Victor de Riquetti, Marquis de MIRABEAU (1715–1789), economist and agronomist, “the Friend of Mankind”; father of the great orator. L.S., Puisegur, October 11, 1752, to Mr. Maury, attorney in Paris; 3 pages in-4, address (mounted on card). Business letter regarding the sale and purchase of land and his disputes with Laborde: “Laborde is seeking a court ruling on the lots for sale in the county of Gaure, but […] my letter will have explained to you the grounds on which he is basing his demand that I hand over the lots 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 “an opinion from Toulouse that did not fail to reassure me; it directly contradicts all of Laborde’s conclusions,” and he sent him a copy. “The letters patent of 1656 seemed so simple to me—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 does not see the need to cut down the saplings or to tip off Laborde. He must have turned “to other, rather flighty individuals regarding a matter that was nevertheless quite urgent: it involved making offers there regarding the centième denier [tax on property transfers] on the lands I had acquired,” which was causing him great difficulties, as the tenants were unwilling “to make any concessions regarding seeds, livestock, movable property at Rieutort, and other personal effects […] Having offered no bribes or anything of the sort, I did not intend to infringe upon the King’s rights and am, more than anyone else, in a favorable position.” Pressed for time, he “put together a plan to raise funds in this region to make concrete offers totaling 287 and a half louis—the full amount minus deductions—and this is a task more difficult than raising an army”… He will spend a few days at Lefranc’s, then go on a tour passing through Toulouse, the Périgord, Bordeaux, and the Limousin, before returning to Paris, “where I will have more need of money than of business”…