Lot n° 251
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voltaire (1694-1778). - Lot 251
voltaire (1694-1778).
COLLECTION of 7 L.A.S. and one L.S., 1735- 1770; to various; each letter in a window mount; all bound in one volume in-fol. red morocco, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, spine gilt, inner gilt roulette, gilt edges (Riviere & Son)
Beautiful and important collection of letters by Voltaire addressed, among others, to d'Alembert, the marquis de Caumont, the count d'Argental and Gotha, and evoking the Encyclopédie, his researches on the century of Louis XIV and his theater.
- L.A.S. " Volt ", Paris April 19, 1735 to the marquis de CAUMONT (4 p. in-8). "There are few things, Sir, to which I have been as sensitive as to the memory of which you are willing to honor me. It is true that I have amused myself in my retreat with more than one kind of literature. But it is not apparent that I let anything of it transpire to the public. I realize every day that one must live and think for oneself [...] There are countries where it is permitted to communicate one's ideas to men, there are others in which it is hardly permitted to have ideas. [...] I .../...
would be greatly obliged to you if you would be so kind as to extract from these letters of which you speak to me, that which may concern the history of the last century. I do not know if Louis 14 deserved the name of great. But his century deserved it, and it is of this beautiful age of arts and letters that I want to speak more than of his person. I found on arriving in Paris that Newton's philosophy was gaining ground among the true philosophers... [Correspondence (Pléiade), t. II, n° 556].
- L.A.S. "V", [about November 1749], to Count Francesco ALGAROTTI (1 p. in-12, address).
"Jay l'honneur detre dans ce moment cy entre Ciceron et César. They are people of your country that you would make speak much better than me. They are very much in demand. As soon as this work is well or badly done, I will put myself in the historical jumble and jobeiray at your orders mio caro conte "... [Correspondence (Pléiade), t. III, n° 2536].
- L.A.S. "V", Berlin December 18, 1752, to Henri Lambert d'Herbigny, marquis de THIBOUVILLE (2 pages in8, address). On his play Amélie, or the Duke of Foix, Adrienne LECOUVREUR, and his theater. "My dear Duke of Foix, Sceaux must always have Barons, but the theatre of Paris does not always have Lecouvreur. It is for her that the role of Amelie was made, she will not be replaced. The old child [Mlle Gaussin] who plays in L'Oracle and in Zaïre can only make my duke fall. Quiet in crime and false with sweetness she will not be angry to make niches for the uncle and the niece, I am very distressed that Madame Denis has compromised herself with this tripot. It would have been better to wait for the return of mr de Richelieu. She must not be allowed to postulate any more inconveniences. This is only good for me, an old theater pillar [...] I did everything with Zulime that Louis 14 and Louis 15 allowed me, to whom I gave almost all my time as a good and loyal subject. The Duchess of MAINE "is a predestined soul, she will love comedy until the last moment and when she will be sick I advise you to administer to her some beautiful piece instead of extreme unction. One dies as one has lived, I die myself who speak to you, and I scribble more verses than La Motte and more prose than La Mott Vayer "... [Correspondence (Pléiade), t. III, n° 3386].
- L.A.S. "V", at Les Délices October 9 [1756], to D'ALEMBERT (3 pages in-4, address with red wax seal with arms). On the Encyclopedia. "We have been on the point, my dear universal philosopher, of knowing made de Fontaine and me what becomes of the soul when his colleague has passed. We hope to remain for some time in our ignorance. [...] If you have some articles of the encyclopaedia to give me, please be so kind as to do so a little in advance. A sick person is not always the master of his moments. I will try to serve you better than I have done. I am rather dissatisfied with the story. I wanted to show you what style is appropriate for a general history, what style is required for a particular history, what style is required for memoirs. [...] But I was in a hurry, and I was sick. I was overwhelmed by this cursed general history that you know [Essay on manners]. I beg your pardon for having served you so badly. [...] I do not know the dictionary. I have not subscribed. [I will buy it when it is finished. [...] What I have been told about the articles on teology and metaphysics is heartbreaking. It is very cruel to print the opposite of what one thinks"... [Correspondence (Pléiade), t. IV, n° 4581].
- L.A.S. "V", November 6 [1759], to Louise Dorothea of Meiningen, duchess of SAXE- GOTHA (4 pages in-8). Transmitting a letter for Frederick II. "Allow me to write to your serene highness on this small paper. Whatever pleasure I have in presenting him with the most lavish tributes
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