French

Two pages, 8vo, minor defedcts, text clear and complete, if somewhat illegible. He begins: "J'ignorais personellement monsieur, la Combinaison [locative?] dont vous avex ete vistime et je comprends fort bien que vous la trouvez mediocrement ingenieuse, vous nous avez habituee aux plus galant precedes, mais . . . " He goes on to say that they won't offer compensation, understanding that they are changing their "loge" and will collect what belongs to them, etc.

Minister of Public Works, with a key role in the building of the Suez Canal. The document, numbered No.39 top left corner, is three pages, folio, sl. damaged but text clear and complete. He reminds his correspondent that "Son Altesse le Khedive" has appointed him "ministere des travaux publics" four months previously. He discusses "le reglement" by which decisions were to be made and the situation he finds himself in, "ne sachant au juste sur quoi appuyer mes actes officielle, je ne puis plus longtemps rester dans la vague, qui empeche toute administration.

Louis Philippe I, formerly Duc D'Orleans. Two pages, 8vo, minor defects but good condition, saying: "My dear Col: Moore, I have barely time to inform you that . . . I am hurried off to England. . . . Should you arrive at Gibraltar wit a proper permission to attend me, I can only intreat of you to wait there either for me or for some news from me, were I prevented from returning to my dear cousin to whom I am much attached. He was justly very desirous of having an english [sic] officer that might put him / au fait of english manners customs &c.

French revolutionary (1763-1816).

Miscellaneous author. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. He asks politely for two pieces of information. Firstly, they have a book with engravings about Liberia "fondee par les Americains". He wonders if Liberia has a charge d'affaires in Paris or London. Secondly, he'd like to publish an article on "votre Bibliotheque americaine" and hopes they'll provide documentation.

Political Economist. One page, 12mo, good condition. Difficult to read but he talsk of submitting a "tirage" [printing; proof?] to his correspondet's attention (or vetting), mentioning sending [?] a title and "''indication que [?] extrait du journal d'agriculture".

French financier (1758-1850). Offical letter, two pages, folio, text in secretarial hand, signed by Mollien, some defects but mainly good condition. "Monsieur le Courte, je prie Votre Exc ellence de vouloir bien presente le plus promptement possible a Sa Majeste, le Budget Speculatif de recetter et de depenser de la caisse des Invalides pendant l'annee 18 . / Ce budget doit etre le premier element de la Comptabilite du Tresorier que Sa Majeste a etablie pour ce Service par Son Decret du 13. Aout dernier. / Le premier Article de ce budget me parois dernier presenter a [lu recette?] ce qui .

Noé, Amédée-Charles-Henry de (1818-1879). French cartoonist.. - caricaturist. One page, 8vo, laid down, sl. damaged but text clear and complete. He says that Madame de Noe [avec accent] is fully recovered from illness and wonders if his correspondent can dine next sunday. "Un mot de reponse s.v.p." He concludes with formal best wishes. The conjoint blank leaf is laid down - on the recto of this blank is a draft acceptance signed [Paggi?].

Dramatist and novelist. One page, 8vo, good condition. In a difficult hand, he says that he has heard from [M. Rey?] that he hasn't concluded his engagement in Brussels and has no interest in the role mapped out except in a few days. He goes on to talk of the work involved in corrections which has prevented him from sending a "manuscript exact". Note: The place and date are written in another hand on the reverse.

Directeur de "La Bibliotheque Universelle et Revue suisse". Two pages, 8vo, good condition. Most of the letter consists of information about and praise of a hotel in the Alps.

French dramatist. One page, 4to, some damage in corner with loss of serval letters and words, with corrections. Note on reverse in different hand make the ascription to Marsollier: "Oraison funebre de Monsieur Marsollier [prononcee?] le 13 Avril 1815 / autographe". Oration to a "femme jeune brillante de joye et de sante pour l'unir a l'epouse qu'elle aimait et qui la rebdue si heureuse que cing ans apres j'erouverai la douleur de lui survivre et de la conduire a la derniere demeure . . . [he wants to do justice to her character which he defines] . . .

Of the Bibliotheque Imperiale (Bibliotheque du roi). In French. Total 6 pages, text from verso shows through on recto, but both letters clear and complete. ITEM ONE (1813) He is looking forward to seeing Smith in Paris. General Macaulay has givcen "l'agreable asssurance". Progress made in beautifying Paris. He mentions a female author (Indecipherable to me), "celebre en France" to whom he recommends him particularly, eulogising her. Regards to wife and daughters. ITEM TWO (1814) Thanks for a letter. Smith's "sejour a Paris", happy memories and a wish for a future visit.

Topographer and map-maker, author of "Atlas Universel de Geographie Ancienne et Moderne, precede d’un abrege de Geographie Physique et Historique" (author = Colonel au Corps Royal d’Etat-Major, Ancien Directeur du Cabinet Topographique du Roi, Chef de la Section Topographique du Ministere de la Guerre, Chevalier de Saint-Louis, Officier de la Legion-d’Honneur et Commandeur de L’Ordre Grec du Sauveur; et M. Lapie Fils, Captaine au Corps Royal d’Etat-Major, Ancien eleve de l’Ecole Polytechnique). Document, three pages, folio, some defects but clear and complete. In French.

French architect (1845-1938), brother of the painter Jules Bastien-Lepage. One page, 12mo. Very good, on discoloured paper. Rodin (the sculptor) has informed him that the sketch requested by the committee will be ready the next Saturday. Points out that it will be difficult to convene a meeting during the Easter holidays. Signed 'Emile Bastien-Lepage'.

Geographer, entomologist, pioneer biographer, etc. ("In 1839 he was appointed conservator for the Department of Maps at the Royal Library in Paris and in 1840 secretary for life in the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres.") Total three pages, folio (2) and 4to (1), some damage, but texts clear and complete. (Ist ITEM, 1816) a "Conseil de Prefecture,Seance du Jeudi 17 Octobre 1816 / Present M. Narchand, Champion & LeConte, membres du Conseil, etc".

General (1748-1828)(biography on net). One page, sm. folio, good condition.. He acknowledges a letter in which he was asked about the "plans & . . . construction du nouveau magazin des poudres [de debit?] a Paris. Le devise & le plan de ce magasin ont ete renvoyes dans le temps a Me . . . administrateurs generaux . . . Il est essential de ne pas arreter les Tarvaux de Construction de ce magasin, afin qu'ils doient terminer pendant la belle saison."

French Hellenist. In French. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. He returnsd a letter his correspondent had sent to their colleague, Viennet "pour l'Academie" to which he adds something of Labitte "pur la Collectio Pizarrensis [Pisaurensis?]. He benefits from the offer of ""votre nouveau substitut" Jacqumets [?]. He has seen Beuchot. He has corrected the first proof of "The Odyssey" ("j'ai corrige la premiere epreuve de L'Odyssee"). He has hopes of finishing "le grand oeuvre des poesies homeriques". He wonders what he will devote himself to afterwrds.

Banker and Politician. In French. One page, 4to, fold marks, good. He says that Bignon has reached the limits which he suggested in a letter, and they have sold "en bourse" "[F?] 2025 de Rentes a 74 t produisent ......F29,9709= . . ." He adds the figures for commission and "Courtage". He adds that the Baron has been debited a certain sum, paid to the "porteur de votre [nom?]".

Novelist, essayist and dramatist, both in French, signed "Montherlant. ALS, in original envelope, 2pp., 4to. In the letter, he is sorry to have missed him and includes him among the few people he does want to see again. "Je pense rester en Afrique jusque vers mai". A "Mr Bradley left for New York. "Il devait, pendant son sejour las-bas, s'occuper du lancement des Bullfighters et m'ecrire pour me servir au courant. . .". He thanks him for his article ("intelligent et sympathique") asking if he knows anything of the author.

French authority on English literature, and in particular on the poet Algernon Charles Swinburne. The recipient (1878-1959) was editor of the 'London Mercury' at the time of writing. One page, quarto. In poor condition, with fraying and closed tears to edges. 'I herewith return revised proofs of my French Novelists. | May I remind you that I should be glad to have some galley proofs if it can be easily arranged?' Signed 'Georges Lafourcade'.

French playwright. One page, 8vo, minor defects, text clear and complete, in French as follows: "M. Seuferd [?] me fait le plaisir de dejeuner avec moi; vous seriez fort aimable de venir prendre votre part de ce frugal [?meal of some sort] et cette conversation litteraire." Postscript: "La cene [souligne] se passe chez moi dans mon petit etablisement."

Five lines, 4to, some foxing not affecting clarity of text, as follows: "Jerome addresse cette despesche pour Mr des [?] fougeraire[?] que je vous prie de luy faire tenir en tout diligence Louis de Bourbon"

Map-maker, geographe, geographer. (One page, folio,some creasing and soiling, mainly good, clear and complete. This is a formal document in his best hand, in which he requests the opportunity to exhibit at "l'exposition" his latest work, "une carte de la France industrielle indiquent la position de tous les lieux qui ont fournis quelques produits aux 5 expositions, la designation de ces produits . . . ." He says how far he is advanced. An important letter.

"Ancien auteur dramatique". One page, c.7 x 12", good condition. He requests charity from them again, being ill and unable to work, about to lose his "domicile", debts, etc. In the substantial margin [?] Taylor (poss. I-J-S- Taylor, patron of literature[?]) has supported Rozet's application (3 December 1847) in a note to the Commission.

Editor of "Le Siecle", economist and politician (see Wikiberal). One page, 4to, some foxing, one edge badly trimmed, text clear and complete. "Je vous remercie de las marque de sympathie que vous avez donnes a la [France?] en envoyant votre sousscription pour les vistimes de la Martinique. Je l'ai deposee au [?] qui a ouvert une sousscription que nous n'avons pas un [?] ouvrier, en ayany trop ouvert du temps de l'affaire Dreyfus. . . "

Anglo-French journalist (1801-81) and friend of Mallarme. Letter: two pages, octavo. Good, though on creased, discoloured and spotted paper. The verso of the second leaf of the bifoliate is ruckled and with glue stains showing through from the verso, which is attached to a piece of ruled paper. Reads 'Mon cher voisin | I enclose an order for the Westminster Play for to night, which may perhaps interest you or your son. If either of you are able to go, you should be there early.

Oriental linguist and biblical scholar (1812-94). Paper dimensions roughly sixteen centimeters by eight. Paper creased and foxed. Mounted on slightly-larger piece of brown paper. In French. Reads 'Que la paix de Dieu multipliee a toute votre famille, et que cette dispensation soit dirigee a la gloire du Nom qui est invoque sur nous!' Signed 'Cr. Malan.'

French Bookseller prob. One page and, verso, address and bookseller's note, 4to, In French, small portion lost on opening seal, edges discoloured, all grubby, text moreorless clear. Une infinite de causes parmi lesquelles je trouve le besoin des livres anglais que vous devez me fournir en echange de ceux que vous avez choisi <?> empeche de vous expedier les derniers. Neanmoins ni mon silence ni [?] qui <?> ecoute depuis le 4 Septembre 1820 ne <???> envers vous, et j'ai toujours ces livres a votre des [?].?>

Engineer. "Born in Paris on June 21, 1774, former Adviser of State, free Member of the Academy of Science, [he] was, in 1832, general Inspecteur of 1st class and president of the general Council of the Mines" (from Internet). Also author. One page, 8vo, good condition. Text either third person or, more likely, secretarial as follows: M. H. de Villefosse a l'honneur de saluer Monsieur le Bibliothecaire de l'Institut, de lui envoyer l'ouvrage de M. [Solvyns?], et de le prier de remettre en echange du porteur de ce billet l'ouvrage de M.

A Christmas keepsake. Eight pages, 12mo. Unbound. Grubby but in good condition. INSCRIBED at head of title 'Having got through the Valley - R. H.' The usual French cynicism: 'Nothing can be such a bore | As: a locked door; | Or a banquet, without the least appetite for food; | Or a woman whom you have already, and finally, understood.' and 'To your spouse you owe fidelity by contract. | But discretion in infidelity is a debt of honour.' From the archive of Mark Bonham Carter.