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an old manuscript with writing on it and a picture of a man in a hat
Ader

68 - Victor de Riquetti, Marquis de MIRABEAU (1715–1789), economi…
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Estimate €500 - €700
Sale commission
Description
Victor de Riquetti, Marquis de MIRABEAU (1715–1789), economist and agronomist, ‘the Friend of Mankind’; father of the great orator. L.S., Puisegur, 11 October 1752, to Mr Maury, solicitor in Paris; 3 pages in-4, address label (mounted on card). Business letter concerning the sale and purchase of land and his disputes with Laborde: ‘Laborde is seeking a court order regarding the plots for sale in the county of Gaure, but […] my letter will have explained to you the grounds on which he is basing his claim for the plots for sale in Biraud, Lavardens and part of Roquelaure; he seemed so certain on this point that, although I found his request extraordinary, I was alarmed by it”. He received “a legal opinion from Toulouse which did go some way towards reassuring me; it is in direct contradiction to all of Laborde’s conclusions”, and he sent him a copy of it. ‘The letters patent of 1656 seemed to me so straightforward—granting only the title of Count of Gaure by agreement—that I did not think it would be difficult; in that case, it would be better to stick to the grand plan, which would truly be a significant coup’. He sees no need to cut down the saplings or to alert Laborde. He must have turned “to other rather flighty individuals regarding a matter which was nevertheless pressing: it was a matter of making offers there for the Centième denier [tax on property transfers] on the land I had acquired”, which was causing him great difficulties, as the tenants were unwilling “to make any reduction for seeds, livestock, movable property at Rieutort and other movable assets […] Having offered no bribes or anything of the sort, I have not sought to frustrate the King’s rights and am, more than anyone else, in a favourable position.” Pressed for time, he has “put together a plan to organise matters in this region so as to make genuine offers totalling 287 and a half louis, which is the full amount excluding deductions, and this is a task more difficult than raising an army”… He is going to spend a few days at Lefranc’s, then set off on a tour taking in Toulouse, the Périgord, Bordeaux and the Limousin, before returning to Paris, ‘where I shall have more need of money than of business’…
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale Letters and Autograph Manuscripts – Part I
Auction location
Auction time 10/13/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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