Henri-Louis Cain dit LEKAIN (1729-1778). L.A.S., Paris, February 1, 1777, to his son Louis-Théodore; 2pages in-8. Letter of advice to his son who wants to embrace a theatrical career. [Lekain's third son, Louis-Théodore, born in 1754, had tried in vain, through Voltaire's intermediary, to be hired in St. Petersburg by Catherine II, and hoped to be hired by the Landgrave Frederick II of Hesse-Cassel's troupe of French comedians, whose theaters were directed by the Marquis de Luchet]. "You must forego, for the time being, my dear child, the trip to Hesse Cassell; it will not take place until Easter 1778. I am therefore waiting for an engagement from Mr. Marquis de Luchet; he fears, he says, that this year you will be sharing the stage with a tracassier who will be dismissed when his engagement expires; you must try to find something to occupy you for the next campaign, to pass the time and give you even more use for the theater; I hear nothing from Petersburg, which leads me to presume that no reply has yet been returned to Mr de Voltaire; the Empress is said to be occupied with greater projects than that of looking after her show; [...You are too young, my dear child, not to resign yourself to the delay I am proposing and which seems to me to be a necessity; [...] I had not deceived you about the inconveniences of a provincial actor; you must therefore withdraw"...