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156 - Anne-Robert-Jacques TURGOT (1727–1781).
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Estimate €800 - €1,000
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Description
Anne-Robert-Jacques TURGOT (1727–1781). Letter, Limoges, 1 March 1771, to his former secretary Antoine-Bernard Caillard; 4 pages, in-4. On the pronunciation of Latin. He expresses his gratitude for the books, in particular those by Father Venini (author of works on poetry and versification, and translator of Horace). The Abbé de L’aage [Turgot’s pseudonym for his literary essays], whose speeches Caillard has copied, is seeking a copyist ‘who might make a second copy for the Archbishop of Toulouse ’ [Loménie de Brienne]. The Abbé believes ‘that the Italians are completely mistaken regarding metrical poetry. It is strange that people of intellect should persist in seeking the rules of pronunciation for a dead language within their own language, and that they should refuse to acknowledge the bad habits they are made to adopt at school. It seems to me that we are more sincere, that we do not claim to pronounce Latin correctly, and that, as regards metre, we correct the incorrect pronunciations instilled in us during childhood, which have become established here, as in Italy, through the use of ecclesiastical Latin’… He gives examples of pronunciation and metre used by our ‘schoolchildren’, following Venini’s example. Hume believed that ‘the ancients pronounced Latin as the English do today, pronouncing a as e, i as ï, e as i, o as â, and u as you. He was quite surprised when I assured him of the contrary.” He does, however, criticise the Italians “for reducing metrical verse to their own level and for knowing nothing of its true beauty”. He then alludes to Voltaire: ‘I find your explanation of Ferney’s silence quite plausible. We might try another letter, which you could countersign in Paris at Mr Trudaine’s. The abbé will decide on that. Another option would be, should you ever pass through Ferney on your way to Parma, to sound out the situation’… He mentions a few people from Limoges who might be able to point out to him ‘opportunities to send me what you would not wish to entrust to the post’. He also mentions Mirabeau, ‘who will be coming around Easter, but it is a long way from here. DuPont [de Nemours] could, in any case, let you know when he is leaving, and you could go and see him’…
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About the sale Letters and Autograph Manuscripts – Part I
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Auction time 10/13/2026 at 2:00 PM
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