NRA-L-000858 / 1807
Reiset to Broumer — 4 September 1807
Reiset discusses Godefroy, Lemonnier and family matters, bullion and coin supplies in Frankfurt and Holland, transport costs, Kellermann’s Johannisberg property, and a draft on B. L. Fould for Desprez. The separately catalogued Amsterdam rate sheet has no proven attachment relationship.
Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000858
Transcript and English translation
working scholarly aid
Mayence heading dated 4 September 1807 and opening of the blue handwritten letter
Original transcript
Mayence le 4 7bre 1807
J'ai reçu, Mon bon ami, votre lettre des 27 & 29 du [mois incertain].
Je suis charmé que vous ayez vu le papa Godefroy et l'oncle Lemonnier et [désire ?] que vous ayez été assez sensible aux reproches du dernier pour l'aller voir souvent ainsi que ma bonne tante.
Causez beaucoup avec le papa Godefroy afin que Je puisse à son retour causer beaucoup de vous et de ce que vous lui aurez dit avec lui.
Ce n'est pas un [complimenteur ?], c'est au grade de [mot incertain] qu'une haute et puissante protection [a/ont ?] élevé [courte liaison incertaine] frère Lolo, il est vrai que le Souverain [a ?] fait quelques [mots incertains, biffure] [courte liaison incertaine] qui lui ont nui réellement.
Il est toujours [drôle ?], Sa grande [mot incertain] étant [mot incertain] et [mots incertains], aussi mon ami vous aurez encore occasion d'exercer à son égard votre obligeance et votre Constant Empressement pour le [mot incertain].
Lorsqu'il sera de retour vous vous entendrez sur votre ancien Élève, Car il faut absolument le sortir de Cette [mot incertain] politique dans laquelle Je [le/me ?] Conserverai toujours par goût et par [mots incertains], il peut espérer qu'il [mots incertains] fera encore une [petite ?] fortune.
Mayence heading dated 4 September 1807 and opening of the blue handwritten letter
English translation
Mainz, 4 September 1807.
I have received, my good friend, your letter of the 27th and 29th of [uncertain month].
I am delighted that you have seen Papa Godefroy and Uncle Lemonnier, and [wish?] that you were sufficiently affected by the latter's reproaches to go and see him often, as well as my good aunt.
Talk a great deal with Papa Godefroy so that, on his return, I can talk with him a great deal about you and what you have told him.
He is not a [flatterer?]; it is to the rank of [uncertain word] that high and powerful protection [has/have?] raised [short uncertain link] brother Lolo. It is true that the Sovereign [has?] made some [uncertain words; deletion] [short uncertain link] which have really harmed him.
He is always [amusing?], his great [uncertain word] being [uncertain word] and [uncertain words]; so, my friend, you will still have occasion to exercise your kindness towards him and your constant eagerness to [uncertain verb] him.
When he returns, you will come to an understanding about your former pupil, for it is absolutely necessary to get him out of this [uncertain word] policy in which I shall always keep [him/myself?] by inclination and by [uncertain words]. He may hope that he [uncertain words] will yet make a [small?] fortune.
Notes
Some passages remain undeciphered; gaps and uncertain readings are marked in brackets.
Continuation of the personal and financial discussion in the letter dated 4 September 1807
Original transcript
quant à Louis, il est toujours [mot incertain] et quoiqu'il paroisse avoir assez souvent le goût de la Dépense, Je remarque Cependant avec grand plaisir qu'on est Content de lui, tant le Gᵗ [nom incertain] que ses Camarades, et J'en ai [mot incertain] dit beaucoup de bien, tant sous le Rapport de ses qualités aimables que de sa tenue et de l'attention qu'il a à acquérir pour son état.
Je suis, Comme vous, [malheureusement/nullement ?] [courte clause incertaine] des fermes générales qui ajoutent toujours beaucoup au poids que les sujets font supporter aux peuples, sans enrichir d'autant le Trésor public.
J'attends en silence et fort tranquillement les Changemens qui se préparent [courte suite incertaine] et quant à mon sort personnel Je m'en remets entièrement aux bons soins de l'amitié et de la bienveillance des ministres.
Je suis [ravi ?] que la chère [nom incertain] soit heureusement accouchée. Mᵈᵉ Daumont devroit bien pardonner à Matthieu, il est surtout depuis quelques tems si tourmenté que Je n'obtiens un moment avec [mots incertains] que quand il y est absolument forcé pour ses affaires [suite incertaine].
Je suis quelquefois [mots incertains] plusieurs fois et fraîchement encore à Fontainebleau. Je suis
Continuation of the personal and financial discussion in the letter dated 4 September 1807
English translation
As for Louis, he is always [uncertain word], and although he seems quite often to have a taste for spending, I nevertheless note with great pleasure that people are satisfied with him: both General [uncertain name] and his comrades, and I have [uncertain word] said much good of him, both as regards his amiable qualities and his bearing and the attention he gives to learning his profession.
Like you, I am [unfortunately/not at all?] [short uncertain clause] concerning the general tax farms, which always add much to the burden that subjects make the peoples bear, without enriching the public Treasury by as much.
I await in silence and very calmly the changes that are being prepared [short uncertain continuation]; as for my personal fate, I entrust myself entirely to the good offices of friendship and the ministers' goodwill.
I am [delighted?] that dear [uncertain name] has been safely delivered of her child. Madame Daumont ought indeed to forgive Matthieu. Especially for some time now he has been so harassed that I cannot obtain a moment with [uncertain words] except when he is absolutely forced to be there for his business [uncertain continuation].
I am sometimes [uncertain words] several times, and quite recently again at Fontainebleau. I am
Notes
Some passages remain undeciphered; gaps and uncertain readings are marked in brackets.
Inline gold and minting quotations and calculations in the letter dated 4 September 1807
Original transcript
bien charmé de voir vos [enfants ?], ils doivent grandir [mots incertains], [ils ?] deviendront bien [mots incertains] qu'ils [mot incertain] déjà tant.
au total Je voudrois bien vous faire des traites, mais il n'est pas aisé [courte suite incertaine].
il n'y a à francfort que très peu de Lingots et Ce qu'il peut y avoir est fort Cher.
en Hollande il y en a encore davantage, voici les Cours.
L'or est à fl. 355 Courant avec 10 à 10¼ d'agio.
100 marcs d'Hollande font 100 23/100 de marcs de france.
alors il faudroit Connoitre lequel prix l'or fin seroit p. le Trésor public, mais les frais de transport d'ici à Nimègue par le Rhin, de Nimègue à Amsterdam, le retour des Lingots d'or, les Commissions et les pertes que font toujours subir les Hollandais sur les Espèces étrangères, même Celles de france [mots incertains] renoncer à Ce projet.
Il faudroit donc [verbe incertain] à Celles d’autrefois puisqu’à Metz et au [biffure] [nom et titre incertains] d’Ici, J’ai écrit pour de l’or à Metz et Je pourrai faire part de la réponse, mais au fait [mots incertains], l’or de france est fort Cher mais Il est encore
Inline gold and minting quotations and calculations in the letter dated 4 September 1807
English translation
very glad to see your [children?]; they must be growing [uncertain words], [they?] will become very [uncertain words], since they already [uncertain word] so much.
All in all, I should very much like to draw bills for you, but it is not easy [short uncertain continuation].
There is very little bullion in Frankfurt, and what there may be is very dear.
There is more in Holland; here are the quotations.
Gold is at fl. 355 current, with an agio of 10 to 10¼.
100 Dutch marks make 100 23/100 French marks.
It would then be necessary to know what price fine gold would have for the public Treasury. But the costs of transport from here to Nijmegen by the Rhine, from Nijmegen to Amsterdam, the return of the gold bars, the commissions and the losses which the Dutch always impose on foreign coins, even those of France, [uncertain words] to abandon this project.
We would therefore have to [uncertain verb] the earlier ones, since in Metz and at the [deletion] [uncertain name and title] here, I have written for gold at Metz and shall be able to communicate the answer, but in fact [uncertain words], French gold is very dear, but it is still
Notes
Some passages remain undeciphered; gaps and uncertain readings are marked in brackets.
Closing and lower financial postscript with cancellations in the letter dated 4 September 1807
Original transcript
plus rare, C'est la mer à boire que d'en trouver à francfort même à 101 [fraction ou signe incertain], il n'y en a presque plus en Allemagne, d'un autre Coté il y a d'enormes quantités de petite monnoye décriée dans les Coffres de M. [Vix ?] payeur de la [mots incertains] des Contributions. qu'en faire !
Vous savez que notre cher Maréchal Kellermann est propriétaire de Johannisberg par Conséquent de la Cote la plus riche en Vin du Rhin, Je doute qu'il en sache tirer parti.
Je vais demain chercher ma femme qui est toujours à [lieu incertain], le Voyage commence à durer.
adieu, Je vous Embrasse mille fois et suis
tout à vous
[paraphe]
Je prends le parti de tirer [biffure ; sur ajouté] 50000 f sur B. L. fould p. Compte Desprez [biffure] 2 mois et lui envoye les fonds.
Je ne [verbe incertain] pas qu’avec l’acceptation de ces [mot incertain] pour Mᵣ [nom incertain], Je vous [verbe incertain] qu’il
bientôt un second [mots incertains] les avis, vous [suite incertaine]
[Dernière ligne non résolue ; « par » visible.]
Closing and lower financial postscript with cancellations in the letter dated 4 September 1807
English translation
rarer. Finding any in Frankfurt, even at 101 [uncertain fraction or sign], is a formidable task; there are scarcely any left in Germany. On the other hand, there are enormous quantities of discredited small coin in the coffers of Mr [Vix?], paymaster of the [uncertain words] of the contributions. What is to be done with it!
You know that our dear Marshal Kellermann owns Johannisberg, and consequently the hillside richest in Rhine wine. I doubt that he knows how to make the most of it.
Tomorrow I am going to fetch my wife, who is still at [uncertain place]; the journey is beginning to drag on.
Farewell; I embrace you a thousand times and am
entirely yours.
[Paraph]
I have decided to draw [deletion; sur inserted] 50,000 f on B. L. Fould for Desprez's account [deletion], at two months, and am sending him the funds.
I do not [uncertain verb] that with the acceptance of these [uncertain word] for Mr [uncertain name], I [uncertain verb] to you that he
soon a second [uncertain words] the notices, you [uncertain continuation].
[Final line unresolved; “par” (by/through) is visible.]
Notes
Some passages remain undeciphered; gaps and uncertain readings are marked in brackets.
Discovery Terms
- Reiset–Broumer Correspondence