta]
nomato Sig:r Andrea Patinj, pronti sempre a constatare il sud:o peso, e come da certificato
del Pesatore già rimessoli, quantunque a sua soddisfazione ritornasse a ripesarle per venti
altre volte le ritornerà sempre meno poiché i Publici Pesatori non pesano che il giusto
e non sono capaci di commettere porcherie e non possono farlo assolutamente. E
Lei quando ha venduto il suo genere ne vorrà giustamente il suo giusto valore, e non
di meno altrettanto è ben giusto che il Compratore abbia il suo giusto peso giustificato
o da giustificarsi come lo starà meglio, diversamente mi dispiacerebbe ricevere simile
soverchieria, che Lei ancora non sia entrato in merito della Ragione. Dunque concludo e lo
prego di giustamente persuadersi di tutto il fatto ragionevole e giusto, giacché Le ripeto
io non li chiedo che il mio giusto, e lo riverisco sinceramente
Gasparo Bolognesi
Incoming letter — Image 2
English translation
Ferrara
Esteemed Mr Samuele Finzi
Senigallia, 14 August 1851
In reply to your esteemed letter dated 1 August 1851, it seems to me that you are going beyond the bounds of what is right and proper. It cannot be called an insult when an honest man asks only for his due, under the agreement that the two intact bales should be received according to my weight, rather than that of Ancona. For my own proper guidance I therefore had them weighed again by the public weigher, in the presence of a licensed broker [unread], named Mr Andrea Patinj. They are always ready to attest the aforesaid weight, as stated in the weigher's certificate already sent to you. Even if you were to have them weighed another twenty times for your own satisfaction, the result would still be less, because public weighers give only the true weight. They are not capable of dishonest practices and cannot possibly commit them. When you have sold your goods, you quite rightly want their proper value; it is equally right that the buyer should have his correct weight, substantiated, or to be substantiated as you think best. Otherwise I should be sorry to suffer such overbearing treatment, when you have still not addressed the merits of the matter. I therefore conclude by asking you fairly to acknowledge all that is reasonable and just in this affair. I repeat that I ask only for my due, and send you my sincere respects.
Gasparo Bolognesi
Left margin, continuation of incoming letter — Image 2
Original transcript
onde attendo a pronta risposta di V.S. [Coml?] senza altre dilaz.e C C
Notes
The final sentence is written vertically in the left margin.
Left margin, continuation of incoming letter — Image 2
English translation
I therefore await your prompt reply, [unread abbreviation], without further delays. C C.
Notes
The final sentence is written vertically in the left margin.
Address panel — Image 1
Original transcript
Signore
Samuele Finzi d.o Magrini
Ferrara
Address panel — Image 1
English translation
Mr
Samuele Finzi, known as Magrini
Ferrara
Upper draft — Image 1
Original transcript
6 Ago [segno incerto] Doppo Ieri
Senza il piacere di Vs. in conformità di quanto il S.r Moise Levi a stabilito
personalm.e costà p' mio Conto sono a confermarvi la Vendita di M/m Corami
di mia Fabrica tutte di P.mo P.vo all'ville prezzo di Nap d'arg.o 17¾ Metalici
Diecisette e Trequarti peso [cancellato: N.ro] Ferrarese posto in Barca al Ponte [cancellato: illeggibile] contro Vs
accetaz. p' Bolognata[?] Mesi Sei ritenendomi ben servito sadisfate le sue M. 100 cioè
M. 100 in 7bre e M. 100 alla Fiera [cancellato: illeggibile] nelli Primi della pross.a Settimana col S.r Guastalla
per potervi mandare regolare Fattura e Poliza ripetendo quanto dissi al sud.o che dovetti
fare violenza a me stesso nel umigliare il Genere ad un prezzo [cancellato: illeggibile] servirà però di conforto
del mio sagrificio [segno incerto] quanto verificherete quello lo avete nel Genere C C
Upper draft — Image 1
English translation
6 August [uncertain sign]. The day before yesterday.
Without the pleasure of your letter, in accordance with what Mr Moise Levi personally arranged there on my behalf, I confirm the sale to you of my leather goods from my factory, all [unread abbreviation], at the low price of 17¾ silver Nap in metallic currency—seventeen and three quarters—by [deleted: no.] Ferrarese weight, delivered aboard the boat at the bridge [deleted: illegible], against your acceptance, payable at six months [unread term]. I shall consider myself well served [unread] his M. 100, namely M. 100 in September and M. 100 at [the fair?] [deleted: illegible]. [unread] in the first days of next week, through Mr Guastalla, so that I can send you a proper invoice and consignment note, repeating what I told the aforesaid gentleman: I had to force myself to lower the goods to such a price [deleted: illegible]. It will, however, afford some consolation for my sacrifice when you see what you have in the goods. C C.
Lower draft — Image 1
Original transcript
Colla Vs [4 Cor?] continuate a pretendere il suposto divario peso nelle M/m Corame p' cui vi fatte
Lecito di non rimettermi la mia Trata accetata, e di più vi fatte lecito chiamare
Soverchieria il difendere il mio interesse e Convenienza [cancellato: questo ...] usando apunto
delle stesse Vs difese in mio favore dirò che se merita fede il Vs Pesa.r Publico lo merita
egualmente il mio del qualle vi ho rimesso eguale certificato oltre a che agiungo a
mia giustificaz.e che io non sono garante per li cali in Viaggio facendo presente che
il mio Contrato è di darlo reso in Barca al Ponte e non più oltre; la Vs pretesa poi
la credo dipendente da riduzione di peso d'Ancona al Ferrarese posto il nro convenuto
che io devo darvi il Genere non a peso d'Ancona ma a peso Ferrarese col aumento del
quatro p Cento circa. poi v'invito dimandare a tutti li vecchi Comercianti d'Ancona Sini/
g.a e Fuligno se vi sta fra noi talli [cancellato: illeggibile] questioni con tutto ciò p' finirla [cancellato: illeggibile] di asservirmi accetare
la Cambiale q.a Balla p[perdita di carta] [segno monetario]90 Mon.a d'argento Metalici in vece delli [segno monetario]91.50 caricatami
Notes
Two separate drafts occupy the upper and lower parts of the address side; the upper draft is dated 6 August. Two separate drafts occupy the upper and lower parts of the address side. The upper draft concerns a sale; the lower responds to the dispute over weight. Cancelled and interlinear wording is retained where legible. The draft date of 6 August is distinct from the incoming letter. The upper draft's quality and payment abbreviations and a connecting phrase are unresolved; Nap and M. 100 are retained. The lower draft has paper loss near the closing amounts, whose currency signs are unresolved. C C is an abbreviated closing.
Lower draft — Image 1
English translation
In yours [of the 4th of this month?] you continue to claim the supposed difference in the weight of my leather, and on that ground take the liberty of withholding my accepted bill of exchange. Moreover, you presume to call it overbearing treatment when I defend my interests and what is proper [deleted: this ...]. Using precisely your own arguments in my favour, I shall say that if your public weigher deserves credence, mine deserves it equally: I have sent you an equivalent certificate from him. In my defence I also add that I do not guarantee against losses of weight in transit. I point out that my contract is to deliver the goods aboard the boat at the bridge, and no farther. I believe your claim stems from the conversion of Ancona weight into Ferrarese weight. Our agreement is that I am to supply the goods according to Ferrarese weight, with an increase of about four per cent, rather than according to Ancona weight. I invite you to ask all the established merchants of Ancona, Senigallia and Foligno whether such disputes arise between us. Nevertheless, to put an end to it [deleted: illegible], please oblige me by accepting the bill of exchange for this bale [unread] for [currency sign] 90 in metallic silver currency, instead of the [currency sign] 91.50 charged to me.
Notes
Two separate drafts occupy the upper and lower parts of the address side; the upper draft is dated 6 August. Two separate drafts occupy the upper and lower parts of the address side. The upper draft concerns a sale; the lower responds to the dispute over weight. Cancelled and interlinear wording is retained where legible. The draft date of 6 August is distinct from the incoming letter. The upper draft's quality and payment abbreviations and a connecting phrase are unresolved; Nap and M. 100 are retained. The lower draft has paper loss near the closing amounts, whose currency signs are unresolved. C C is an abbreviated closing.
Discovery Terms
- Finzi–Magrini Correspondence