1830s Collection of 13 Letters from a Close Friend in Southern France

On offer is an outstanding collection of 13 letters dating from the early 19th century in France.

The first group of 12 letters were written to one Marcel Rouselliers who lived in the small community of Lunel, east of Montpellier in the south of France. The letters were written in 1831 by a Jenny Boupellier who lived in Montpellier.

Our informal research has not found any biographical information about either Rouselliers or Boupellier. However, we can glean some information from the context of the letters. It is evident that they know each other well from both the number of letters and the content. They are written in the informal manner of people who are well-acquainted with each other.

Some excerpts from the collection of 12 letters:

Je croyais recevoir aujourd'hui unee lettre de toi et voila l'heure du courier passee et mon espirit decu. Marie va bien mais elle est bien maussade Sa bonne devient tous les jours un peu plus bornee et je ne trouve personne pour la remplacer.

[Translation: I thought I would receive a letter from you today and now it's time for the mail to go through and my hope for the future. Marie is fine but she is very sullen. Her maid is becoming a little more limited every day and I can't find anyone to replace her.]

Il y'a apparence que je retournesai a Aymarques sans bonne ni sonlliers hier Mme de Siecey alla pour moi chez le cordonnier qui s'en enfin decide a venir aujourd'hui tu vois peut etre qu'il ma porte des sonlliers et bien pas de tout cet imbecile la est venir reprendre la mesure qu'il avait perdue.

[Translation: It seems that I returned to Aymarques yesterday without a maid and without bells. Mrs. de Siecey went for me to the cobbler who finally decided to come today. You see, maybe he's carrying me some bells and not all this fool is coming to take back the measure he had lost.]

Comment peut tu imaginer que j' aie fait une hutte quand je t'eivis que je me suis fait mal en decendant liebelle de corde. Je ne me suis fait mal a l'estomac qu' en voulant essayer mes forces en descendant toute seule a la force des poignets ce que est trop penible pour moi pavre qu'il fait a retenir d'une main pendent que l'autre change d'echalon du reste fait sur que je ne me ressens plus de ce petite accident et que je te distouionez l'exact verite.

[Translation: How can you imagine that I made a hut when I told you that I was hurt by a piece of rope? I only hurt my stomach when I wanted to try my strength by going down by myself with the strength of my wrists, which is too much for me to think that it makes me hold on with one hand while the other hand changes the standard. I am sure that I don't feel this little accident anymore and that I will distract you from the exact truth.]

The final, 13th, letter was written in 1839. The author is Jean Bey. Bey lived in the nearby city of Nimes. The letter suggests that he has some business either with or of interest to Rouselliers.

Interestingly, although the inside address is Nimes, the paper bears an embossed imprint bearing a crown and the word “BATH” surrounded by olive branches. It is a rather casual letter in which he comments on some transactions he is involved with:

Monsieus Alut vient de remetre un lettre qui m'a fait grand plaisir par le succes obtenir a Charon. Je me suis fatigue avant hier et rien de cette nuit. J'ai encore ete indispose. J'ai ete interompe hier et n'etais plus a tenus de faire partir ma lettre par Monsieur Allut que m'avait offert oblieamment de s'en charger. J'ai finalement conclu la vente des marais de Monsieur de Niviere...

[Translation: Monsieus Alut has just delivered a letter that gave me great pleasure with the success I have had with Charon. I got tired before yesterday and nothing from last night. I was indisposed again. I was interrupted yesterday and was no longer obliged to have my letter sent by Mr. Allut who had obliviously offered to take care of it. I finally concluded the sale of the marshes of Monsieur de Niviere...]

D'apres les conjectures que je puis faire d'ici sur la institution geologique de terrein d'Aimargues et les environs il ne me parvit gueru probable qu'un trou plus ou moins profund dans un puis dont le fond est permeable put commencer une plus grande quantite d'eau au niveau actuel et si la commune doit faire irriessement un travail a la fontaine, it en resulterra naturalement de nouvelles donnes pour moi...

[Translation: According to the predictions that I can make from here on the geological formation of Aimargues and the surrounding, it did not seem to me probable that a more or less deep hole in a well whose bottom is permeable could start a greater quantity of water at the current level and if the commune must undertake a work at the fountain, it will naturally result in new information for me.]

For a social historian, especially for this turbulent period following the July Revolution of 1830, these letters offer an excellent look into daily life in the south of France.

Twelve letters measure 7.5 inches by 5.0 inches. Each is a single sheet of paper folded to create 4 pages. Each letter is 100% complete. A 13th letter measures 8.75 inches by 6.75 inches.. The group of 12 are in fairly good condition. The paper shows wear along the edges and there are tear or wear marks along some creases. The letters were folded upon writing. The 13th letter is in poorer condition as an early attempt was made to open it without regard to the folds. As a result, there are deep tears in the paper at the top of the letter. There are wear marks along the edges.

The paper has absorbed the ink in many places making the letters harder to read. The handwriting on several is quite clear. The handwriting on the 13th letter is also clear.