Anne-Robert-Jacques TURGOT (1727–1781). L.A., Paris, May 2, 1774, to the Marquis de Condorcet in Ribemont; 2 pages in-4, address, red wax seal bearing the coat of arms (slightly damp at the center fold). An intriguing letter regarding the illness of Louis XV (who died eight days later, on May 10). “If you were, Sir, ten times more active than you are—that is to say, forty times more so than I am—I would challenge you to be as agitated as all the inhabitants of the hive of Versailles are at this very moment. You know, or will learn from everyone, that the King has smallpox. It is confluent. He is very weak and so out of his mind that he has not asked for the sacraments. Madame Du B. [Du Barry] saw him the day before yesterday and yesterday during the ladies’ supper, but he did not speak to her. The Archbishop [Christophe de Beaumont, Archbishop of Paris], who is himself very ill, went to Versailles despite the surgeons’ objections and saw the King. But the pain from his kidney stones overcame him; he passed blood, expelled a stone, and did not speak to the King about the sacraments. It is said that the Grand Chaplain [Cardinal de La Roche-Aymon] took charge of the matter. The Archbishop has returned to Paris. At half past midnight, the King was very ill; it is claimed that the pustules were flattening, which bodes very ill. However, there had not yet been any mention of the sacraments. “All three of the ladies who have not had smallpox are attending to him.” He will send news daily, either personally or through their friends, and speaks of taking action, but “at this moment, everything is up in the air.” The King of Prussia [Frederick II] has suffered a fall and is said to be in grave danger. May God grant that the changes that may result from these events do not bring us war"... Enclosed is a printed circular letter signed by a certain Turgot, Clermont, December 12, 1708, regarding the poll tax (2 pp. in-4, address). Certificate of cultural property enclosed.