Anne-Robert-Jacques TURGOT (1727–1781). L.A., Limoges, Novem - Lot 161

Anne-Robert-Jacques TURGOT (1727–1781). L.A., Limoges, November 24, 1772, to a friend; 4 pages, in-4 (enclosed engraved portrait). A long and beautiful letter. He discusses the letter from Sénac de Meilhan and advises his friend to extract as much as she can from Sénac; then they will easily come to an arrangement. He expresses surprise, however: “All the letters of Mr. Sénac’s that I’ve had occasion to see have a pedantic tone, which surprises me in a man of such good company who writes comic operas”… He went to Brive, where the bad weather fortunately did not trigger his “gout.” He gratefully accepts “all the riches from Madame de Choiseul.” I feel that I must not take advantage of them. However, I confess to you that I have a great desire to have my share for the Limousin, and for that I need two rams and four ewes, which will make two separate flocks, one in Berry and the other in the vicinity of Brive.”... He asked Mr. de Barbançois, whose land is not far from Chanteloup, to go fetch the animals, without Turgot’s name coming up... He approves of her having repeated to Trudaine what he had instructed regarding the warehouse, “and regarding the reasons for preferring Charente, should the navy remain in Rochefort.” I have been informed from Paris that the affairs in the North will not lead to war; that is the only thing that strikes me as interesting in all these revolutions. I am not even looking forward to the fifth act of *Semiramis*"... He advises against his friend’s plan to work on “these attempts at translating Pope. It would only be worth writing if it were good and if it were finished”… Certificate of cultural heritage attached.