Letter from Philippe Abel Gelas to his father, with an enclosed letter from Alexandre Roux, 1845-02-20
Philippe Abel Gelas writes from Algiers to his father about a bitter family and financial dispute involving his brother Louis, drafts drawn on his father, a summons and the management of a liquidation. The enclosure is a separate letter from Alexandre Roux to the same recipient: Roux describes the amicable dissolution of Gelas & Roux, his marriage to Virginie Gelas, his new wholesale wine business at 51 rue Duquesne, and a request for a loan at six per cent.
Family correspondence
Commercial correspondence
Personal correspondence
French
Philippe Abel Gelas
Mr Gelas (documentary form: Gelas Cadet Père)
The father of Philippe Abel Gelas and father-in-law of Alexandre Roux
Mr Gelas, father of Philippe Abel Gelas
Algiers, Algeria
Vienne, Isère, France
Family conflict
Commercial partnership
Partnership dissolution
Bills of exchange
Debt and credit
Wine trade
Algiers
Vienne (Isère)
Gelas & Roux
Rue Cléopâtre
[[label: Address panel]] Monsieur Gelas Cadet Père Vienne (Isère)
[[label: Main letter - Page 1]] Rue Cléopâtre à Alger Alger le 20 fevrier 1845 Gelas — [strikethrough: Père] Mon Cher Pere J'ai reçu ce matin votre lettre timbrée du 20 ct, je m'emp[resse] d'y répondre. Je vous ai déjà dit que j'attendais [strikethrough: avant] pour parler de mon cher frère Louis, qu'il me revienne quelque chose de la manière dont il expliquerait son départ; je fais là dessus toutes sortes de réserves. Voici comment nous nous somme séparés d'ici 10 xbre il emporte 1o 7000 fs qu'il devait à MM Garnier frères en c/ ancien 2o 7000 fs plus les intérêts dot de sa femme 3o 15000 f dont je lui fais cadeau pour s'être engraissé, couché, amusé à mes dépens 4o 24,000 f montant du prêt de sa famille Total 53,000 f que ce jeune homme possède, positivement par la seule raison qu'il m'a trouvé sur son chemin. Par suite des engagemens que j'ai pris et Daudier approuvant un compte de f. 408, 30 à notre crédit par lequel je paye jusqu'aux chemises que ma soeur a sur le dos et jusqu'à un draps dans les quels elle crache, je ne vous cache pas que pour un fils qui s'est toujours cru préféré je me regarde comme le roi des sots et suis bien convaincu que je ne l'ai pas mérité.
[[label: Main letter - Page 2]] aussi viens je tranquillement vous dire qu'ayant des fonds à envoyer aux tiroirs j'ai fourni sur vous deux traites de 1000 francs à 20 & 30 j. de vue et que je n'ai pas mis sans frais puisque ma soeur, mon beau frere et mon frère, se sont entendus pour me faire [strikethrough: Donner un] donner une assignation le 23 Janvier. je l'ai fait encadrer, on peut venir la voir, Lucien est allé chès l'huissier Si mes dispositions vous deplaisent, je vous prie de ne pas ajouter à mes ennuis en ne faisant pas honneur à ma Signature qui est bien vue quoique je n'en fasse jamais usage : fournissez sur moi à mes frais pour tout ce que vous pensez que je doive, vos traites seront payées et plus tard, peut etre, payerez vous les miennes. c'est bien ennuyeux, c'est même triste, vous verrez plus tard qui aura raison. je n'attends pas d'héritage, je suis obligé de me suffire quand surtout tout le monde me trahit. Malgré celà ne vous inquietez pas de moi je suis content de mon commerce c'est une difference d'avec mes parens, je viendrai indubitablement à bout de mettre les rieurs de mon coté, seulement je me repens d'avoir mêlé ma famille dans tout celà. Je n'en suis pas moins celui de vos enfans qui vous aime le plus et n'ai qu'un regret c'est celui que je ne pourrai probablement pas aller vous embrasser aux vendanges, cependant je n'en désespère pas. dans un mois vous le saurez. [[notes]] Editorial notes: The manuscript reading 'aux tiroirs' is preserved literally; the commercial context strongly suggests 'aux tireurs' (to the drawers of the bills).
[[label: Main letter - Page 3, postscript and signature]] embrassez bien la maman et la famille et recevez [strikethrough: les assurances de] l'assurance de mon affection bien sincère votre fils A Gelas l'assignation que Rioux m'a fait donner portait que je lui refusais communication de ma gestion de liquidateur et il était tous les jours à la maison où il écrivait ses lettres ce qu'il n'avait jamais fait. mon petit frère aussitôt qu'il a eu vu l'huissier entrer chez moi, n'a rien eu de plus pressé que de venir tout rayonnant de joie demander à Sylvie quel effet ça m'avait produit, disant qu'il y avait 3 jours qu'il le savait (vous remarquerez que c'est un jour après être sorti de chez moi) ce jeune homme ira loin.
[[label: Enclosed letter - Page 1]] Alger le 20 février 1845 Mon cher beau pere J'ai reçu dans le temps toutes vos lettres entr'autres vos deux dernieres du 12 Janvier & 8 fevrier, si je ne vous ai pas repondu plutot c'est que je voulais avoir du positif a vous dire & laisser bien terminer nos affaires, qui le sont grace a dieu dans ce moment. Vous ne devez point ignorer, que pendant trois années qu'a duré notre societé, nous n'avons jamais été d'accord avec votre fils, j'avais esperé que mon mariage avec Virginie, aurait pu remedier a cela, vous devez savoir d'après ce qui s'est passé, que je me suis trompé grossierement, neanmoins je n'ai pas eu Droit de me plaindre, puisque c'est par elle que j'ai eté le plus dedommagé de mes contrarietés, & je n'ai qu'a m'en feliciter jusqu'a present de sa maniere d'être & de la résignation dont elle a toujours fait preuve, j'espere que de son coté elle n'a pas eu a se plaindre de moi, et qu'il en sera toujours ainsi; jamais dans mes moments de mauvaise humeur je n'ai trouvé la moindre imperfection chez cet ange que vous m'avez confié. J'avais promis a Virginie avant son depart que de maniere ou d'autre nos interets seraient tout a fait divisés entre votre fils & moi et que si la diplomatie ne pouvait reussir aucun moyen difficile a prendre ne m'arreterait, grace a Dieu
[[label: Enclosed letter - Page 2]] tout a été terminé a l'amiable par l'intermediaire de mon cousin Grenier Jules et un de nos amis nommé Mr Roche; j'ai renoncé pour avoir une position liquide, a 25 mille f de benefices sur 40 mf qui me revenaient d'après les livres; et ai donné toutes les facilités pour le remboursement non seulement des 15 mf de mes benefices mais encore pour ma mise de fonds revenant a ma famille, moyennant cela Abel reste chargé des risques de la liquidation et se charge de me liberer vis a vis des creanciers dont les principaux etaient Grenier Dalacel & Vetter auquel surtout j'ai ecrit par le dernier courrier du 10 Ct et qui ne m'a point encore repondu De votre coté veuillez pour la bonne regle me donner en reponse decharge de ce que la maison Gelas & Roux pouvait vous devoir, si vous consentez comme de raison a laisser cette somme entre les mains de votre fils; je vous serai obligé de le faire au plutot = Je dois vous dire pour vous tranquiliser que nous sommes malgré notre separation aussi liés que notre position peut le permettre, car vous devez savoir que depuis le 15 janvier, j'ai formé une nouvelle maison, sous la raison de commerce Alexdre Roux (rue Duquesne # 51) pour les vins en gros et demi gros, j'ai tout a fait mis la bouteille de coté, ce detail ne pouvant me convenir = Je suis assez content jusqu'a present de mes nouvelles affaires, malgre que depuis mon installation le temps qu'il a fait ait empeché fortement
[[label: Enclosed letter - Page 3]] les affaires, car voila près de deux mois que nous avons continuellement la pluie, la neige et la grêle = Je n'aurais pas pensé que le retour de Lucien vous eut étonné, surtout d'après ce que j'avais dit pour l'empêcher de venir, et pensant que vous connaissiez le caractère de votre fils ainé = Camille dans ses previsions ne s'était trompé que d'un mois, car il avait donné trois mois, au lieu de deux qu'il a pu rester = Vous devez bien comprendre mon cher beaupere que ma femme n'étant point ici, ne sachant encore comment se terminerait mon affaire avec Abel, et d'un autre coté ayant avec moi un jeune homme auquel j'avais, pour ainsi dire, fait quitter une administration, il m'était de toute impossibilité de garder Lucien avec moi dans l'oisiveté, surtout à son age. j'ai cru donc bien faire de l'envoyer à Cette; je lui ai remis f 100. - que son frere lui avait refusé, et dont je vous ai debité pour en tenir compte a Virginie = Quant aux griefs dont Abel l'accuse, je dois vous dire (entre nous) que je n'y ajoute nullement foi; et dans le cas ou il y aurait eu la moindre vraisemblance, j'ai été bien loin d'approuver une pareille maniere d'agir avec un frère, que l'on a tant demandé et auquel on avait donné toute liberté = Dans tout cela ce qui me fait le plus de peine c'est ce qu'a souffert la maman Gelas, je me plais a croire que la présente la trouvera tout a fait rétablie ainsi que vous, de votre chûte
[[label: Enclosed letter - Page 4 and signature]] dont Virginie m'a fait part = Plus tard si mes affaires s'agrandissent à ma satisfaction comme je l'espère, s'il est décidé à revenir, je me ferai un plaisir de lui être utile et espère bien que vous n'aurez pas de reproches à me faire, car je sais comment on doit agir en pareille circonstance = Je suis enchanté que Camille se soit chargé de lui, il sera à bonne école et n'aura pas les memes désagréments qu'avec son ainé = Si vous aviez deux ou trois milles francs disponibles et que vous voulussiez bien me les confier en compte Ct. à 6 p % l'an reversibles, vous m'obligeriez beaucoup, pour m'aider à faire face à ce que me coute, mon installation; n'ayant que 1000 f par mois a toucher de chez Abel pendant 31 mois = outre 15 mille francs d'hypotheque que je me suis appliquées = Dans le cas où vous seriez disposé à le faire vous n'avez qu'à me dire en réponse, si je puis fournir sur vous et a quelles époques, dans le cas contraire je serai bien forcé de m'en passer = En attendant votre réponse qui j'espère sera favorable et en vous priant de garder le secret sur ce que je vous dis d'Abel Je vous embrasse tous doucement votre tout devoué Roux
[[label: Address panel]] Mr Gelas Cadet, the elder Vienne (Isère)
[[label: Main letter - Page 1]] Rue Cléopâtre in Algiers Algiers, 20 February 1845 Gelas — [struck through: Père] My dear father, This morning I received your letter postmarked the 20th of this month, and I hasten to reply. I have already told you that, before speaking about my dear brother Louis, I was waiting to hear something about the way he would explain his departure; I reserve judgement on every aspect of this. This is how we settled matters when he left here on 10 December. He takes with him: 1. 7,000 francs that he owed Messrs Garnier brothers on the old account; 2. 7,000 francs, plus interest, from his wife's dowry; 3. 15,000 francs that I give him for having been fed, housed and entertained at my expense; 4. 24,000 francs, the amount of the loan from his family. Total: 53,000 francs that this young man possesses solely because he found me in his path. As a result of the commitments I undertook, and with Daudier approving an account of 408 francs 30 to our credit—through which I pay even for the shirts on my sister's back and even for a sheet into which she spits—I do not conceal from you that, for a son who has always believed himself the favourite, I consider myself the king of fools and am quite convinced that I did not deserve this.
[[label: Main letter - Page 2]] And so I now calmly tell you that, having funds to send to the "drawers" [the manuscript literally reads tiroirs; in this commercial context tireurs, the drawers of bills, is probably intended], I have drawn on you two bills for 1,000 francs, at twenty and thirty days' sight. I did not mark them "without costs", since my sister, my brother-in-law and my brother agreed to have a summons served on me on 23 January. I had it framed; anyone may come and see it. Lucien went to the bailiff's. If my arrangements displease you, I beg you not to add to my troubles by failing to honour my signature, which is well regarded although I never use it. Draw on me, at my expense, for everything you believe I owe. Your bills will be paid and, later perhaps, you will pay mine. It is very tiresome, even sad. Later you will see who was right. I expect no inheritance; I am obliged to provide for myself, especially when everyone betrays me. Despite this, do not worry about me. I am satisfied with my business; that is where I differ from my relatives. I shall undoubtedly succeed in having the last laugh. I regret only that I involved my family in all this. I remain nonetheless the one of your children who loves you most, and I have only one regret: that I shall probably not be able to come and embrace you at the grape harvest. Yet I do not despair of it; within a month you will know. [[notes]] Editorial notes: The manuscript reading 'aux tiroirs' is preserved literally; the commercial context strongly suggests 'aux tireurs' (to the drawers of the bills).
[[label: Main letter - Page 3, postscript and signature]] Embrace mother and the family warmly, and accept the assurance of my very sincere affection. Your son, A. Gelas The summons that Rioux had served on me stated that I was refusing to show him my management of the liquidation, although he was at the house every day and wrote his letters there, something he had never done before. As soon as my younger brother saw the bailiff enter my house, he could think of nothing more urgent than to come, beaming with joy, and ask Sylvie what effect it had had on me. He said that he had known about it for three days—you will note that this was one day after he had left my house. That young man will go far.
[[label: Enclosed letter - Page 1]] Algiers, 20 February 1845 My dear father-in-law, I received all your letters in due course, including your last two of 12 January and 8 February. If I did not answer sooner, it was because I wanted to have something definite to tell you and to allow our affairs to be fully settled, which, thank God, they now are. You must know that during the three years our partnership lasted, your son and I were never in agreement. I had hoped that my marriage to Virginie might remedy this. From what has happened, you must know that I was greatly mistaken. Nevertheless, I have had no cause to complain, since through her I have received the greatest compensation for my difficulties. Up to now I have had only reason to congratulate myself on her character and the patience she has always shown. I hope that she, for her part, has had no cause to complain of me and that it will always be so. Never, even in my moments of bad temper, have I found the slightest imperfection in this angel whom you entrusted to me. Before Virginie left, I promised her that, one way or another, the interests of your son and me would be completely separated, and that if diplomacy could not succeed, no course, however difficult, would stop me. Thank God,
[[label: Enclosed letter - Page 2]] everything was settled amicably through my cousin Jules Grenier and one of our friends, Mr Roche. In order to obtain a liquid position, I gave up 25,000 francs of the 40,000 francs in profits due to me according to the books, and I granted every facility for repayment not only of the remaining 15,000 francs of my profits but also of the capital contribution belonging to my family. In return, Abel remains responsible for the risks of the liquidation and undertakes to release me from liability toward the creditors. The principal creditors were Grenier, Dalacel and Vetter; I wrote especially to the latter by the last mail of the 10th of this month, but he has not yet replied. For your part, please, for the sake of proper accounting, send me a discharge for whatever the firm of Gelas & Roux may owe you, if—as is reasonable—you consent to leave that sum in the hands of your son. I would be grateful if you would do this as soon as possible. To reassure you, I must tell you that despite our separation we remain as close as our position permits. You should know that since 15 January I have formed a new firm under the business name Alexandre Roux, at 51 rue Duquesne, for the wholesale and semi-wholesale wine trade. I have entirely given up bottled sales, as that retail business does not suit me. So far I am quite satisfied with my new business, although since I established it the weather has greatly hindered
[[label: Enclosed letter - Page 3]] business, for for nearly two months we have had continual rain, snow and hail. I would not have thought that Lucien's return would surprise you, especially after what I had said to prevent him from coming and because I thought you knew the character of your eldest son. Camille was wrong in his prediction by only one month: he had given him three months, whereas he managed to remain for two. You must understand, my dear father-in-law, that with my wife away, without yet knowing how my affair with Abel would end, and at the same time having with me a young man whom I had, so to speak, induced to leave an administration, it was entirely impossible for me to keep Lucien with me in idleness, especially at his age. I therefore thought it best to send him to Cette. I gave him 100 francs, which his brother had refused him, and I debited this to you so that it could be accounted for to Virginie. As for the complaints Abel makes against him, I must tell you, between ourselves, that I do not believe them at all. Even had there been the slightest plausibility in them, I was far from approving such a way of treating a brother who had been so eagerly asked for and to whom complete freedom had been given. In all this, what pains me most is what Mama Gelas has suffered. I hope this letter finds her fully recovered, and you as well from your fall,
[[label: Enclosed letter - Page 4 and signature]] about which Virginie informed me. Later, if my business grows to my satisfaction as I hope, and if he decides to return, I shall be pleased to help him. I hope you will have no reproach to make against me, for I know how one should act in such circumstances. I am delighted that Camille has taken charge of him; he will be in a good school and will not have the same unpleasant experiences as with his elder brother. If you had two or three thousand francs available and were willing to entrust them to me on current account at six per cent per annum, repayable, you would greatly oblige me and help me meet the cost of establishing my business. I have only 1,000 francs a month to receive from Abel for thirty-one months, besides 15,000 francs secured by mortgage that I have assigned to myself. If you are willing to do this, you need only tell me in your reply whether I may draw on you and at what dates. Otherwise I shall simply have to do without it. While awaiting your reply, which I hope will be favourable, and asking you to keep secret what I have told you about Abel, I embrace you all affectionately. Your wholly devoted, Roux
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Neruda Archives
Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000588.
All eight captures, the main letter, the enclosed letter, their shared date, address panel, postal route, signatures, people, commercial and family context, transcription and translation were checked against the authoritative images. The documentary distinction between Philippe Abel Gelas's main letter and Alexandre Roux's enclosed letter is preserved. Date evidence: Both the main letter and the enclosed letter are dated at Algiers on 20 February 1845; departure, transit and arrival postmarks provide a consistent 20–26 February 1845 route. Origin evidence: Algiers is written in both datelines and is confirmed by the departure postmark. Recipient layers: postal addressee — Mr Gelas (documentary form: Gelas Cadet Père); textual addressee — The father of Philippe Abel Gelas and father-in-law of Alexandre Roux.
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Exact
8 documentary sides: Address panel and postal evidence; Main letter - Page 1; Main letter - Page 2; Main letter - Page 3, postscript and signature; Enclosed letter - Page 1; Enclosed letter - Page 2; Enclosed letter - Page 3; Enclosed letter - Page 4 and signature; 8 digital images.