Eulalie Cathalan to Thomas Jefferson, 10 August 1819
From Eulalie Cathalan
Marseille le 10. aout 1819
Monsieur,
Nous avons l’honneur de vous annoncer une perte irreparable que nous venons de faire dans la personne de m. Etienne Cathalan Consul des Etats unis d’Amerique; une mort prematurée a la suite d’une tres courte maladie, vient de nous enlèver, un tendre pere & un Epoux cheri; nous avons besoin des grands Secours du Ciel, pour pouvoir Suporter notre vive, & Juste1 douleur.
feu m. Et. Cathalan avoit remis a mr Wm Shaler2 Consul des etats unis, à alger, lors de Son passage par marseille; des papiers relatifs à des reclamations Sur le gouvernement des Etats Unis.
nous avons apris que m. Wm Shaler a fait passer ces pièces & Comptes,3 au département de la marine à Washington, pour y etre verifiées & liquidées.
nous ésperons, Monsieur, que vous Voudres bien nous continuer Cette bienveillance, dont vous aves honoré le defunt, & dont vous lui avies tant de fois doné des preuves, & ordonner qu’on nous fasse remise des Sommes qui lui reviennent, ou qu’on nous en indique le Remboursement.
Nous avons l’honneur d’etre avec la plus Respectueuse4 Consideration,
| Les hoirs de feu Etienne Cathalan5 |
| Cathalan VE Samatan |
| liquidataire de la succession de son père |
| rue de Rome No 63. |
Editors’ Translation
Marseille 10. August 1819
Sir,
We have the honor of announcing to you an irreparable loss we have recently suffered in the person of Mr. Stephen Cathalan, consul of the United States of America. A premature death, after a very short illness, has just taken from us a tender father and cherished husband. We will need much help from heaven in order to bear our intense and justifiable sorrow.
The late Mr. Stephen Cathalan had remitted to Mr. William Shaler, consul of the United States at Algiers, when he passed through Marseille, some papers relating to claims against the United States government.
We have learned that Mr. William Shaler delivered these documents and accounts to the Navy Department in Washington to be verified and settled.
We hope, Sir, that you will continue to show us the kindness with which you honored the deceased so many times, and order that the sums owed him be delivered to us, or that someone informs us how to be reimbursed.
We have the honor to be, with the most respectful consideration,
| The heirs of the late Stephen Cathalan |
| Cathalan, Widow Samatan |
| liquidator of her father’s estate |
| Rue de Rome, No. 63. |
RC (MHi); in an unidentified hand, signed by Cathalan; between dateline and salutation: “Monsieur Thomas Jefferson Ecuyer President des Etats Unis de L’Amerique, a Washington”; endorsed by TJ as a letter from “Cathalan’s representves” received 24 Oct. 1819 and so recorded in SJL. Dupl (MHi); in same unidentified hand, signed by Cathalan; at head of text: “Dupta”; with Dupl of Cathalan to TJ, 26 Aug. 1819, subjoined; endorsed by TJ as a letter from “Cathalan Veuve” received 6 Nov. 1819. Dupl (DLC); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Willie Blount, 27 Apr. 1822, on verso; addressed in same unidentified hand: “A Monsieur Monsieur Th. Jefferson Esqr ancien President des etats unis d’Amerique A Washington”; marked “Ship”; franked; redirected in an additional unidentified hand to “near Charlottes Ville”; postmarked Norfolk, 28 Oct. Translation by Dr. Genevieve Moene.
Eulalie Marthe Cathalan (1784–1837) was the daughter of Stephen Cathalan and his first wife, Thérèse Charlotte Angleys, of Marseille. As a young child she met TJ during his visit there in 1787. Cathalan attended an English convent school in Paris for three years beginning in 1797. She married Amable Samatan in 1805 and was widowed ten years later (FrM: Cathalan-Samatan Collection; , 29:369, 31:108, 39:468, 469n; 40:455–6; records of 2 Aug. 1784 baptism, 16 Dec. 1805 marriage, and 2 Oct. 1837 death in FrMADBR: Vital Records; Stephen Cathalan to TJ, 19 Mar. 1816).
1. Preceding two words not in Dupl.
2. Here and below, RC: “Thaler”; Dupl: “Shaler.”
3. Preceding two words not in Dupl.
4. Dupl: “parfaite” (“perfect”).
5. Dupl ends here.
Index Entries
- Cathalan, Eulalie Marthe (Stephen Cathalan’s daughter); and death of S. Cathalan search
- Cathalan, Eulalie Marthe (Stephen Cathalan’s daughter); and S. Cathalan’s claims search
- Cathalan, Eulalie Marthe (Stephen Cathalan’s daughter); identified search
- Cathalan, Eulalie Marthe (Stephen Cathalan’s daughter); letters from search
- Cathalan, Stephen (Étienne) (1757–1819); as consul at Marseille search
- Cathalan, Stephen (Étienne) (1757–1819); death of search
- French language; letters in, from; E. M. Cathalan search
- Navy Department, U.S.; and S. Cathalan’s claims search
- Shaler, William; as consul general at Algiers search
- women; letters from; E. M. Cathalan search