Reiset to Broumer: currency exchange... (1807)

NRA-L-000851 / 1807

Reiset to Broumer: currency exchange, the Caisse d’amortissement and purchases in Paris

Reiset discusses accounts, a proposal for 500,000 francs, the depreciation and melting of billon, and a possible operation for the Caisse d’amortissement. He requests imperial and royal portraits, an engraving of the meeting of two emperors, 25 or 50 livres of chocolate and the book Corinne.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000851

NRA-L-000851 image 1 showing the opening page dated Mainz, 19 September 1807 on blue paper, with the manuscript and folds. — **Image 1**Letter text - Opening page.

NRA-L-000851 image 2 showing the left portion of the oversized interior side, discussing coin transactions and retaining the turned marginal writing. — **Image 2**Letter text - Interior side, left portion.

NRA-L-000851 image 3 showing the right portion of the oversized interior side, discussing coin transactions and retaining the turned marginal writing. — **Image 3**Letter text - Interior side, right portion.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000851
Date: 1807-09-19
Original date: Mayence 19 7bre 1807
Type: Correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Jacques Louis Étienne de Reiset
Recipient: Broumer
Places: Mayence (Mainz)
Extent: 2 documentary sides: Dated opening page; Interior side, continuous text and turned marginal addition; 3 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000851.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Dated opening page

Original transcript

Mayence 19 7bre 1807

Je reçois, mon cher ami, votre Lettre & votre Compte.
Je l’examinerai et vous en dirai le [bien être?].
Vous vous moquez avec les intérêts, [mots incertains], faites le
[moins?] que vous puissiez faire en me faisant payer de
l’argent sans Commission [mots incertains]
vous le Compte des intérêts.
Voici les 8000 f de Crédit à votre faveur comme toujours.
Je vous remercie de songer à [Dolo?], j’en aurai souvent
nouvelles, et vous aurai beaucoup d’obligations de vous
occuper de lui par d’Arrighi, dites que s’il faut recommandation
du Mal Kellermann, ou Lefebvre, je l’ai à la main.
[Mots incertains] [cet?] officier [mots incertains] pour cette frontière, [mots incertains]
[rejoindre?] l’Empereur, d’après les dernières
nouvelles.
Je n’ai point encor de positif sur vos [mots incertains].
J’ai été [mots incertains]. Il y a beaucoup à perdre, il n’y a d’autre
moyen que de [renvoyer?] en France où elles ont un cours forcé,
et le pays est bien resserré maintenant. J’ai frappé à
diverses portes, les Allemands ne font aucunes propositions

Notes

Documentary annotation: 25

Dated opening page

English translation

Mainz, 19 September 1807

I have received, my dear friend, your letter and account. I shall examine it and tell you [how it stands?]. You are joking about the interest, [uncertain words], do the [least?] you can by having money paid to me without commission [uncertain words] the account of interest to you.

Here are the 8,000 francs credited in your favour, as always. Thank you for thinking of [Dolo?]. I shall often have news of him and shall be much obliged to you for looking after him through d’Arrighi. Say that if a recommendation from Marshal Kellermann or Lefebvre is needed, I have it at hand. [Uncertain words] [this?] officer [uncertain words] for this frontier [uncertain words] [rejoin?] the Emperor, according to the latest news.

I have as yet no definite information on your [uncertain words]. I have been [uncertain words]. There is much to lose; there is no other way than to [send it back?] to France, where they have compulsory currency, and money is very tight in this country at present. I have knocked on various doors. The Germans make no proposals

Notes

Documentary annotation: 25

Interior side, continuous text and turned marginal addition — section 1 of 2

Original transcript

Je n’ai [point de moyens?] avec eux que de leur [confier?] l’opération
[de faire?] à traiter, ils demanderaient l’impossible pour la
faire à forfait parcequ’il y a vraiment de gros risques à courir.
Les [Juifs?] ont beaucoup de cette drogue et la [mots incertains]
[font marchander?] beaucoup, puis l’argent de France et le
papier sur Paris sont toujours rares & chers.
Les Gontard seraient plus accommodants, ils vont me faire
une proposition pour une somme de 500000 f, je suis sûr
qu’ils la feront de la manière la plus avantageuse et ne
prendront d’autre [monnoye?] que celle du pays [pourvu?]
d’y trouver leur Commission. Aussitôt que j’aurai cette
proposition je vous l’enverrai.
Mais il n’y a pas [mot incertain] seulement des [groschen?] d’argent,
il y aurait [rayé : de toute espèce] d’autres sortes de contributions,
puis il y a beaucoup de pièces de 12 et 24 kreutzers, ceci
est bon et ne perdra que ce que gagne le papier sur Paris
ou l’argent de France (si tant est qu’on en trouve).
Il y a beaucoup de pièces de 6 et 9 kreutzers, cette
monnoye est totalement décréditée tant par le dernier
décret rendu contre le Billon étranger que par les
mesures prises même par les princes allemands pour
se débarrasser d’elles, [frappée?] en totalité et dans plusieurs

Interior side, continuous text and turned marginal addition — section 1 of 2

English translation

I have [no means?] with them except to [entrust?] the operation to them [uncertain phrase] to negotiate; they would demand the impossible to do it for a fixed sum, because there really are great risks to run. The [Jews?] have a great deal of this rubbish and [uncertain words], [haggle a great deal?], while French money and paper on Paris are always scarce and expensive.

The Gontards would be more accommodating. They are going to make me a proposal for a sum of 500,000 francs. I am sure they will make it in the most advantageous manner and take no other [currency?] than that of the country, [provided?] they find their commission in it. As soon as I have this proposal I shall send it to you.

But there are not [uncertain word] only silver [groschen?]; there would be [crossed out: of every kind] other kinds of contributions. Then there are many 12- and 24-kreutzer pieces: these are good and will lose only what paper on Paris or French money gains, if indeed any can be found. There are many 6- and 9-kreutzer pieces. This currency is wholly discredited, both by the latest decree against foreign billon and by measures taken even by the German princes to rid themselves of it, [struck?] in full and in several

Interior side, continuous text and turned marginal addition — section 2 of 2

Original transcript

Cours d’Allemagne au dessous du taux de la Convention
pour cette monnoye, il n’y a d’autre moyen que de la
fondre, il n’y a pas de milieu, elle perd dans le
Commerce 12 à 14 p. % et les Banquiers mayenciens
gagneraient en partie à la fonte.
Si la Caisse d’amortissement charge un banquier de toute
l’opération, elle sera rudement étrillée, car ils
diront tous que pour de l’argent qui ne leur coûte rien,
le trésor public n’a pas à regarder de si près aux frais.
Si elle me donne cette Commission, je la ferai sûrement
avec plus d’économie, car j’établirai une concurrence utile
et me ferai prier pour donner l’opération à l’un ou à l’autre
selon qu’ils me feront de meilleurs prix.
On m’offre souvent de traiter avec le Trésor public
à Francfort à Condition d’avoir un fonds pour tirer.
Comment cela [conviendra?]. Je n’ai pas [mots incertains] de
[mot incertain] sur la Caisse de Service, même [mots incertains] remettant
à [mot incertain] pour le montant du service. Dites moi si cela
pourroit se faire.
Adieu, je vous embrasse et vous recommande à
[rayé : la sainte garde?]
Veuillez me faire encore acheter 2 portraits de
l’Empereur et de l’Impératrice de [Gaudriau?] et les
remettre au payeur gal [Frocq?], en trouvant aussi celui de la
Reine d’Hollande, de la même façon ou gravé, ce seroit
un joli Cadeau à une femme qui t’aime beaucoup.
Tout à vous
[paraphe]

[Écriture marginale tournée, transcrite une seule fois]
Si l’estampe de l’Entrevue des deux Empereurs qu’on annonce chez [nom incertain]
rue de l’Échelle est bonne, ou si vous savez quelqu’autre bonne [estampe?]
nouvelle, envoyez la.
Pourrez vous m’en procurer et m’envoyer 25 ou même 50 livres de
véritable et bon chocolat de l’Empereur.
Envoyez moi Corinne [par retour?] de [Courrier?], ma femme me
[tourmentera?] pour l’avoir. Veuillez [user de?] discrétion [mots incertains].

Interior side, continuous text and turned marginal addition — section 2 of 2

English translation

German courts below the convention rate for this currency. There is no other course than to melt it; there is no middle way. It loses 12 to 14 percent in commerce, and the Mainz bankers would gain in part from the melting.

If the Caisse d’amortissement entrusts a banker with the whole operation, it will be severely fleeced, for they will all say that, for money which costs them nothing, the public treasury need not look so closely at expenses. If it gives me this commission, I shall certainly carry it out more economically, because I shall establish useful competition and let myself be solicited to give the operation to one or another according to which offers me better prices.

I am often offered to deal with the public treasury in Frankfurt on condition of having a fund on which to draw. How this [will suit?]. I do not have [uncertain words] [uncertain word] on the Caisse de service, even [uncertain words] remitting at [uncertain word] for the amount of the service. Tell me whether this could be done.

Farewell, I embrace you and commend you to [crossed out: holy keeping?].

Please also have two portraits bought for me, of the Emperor and Empress by [Gaudriau?], and have them delivered to Paymaster-General [Frocq?]. Find also that of the Queen of Holland, in the same manner or engraved. It would be a lovely gift to a woman who loves you very much.
Entirely yours.
[paraph]

[Turned marginal writing, included once]
If the print of the Meeting of the Two Emperors advertised at [uncertain name], rue de l’Échelle, is good, or if you know of another good new [print?], send it.
Could you obtain and send me 25 or even 50 livres of genuine, good Emperor’s chocolate?
Send me Corinne [by return?] of [post?]; my wife [will pester?] me to have it. Please [use?] discretion [uncertain words].

Discovery Terms

Reiset–Broumer Correspondence
Currency exchange
Billon
Caisse d’amortissement
Portraits
Corinne
Chocolate

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