From Battalion Commander Henry de Lacauve, to M Martin.
December 22, 1870.
Münster on December 22, 1870.
My good brother Louis,
If I call you that, it's because for me you're a real brother (the two men are actually first cousins through their mothers) and I know that your friendship for me is equivalent to that of a brother. So I don't want to leave you, any more than my good aunt or my dear cousin, your wife, without news from me and especially at the renewal of the year: may God preserve you, may he give you joy and happiness; may he preserve you on his right, that's all the poor prisoner of war can make wishes for you all: these wishes have only one merit, that is to be very sincere and to leave from the bottom of the heart.
Your letter of November 13 proved to me once more how much my good aunt loved her Henri; that I am therefore sorry that this clumsy officer took the liberty of giving information of which he was not sure; fortunately your mother was able to have a good thanksgiving mass said and that is better than a funeral mass (especially for me who is the main party).
[1 v°] I was very sorry to learn of the death of this poor little girl who was to be my goddaughter (Mélanie-Thérèse). And also I have to thank the young lady who was to be my gossip (Mlle X.?) for the interest she was good enough to take in me and testify to the news of the death. Please thank her very sincerely for me and tell her that I would have been so happy to have had the honor of knowing her.
Now, my good Louis, I have a lot of information to ask you and enough things to tell you about this possible marriage you told me about. First, you know that I am 44 years old which is already far from youth. , I do not have a valiant penny that belongs to me, not because I have eaten the little that I could have but because of good parents (the Cousins) whom I had obliged by lending them twenty thousand francs, knowingly made me bankrupt. So today I only have my position as battalion commander, which represents a value like honor in the world and around 5 francs with the cross, plus my name, which in some eyes may also have its weight in the balance. (small weight in my opinion). You also have to convince yourself that I have aged quite a bit since we last saw each other: I certainly still have a good foot and I could say that I am in a position to give [000 r°] at least one defender to our poor country, but don't imagine you, nor my good aunt, that I resemble the young captain you saw. - So much for my chapter.
Second chapter. - As I wrote to you, I don't want to put my 44 autumns next to 20 springs: that would be ridiculous and perhaps very imprudent. So first of all I want to know the age of the person you told me about; moreover, I would like, if possible, to know how the father and the mother are. And then, ah! there you will perhaps find me very indiscreet, and then I would like to see the photograph of the young lady; I give you my word to burn this photograph or to keep it to return it to you, as you wish. See and judge if this is possible.
I too will be very happy to be able to meet this young person whom you tell me very well in all respects; and besides, my good brother Louis, I have too much confidence in you to doubt for a single moment that the person you are proposing to me is very suitable (Henry de Lacauve will remain single); in any case it will be good if the circumstances arise, to tell him all that I tell you in the chapter which concerns me.
[2v°] A new year is about to begin; may God make it better for our poor country, our beloved France, which I regret, alas, that I cannot defend today.
To all of you, I send, unfortunately from too far away, my most sincere wishes for your happiness. You all know what a large place you have in the heart of your relative and friend who also knows on his side how much affection you have for him.
See you soon, my good Louis, I embrace you all in a common embrace on the occasion of the New Year.
Good memories to friend Legrand and young Adolphe.
Yours as always
and forever
by Lacauve
