UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

System Number: 02475
Date: 8 August 1860
Author: J. M. Lalouette^[1]
Place: Paris
Recipient: JW
Place: [London]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler L12
Document Type: ALS

Mon cher Monsieur Vistheler

Jai recu votre aimable lettre^[2] que J'atandait [sic] depuis six moi je vous assure que je comptait bien sur la parole que vous m'aviez donnée lors de votre depart^[3] de paris que vous m'envairiez aussitot votre arrivée a londres. non seulement vous ne m'avez point envoyez mes vous n'avez pas d'aignez repondre a deux ou trois lettre que je vous ait écrit. Voyant votre indiférance a notre egard, je pourais presque dire votre ingratitude je me suis adressée a un Chargé dafaires pour voir sil serait plus heureux que moi[.] C'est ce qui vous explique mon cher la lettre^[4] que vous avez recu

maintenant je vous dirait que je vient de toucher l'acompte^[5] que vous m'avez adressée Chez laffite [p. 2] banquier rue de laffite - n 1 a paris. cet acompte ce monte a la somme 748 francs et 80 centimes tous frais déduit et dont le Banquier ma donnée la note. Je vous remercie mon cher ami je ne regrette qu une choses que vous ayait reste a notre egard. dans un silance si long et je vous assure que plus dune fois cette pauvre Mère Lalouette dissait je suit trop bette et jai trop de confiance aussi dissait elle je ne le serait plus autant a la suite. Voila mon cher les reflections que votre silance faisait faire a Madame Lalouette. enfin vous lui avez remis du baume dans le coeur par votre lettre et de la confiance pour l'avenire.

Je suis heureux mon cher des succeés que vous obtenez a londre^[6] succeés du reste qui vous sont bien meritée car votre courage et votre assiduitée au travaille vous en reserve de bien plus grand pour l'avenire je n'en ait jamais doutée un instant. tant qu'aux recommandations pour votre eauforte soyez tranquille elle est delicieusement encadrée et bien soignée

mil choses aimable de la part de madame Lalouette ainsi que sa soeur Eugenie et particulierement Bibi^[7] qui parle souvant de vous tant qu'a moi je vous sert vigoureusement et cordialement la main

J. Lalouette
Rue de l'odéon
paris ce 8 aout 1860

This document is protected by copyright.

Translation:

My dear Mr Vistheler

I have received your kind letter which I have been awaiting for six months I assure you that I was relying on the promise you gave me on your departure from Paris that you would write to me as soon as you arrived in London. not only have you sent me nothing but you have not deigned to reply to the two or three letters I have written to you. In view of your indifference towards us, I could almost say your ingratitude I applied to a Chargé d'affaires to discover whether he would be more fortunate than I[.] That explains my dear fellow the letter which you have received

now I would inform you that I have just received the instalment which you sent me care of laffite [p. 2] the banker at no 1 rue de laffite in Paris. this instalment amounts to the sum of 748 francs and 80 centimes with all charges deducted of which the Banker has given me the account[.] I thank you my dear friend I only have one regret which remains on our part that you should have remained silent for so long and I assure you that more than once poor Mother Lalouette said I am too foolish and too trusting and I shall not be so much so in future. There my dear sir is the opinion of Mrs Lalouette which your silence produced. at last you have soothed her heart by your letter and confidence for the future.

I am happy my dear fellow at the success you have had in London success moreover which you have well earned and your courage and assiduity in your work are promising even greater things for the future I never doubted it for an instant. as for the advice about your etching rest assured it is exquisitely framed and well cared for

A thousand kind thoughts from Mrs Lalouette and her sister Eugenie and particularly Bibi who often speaks of you as for myself I send you hearty and cordial greetings

J Lalouette

Notes:

1.  J M Lalouette
J. M. Lalouette (d. 1871), restaurant owner at 5 rue de l'Odéon, Paris [more]. JW patronised the restaurant, with Fantin-Latour and Alphonse Legros, during his first stay in Paris, 1855-59.

2.  lettre
Not traced.

3.  depart
JW left Paris in May 1859.

4.  lettre
Not traced.

5.  l'acompte
JW still owed Lalouette money in 1862 (see his letter to JW, 6 May 1862, #02476).

6.  londre
JW's painting At the Piano (YMSM 24), was praised at the 92nd Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Academy, London, 1860, and bought by John Phillip, RA (see J. Phillip to JW, 30 July 1860, #04978).

7.  Bibi
Eugénie ('Bibi') Lalouette, daughter of J. M. Lalouette. She was the subject of an etching and drypoint by JW, dated 1859, Bibi Lalouette (K.51); this may have been made in part payment of his debts to her father (see Dorment, Richard, and Margaret F. MacDonald, James McNeill Whistler, exhibition catalogue, Tate Gallery, London, 1994, no. 7, pp. 68-69).