LETTER WITH BEAUTIFUL VIGNETTE OF SHIPS FROM GRENADIER JEAN LOUIS RENOUS, 33rd Line Regiment in Dunkirk, TO HIS MOTHER residing in Pont-de-l'Arche (Eure), on the 5th of Pluviôse year 13. 18880-25

LETTER WITH BEAUTIFUL VIGNETTE OF SHIPS FROM GRENADIER JEAN LOUIS RENOUS, 33rd Line Regiment in Dunkirk, to his mother residing in Pont-de-l'Arche (Eure), on the 5th day of Pluviôse in the year 13. 18880-25

Letter with address "The Widow Renoü in Lizey, arrondissement of Pont de l'Arche, department of Eure in Lizey." Beautiful black printed vignette representing a ship in the center of an oval with a ribbon, bordered on each side by a small ship with a flag flying.
Grenadier Jean Louis Renous is a soldier in the 2nd Company of the 2nd battalion, 33rd Line Regiment, embarked from Dunkirk in the Batavian flotilla.

"Dunkirk, 5th Pluviôse, year 13."
My dear Mother,
This letter is to inquire about the state of your health, which is very dear to me. As for me, I am quite well for the moment and I hope this letter finds you the same, as well as my brother and sister. I want to inform you that I embarked on the 1st day of Pluviôse in Dunkirk for 2 months and we are well received. The intense cold we endure in the flat boats of the Batavian republic, with 20 grenadiers in the row, one officer, and the boats carrying 3 cannons - one 24-pounder and two 8-pounders. I also want to tell you, my dear mother, that I received the 9 francs you sent me in the letter dated December 3, 1804, which brought me much joy as it helped me buy some clothes after leaving the hospital. We were stationed in T... for a month. I apologize for not writing sooner, as we were constantly on the brink of departure and I delayed due to our unsettled conditions. You asked for the names of my commander and captain, the commander is called Cartier and the captain is called Le Lion. I was in the hospital in Bruges and Ostend. Please give my regards to my aunt, the widow de la Fosse, my cousin, cousin, Jean Baptiste and his wife, Pierre Milliard and his wife, and the whole family and comrades. Please update me on news from home. I finish by sending you my heartfelt embraces. Your son for life.
Signed "Jean Louis (Reinous?) (Rennous?)"

Double sheet. H 22.3 cm x 18 cm.

France.
First Empire.
First sheet in fairly good condition, second page in poor condition with tears and losses. Folds, aged paper.

NOTE: Letter reproduced on page 45, figure 15, in the book LOST LETTERS 1792-1815, Pierre Charrié, Editions du Canonnier, Nantes 2004.