Jean-Charles-Léonard Simonde de SISMONDI (1773–1842). Autogr - Lot 138

Jean-Charles-Léonard Simonde de SISMONDI (1773–1842). Autograph letter, Geneva, September 19, 1824, to Marc-Antoine Jullien, editor of the *Revue encyclopédique*; 1 page, in-4 format, address on the reverse with postmarks, red wax seal bearing the coat of arms (small tear caused by the seal breaking). He returns “the excerpt from Mr. Thompson’s book, which had so strongly captivated me with its title, and which, I confess, fell so far short of my expectations that I had to make a bit of an effort not to treat it more harshly. But as tedious as the work is, it is the work of an honest man. It is good fodder for these unfortunate times when your writings must be censored. We must take refuge in political economy, for historical articles would never win the approval of that literary vermin with which we have been overrun. If I had written an article on Descartes, that article would not have been published. We must set few sails to the wind, but keep the house running”… He offers his help in these difficult times and believes that “in articles that are somewhat harsh, it is better not to include a byline”…