NRA-L-000849 / 1806
Reiset to Broumer: family news, long-dated bills and reports from Germany
Reiset reports returning from Alsace with his wife and daughter, Ovide’s promotion to major after an imperial review in Berlin, and Adolphe’s news. He discusses accounts, long-dated bills and the Caisse de service. A postscript reports the taking of Magdeburg, news of the Duke of Weimar, daily Rhine crossings and national guards sent to Frankfurt and Hesse.
Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000849
Transcript and English translation
working scholarly aid
Letter text - Page1
Original transcript
Mayence le 13 9bre 1806
Je suis arrivé hier, mon cher Broumer, avec ma femme et ma fille
que j’ai ramenées d’Alsace se portant à merveille et par le plus
beau tems du monde.
Je retrouve de l’ouvrage, comme bien vous pensez, mais je commence
par vous répondre.
On pardonneroit bien à [Dolo?] les galanteries [Ratisbonnes?] si
l’on était sûr qu’il se garantirait de celles de Paris. Je compte bien
un peu sur vous pour le surveiller.
J’ai heureusement ce matin une lettre d’Ovide dont j’étais
fort inquiet. Il m’écrit un mot de Berlin du 4 novembre
et me mande que l’Empereur après avoir passé son
régiment en revue l’a fait major, il ne sait encor dans
quel Régiment, cependant toujours bel et bon, pourvu qu’il
se maintienne bien. J’ai aussi une lettre d’Adolphe, il [mot illisible]
de [mot illisible], il paraît que Berlin lui a passé devant le bec
pour le moment, toujours est il qu’il se porte bien.
Lebas m’a apporté tant sur Roguin f. 1686 et ce qui
[mots illisibles] encor, Mon cher, vous les [mots illisibles]
vous êtes débité de [mot illisible] 15609 f que [mots illisibles]
[mots rayés illisibles] N
Df. 1000 payé à Lebas.
J’écris à la Banque pour demander l’autorisation de tirer
sur eux et remettre à [ajout : Paris], cela me convient fort, soignez
la réponse de manière à ce qu’elle soit prompte et affirmative.
J’ai une traite de 2000 f que [mot illisible] renvoyez. J’ai
reçu en effet 6000 f de traites de [Catoire?], Minquet et [Fréron?]
Notes
Documentary annotation: 18 dit
Letter text - Page1
English translation
Mainz, 13 November 1806
I arrived yesterday, my dear Broumer, with my wife and daughter, whom I brought back from Alsace, in wonderful health and in the finest weather in the world. I find work awaiting me, as you can well imagine, but I begin by answering you.
One would readily forgive [Dolo?] his [Ratisbon?] gallantries if one were sure that he would guard against those of Paris. I do count on you a little to keep an eye on him.
Fortunately this morning I received a letter from Ovide, about whom I was very anxious. He writes me a line from Berlin dated 4 November and tells me that the Emperor, after reviewing his regiment, made him a major. He does not yet know in which regiment; nevertheless, it is always well and good, provided he maintains his position. I also have a letter from Adolphe; he [illegible word] from [illegible word]. It appears that Berlin has passed under his nose for the moment; at any rate, he is in good health.
Lebas brought me, on Roguin, 1,686 francs, and what [illegible words] still, my dear friend, you [illegible words]. You are debited [illegible word] 15,609 francs which [illegible words]. [Illegible crossed-out words] N. Of which 1,000 paid to Lebas.
I am writing to the Bank to request authorization to draw on them and remit to [insertion: Paris]; this suits me very well. See that the reply is prompt and affirmative. I have a draft for 2,000 francs which [illegible word] send back. I have indeed received 6,000 francs in drafts of [Catoire?], Minquet and [Fréron?]
Notes
Documentary annotation: 18th of the same month
Letter text - Page2 and signature
Original transcript
[deuxièmes?], mais ces traites sont à longue échéance et je
me dois dégager de suite, je ne sais si ces messieurs sont bien
bons et s’il est prudent de se mettre ainsi en avance, [illisible]
dites m’en un mot.
Je ne pourrai venir à Paris qu’au printemps, mais je prévois bien
qu’alors rien ne m’empêchera de faire ce voyage.
J’ai [l’engagement?] d’écrire à [Moussilhon?], mais j’ai déjà été forcé
d’interrompre ma lettre 20 fois, j’espère demain ou après pouvoir
la finir.
C’est sur la Caisse de Service que je voudrais remettre mon
papier long, j’espère qu’il sera aussi bien accueilli [rayé : que?]
qu’un autre, donnez moi un mot là dessus.
Adieu tout à vous je vous embrasse de tout Cœur
[paraphe]
Voilà qu’on m’annonce
Magdebourg pris avec [22000?] hommes,
le Duc de Weymar [pris?] avec 14000 hommes
[rayé : tout cela] vous [mot illisible] plutôt qu’on ne pensait.
Vous [mots illisibles] d’hier de tout ce qui passe le
Rhin en troupes tous les jours, je crois que cela [illisible]
s’évalue à 20 à 30000 hommes par jour.
Nos gardes nationales vont elles mêmes garder Francfort et le
pays d’Hesse, les fourriers partent en habits de paysans et vont se
faire habiller à Leipsick.
Letter text - Page2 and signature
English translation
[seconds of exchange?], but these drafts have a long maturity and I must extricate myself immediately. I do not know whether these gentlemen are thoroughly sound and whether it is prudent to advance funds in this way [illegible]; let me know a word about it.
I shall not be able to come to Paris until the spring, but I foresee that nothing will prevent me then from making this journey. I have [undertaken?] to write to [Moussilhon?], but I have already been forced to interrupt my letter twenty times. I hope to be able to finish it tomorrow or the day after.
It is through the Caisse de service that I would like to remit my long-dated paper. I hope it will be as well received [crossed out: as?] as any other; give me a word on this.
Farewell, entirely yours; I embrace you with all my heart.
[paraph]
I am just being told:
Magdeburg taken with [22,000?] men;
the Duke of Weimar [taken?] with 14,000 men.
[Crossed out: all that] you [illegible word] sooner than was thought.
You [illegible words] yesterday about all the troops crossing the Rhine every day; I believe the total [illegible] amounts to twenty to thirty thousand men a day.
Our national guards are themselves going to garrison Frankfurt and Hesse; the quartermasters leave in peasant clothes and will be clothed in Leipzig.
Address panel and seal
Original transcript
À Monsieur
Broumer Directeur des
livres de la Banque de france
à Paris
Address panel and seal
English translation
To Monsieur
Broumer, Director of
Books of the Banque de France,
in Paris.
Discovery Terms
- Reiset–Broumer Correspondence
- Bills of exchange
- Banque de France
- Military news
- Magdeburg
- Berlin