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an old manuscript with writing on it in black inka black and white photo of a manuscript with writing on ita page of a manuscript with writing on itan old manuscript with writing on it is shown in black inkan old piece of paper with a red wax stamp on ita piece of paper that has a wax seal on it
Maître Jean-Paul RENOUD-GRAPPIN

66 - Honoré-Gabriel de Riquetti, Count of MIRABEAU (1749–1791).
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Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
Sale commission
Description
Honoré-Gabriel de Riquetti, Count of MIRABEAU (1749–1791). L.A.S. Pontarlier, 14 July 1782, to Mr MICHAUD, the King’s prosecutor, in Pontarlier; one and a half pages, quarto size, address bearing a red wax seal with the coat of arms (skilful restoration at three corners, without affecting the text). Whilst imprisoned at Fort de Joux, Mirabeau was granted permission to travel to Pontarlier, where he met Sophie de Monnier. He complains of Michaud’s growing coldness towards him, and attributes this to the influence of the lawyer Sombarde and his affair with Michaud’s sister; but Mademoiselle Marguerite ought to consider ‘that it is rather indecent to rail so bitterly against her brother’s avowed friend ’. As for the question of money: ‘I pestered you for my financial statement long before you were willing to give it to me. I grew complacent, because your generous goodwill had always reassured me, and I rightly judged that, having acted as my banker for five months, you would not leave me in a bind at the end of it. However, when my father wrote to me saying he would not send me a sol until he had my detailed account, I pressed you again, and my account has finally been sent. But I cannot receive any money from my father until the first few days of July, as he is at Le Bignon. Furthermore, my bills of exchange cannot be sent from Paris until the 25th or 26th; how am I to manage if you do not help me? It is only because I am firmly convinced that your purse or your credit will not fail me—a confidence sufficiently justified by five months’ experience—that I have no resources to fall back on now that I find myself caught unawares, and everything is about to come crashing down on me all at once. Now there are debts such as those owed by Bertrand, the jailer, Parrod, and so on, which I simply must settle before I leave Neuchâtel. The costs of probate and a few pressing debts fall into the same category. Tell me, my friend, whether I can no longer count on you; for in that case it is essential that I begin negotiations either at Renaud’s or in Neuchâtel, and these highly awkward negotiations will inevitably prove rather peculiar for both of us”…
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About the sale AUTOGRAPHS & MANUSCRIPTS – PENNED BY HISTORY’S GREAT FIGURES
Auction location
Auction time 09/18/2026 at 2:00 PM
Ref. : 226183 - 7
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