Ambroise Firmin DIDOT (1790-1876). L.A.S., March 25, 1862, to Hippolyte Lucas; 2 1/2 pages in-8, addressed. On the Nouvelle Biographie Générale published by the Didot house, founded by his father, which he directs with his younger brother. He thanks Lucas "for the interest that you carry to our General Biography and for what you want to say of it of obliging. We are redoubling our efforts to make it more and more worthy of its importance, and of the esteem it has obtained among the people who consult it. Unfortunately, our limited space does not allow us to make any developments, but we try to fight against this disadvantage by the conciseness of our style. However, the important articles have in general all the desirable extension. There are even some like the Estienne & the Aldus Manutius that you find perhaps too extensive"... He offers him "two new publications which have for goal to popularize our ancient literature & our ancient history. By publishing a series of similar ancient documents in a popular format I had hoped that the public would encourage my efforts. Perhaps you will be able to call his attention and make him come out of his torpor, it would be a service rendered to the Letters"...