L.A.S. Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle to a Friend

ROUGET DE LISLE Claude-Joseph (1760-1836), A.L.S., W.l. the 15 nivose an X [5 january 1802], to a Friend.

1 page In-12. Touching and moving letter expressing his dismay at the vicissitudes of his life: ‘I am sick with grief, in body and spirit’.

"Je n’ai rien fait, Mon cher, je suis au désespoir et votre lettre que je trouve en rentrant m’achève. La Gr. tout bien réfléchi et par ses raisons qui ne sont que trop plausibles, n’a pu faire ce que je lui demandais. Je rentre accablé de fatigue après n’avoir trouvé que des gens aussi désolés que moi, car la pénurie paraît générale, ou que des gens glacés qui n’ont ni entrailles, ni mémoire. Je suis malade de chagrin, de corps et d’esprit. Je comptais ne pas sortir ce soir, mais je ne puis rester tranquille vous sachant dans la crise où vous êtes, et je vais me mettre à la piste d’une idée qui m’arrive. Si je réussis vous aurez de mes nouvelles demain de bonne heure. Et pour l’ensemble de mon argenterie, on ne m’offre que 800 fr. !"

Traduction:

"I have done nothing, my dear, I am in despair and your letter, which I found on my way home, has finished me off. The Gr., all things considered and for reasons that are only too plausible, has been unable to do what I asked of her. I come home overwhelmed with fatigue, having found only people as desolate as myself, because the shortage seems to be general, or only frozen people who have neither guts nor memory. I'm sick with grief, in body and mind. I hadn't intended to go out this evening, but I can't sit still knowing you're in the crisis you're in, and I'm going to track down an idea that comes to me. If I succeed, you'll hear from me early tomorrow. And they're only offering me 800 francs for all my silver!"

Rouget de Lisle gave up his military career in 1897, and his financial difficulties began to worsen from 1802 onwards - the year in which he stopped working as a commercial agent.