Autograph letter : [Cirey, near Joinville], to François Antoine Devaux, [1738 Dec. 12-15].

Record ID: 
295277
Accession number: 
MA 3936.7
Author: 
Grafigny, Mme de (Françoise d'Issembourg d'Happoncourt), 1695-1758.
Date: 
[1738 Dec. 12-15].
Credit: 
Purchased on the Fellows Fund, 1978.
Description: 
1 item (10 p.) ; 22.7 cm
Notes: 

Dated "le vendredi après-midi"; the exact date is from Showalter's edition of Madame de Graffigny's letters.
Part of a collection of 32 letters from Madame de Graffigny to François Antoine Devaux. Letters in the collection are described individually (MA 3936.1-32).
The letter is bound out of order.

Summary: 

Sending him an extract of Voltaire's Louis XIV; discussing Voltaire's Merope; telling him about her daily activities; transcribing Voltaire's words on Leopold [Duc de Lorraine]. Also telling him about the ability of Voltaire's valet [Céran] to write verses; reporting on Voltaire's wit and talent for entertaining; commenting on Voltaire's relationship with [Nicolas-Claude] Thiriot; sending him a revised version of his epistle on Abbé Desfontaines; discussing theater in Cirey; and commenting on his letters.

Provenance: 
From the library of Sir Thomas Phillipps.