Reiset to Broumer: financial... (1806)

NRA-L-000844 / 1806

Reiset to Broumer: financial business, friendship and New Year’s gifts — Mainz, 24 December 1806

Reiset acknowledges letters and bills for 8,000 francs and discusses financial business, news of the English and life at Mainz. He considers a bank branch and asks Broumer to choose small New Year’s gifts.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000844

NRA-L-000844 image 1 showing the delivery address to Broumer at the Banque de France, with the folded seal area. — **Image 1**Address panel.

NRA-L-000844 image 2 showing the opening French text dated Mayence 24 December 1806, concerning bills and business affairs. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000844 image 3 showing the continuation about an anticipated visit and gifts, ending with Reiset’s closing paraph. — **Image 3**Letter text - Page 2 and signature.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000844
Date: 1806-12-24
Original date: Mayence 24 Xbre 1806
Type: Letter
Language: French / fr
Sender: Reiset
Recipient: Broumer
Places: Mayence / Paris [inferred from the Bank of France address]
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Letter text - Page 1; Letter text - Page 2 and signature; Address panel; 3 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000844.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Letter text - Page 1

Original transcript

Mayence 24 Xᵇʳᵉ 1806

J’ai reçu vos lettres des 11 et 15 et les 8000 f traites jointes
à cette dernière, Je n’ai pas été étonné du renvoy, Je m’y
attendois, mais c’est égal et J’[emploierai?] mes restes pour faire l’opération
il n’y a pas [de l’eau?] à boire, et puis il ne se fait aucune négociation
à ffort, toutes les affaires y sont mortes, aussi bien qu’à Paris.
Si le coup porté aux anglois les atteint réellement, tout [reviendra?],
mais au paravant Il en faudra bien d’autres, pourvu que leur
riposte ne nous atteigne pas mieux, on dit qu’ils se sont
Emparés de tout l’argent placé à la Banque de Londres par les particuliers,
mais le fait est qu’on n’en reçoit point de nouvelles Certaines,
Jusqu’à présent [pas?] une Gazette qui nous parvienne qui ait
son franc parler, aussi les on dit peuvent ils aller grands, les
résultats publiés par les Bulletins font le plus Plaisir.
nos [gens?] ont été à ffort, on leur a donné des plaisirs de
manière qu’ils en ont jusqu’au Cou, aussi en sont ils
[fatigués?], Je suis assez las aussi, quoique Je ne sois nullement
dans la faveur, [outre?] les Embarras que leur séjour ici entraine,
Je serois un fort mauvais Courtisan, J’aimerois, je crois, mieux
voir mayence reprendre sa tristesse et son Ennuy que tout ce bruit.
Je suis plus Content encor d’avoir pour de vrai un ami

Notes

Documentary annotation: 30

Letter text - Page 1

English translation

Mainz, 24 December 1806.

I received your letters of the 11th and 15th and the 8,000 francs in bills enclosed with the latter. I was not surprised by their return; I expected it. But it makes no difference, and I [shall use?] my remaining resources to carry out the operation there is not [water?] to drink. Moreover, no bills are being negotiated at Frankfurt; all business there is dead, as it is in Paris.

If the blow struck at the English really reaches them, everything [will recover?]; but before that many more will be needed, provided that their counterstroke does not hit us more effectively. It is said that they have seized all the money deposited at the Bank of London by private individuals. The fact is that no certain news is received about it. So far [not?] a newspaper reaching us which speaks frankly; thus rumours can grow to any size. The results published in the Bulletins give the greatest pleasure.

Our [people?] went to Frankfurt, where they were given pleasures so that they have them up to their necks; they are accordingly [tired?]. I am rather tired too, although I am not at all in favour, [besides?] the trouble which their stay here entails. I would make a very bad courtier. I think I would rather see Mainz return to its sadness and boredom than all this noise.

I am still more pleased to have a true friend

Notes

Documentary annotation: 30 [separate docket below the heading]

Letter text - Page 2 and signature

Original transcript

Comme vous avec lequel Je puis Comme tous les jours m’entretenir
avec le plus grand abandon ; pourquoy donc Mayence ne
seroit il pas assez Important pour avoir une succursale ?
pourquoy donc mes affaires ne sont elles pas assez Importantes
pour que Je puisse vous dire : [lâchez?] votre Banque et venez vous en
travailler avec moi et [etc.?], mais quand nous nous reverrons, nous
traiterons cela à fond, oui, quand nous nous reverrons, mais est il
bien sûr que ce soit au printemps ? ne serai je pas encor Cloué
ici Comme [l’an passé?] par les suites de nos Victoires ! qui peut aujourd’huy
Compter sur le lendemain !
mais trêve de reflexions, pour m’égayer, Envoyez moi une douzaine
environ de petits Cadeaux à la mode pour faire mes Etrennes
à nos dames, prenez cela rue des lombards, ou chez [Petit Dunkerque?],
il m’en faut du petit et surtout du gay, sans y mettre pourtant
beaucoup de prix, et force bonbons dans les objets, Je
m’en rapporte à votre Choix qui est toujours au mieux.
adieu Je vous Embrasse, ma femme vous Embrasse, ma petite
fille jase Comme une pie et Court Comme une folle.
Tout à vous
[paraphe]

Letter text - Page 2 and signature

English translation

like you, with whom I can converse, as every day, with the greatest openness. Why, then, should Mainz not be important enough to have a branch? Why, then, are my affairs not important enough for me to say to you: [leave?] your Bank and come and work with me, and [so on?]? But when we see one another again, we shall discuss it thoroughly. Yes, when we see one another again—but is it certain that it will be in spring? Shall I not still be pinned here, as [last year?], by the consequences of our victories! Who today can count on tomorrow!

But enough reflections. To cheer me up, send me about a dozen small fashionable presents to give our ladies as New Year’s gifts. Get them in the rue des Lombards or at [Petit Dunkerque?]. I need small and above all cheerful things, without spending very much on them, and lots of sweets inside the objects. I rely on your choice, which is always the best.

Farewell, I embrace you; my wife embraces you. My little daughter chatters like a magpie and runs about like a mad thing.

Entirely yours.
[flourish]

Address panel

Original transcript

A Monsieur
Broumer Directeur des
livres de la banque de france

Address panel

English translation

To Mr Broumer,
Director of the Books
at the Bank of France.

Notes

Surviving blue sealing material and paper tongue; faint reversed writing is show-through.

Discovery Terms

Reiset–Broumer Correspondence
Financial correspondence
New Year’s gifts
Personal correspondence

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