Hortense MANCINI, duchess of MAZARIN (1646-1699) favorite ni - Lot 358

Hortense MANCINI, duchess of MAZARIN (1646-1699) favorite niece of Mazarin; separated wife of the duke of La Meilleraye, she led a gallant life and was a friend of Saint-Evremond. 2 L.A.S. (initials), October 13 and December 17, to the abbé d'Hautefeuille; 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 pages in-8, addresses, one red wax seal. She is angry about the abbot's indisposition: "if you abandon yourself to the doctors you are lost, it has been three years since if I had done their wills I would have been among the bitten. I know from my sister and Mr. St Evremont that Madame de Gourville is the best friend in the world, she does me too much honor by remembering me, I beg you to show her my gratitude, I envy her the happiness she has to have you in her home"... She evokes the wine brought by Milord... ". You do not say anything more about the King of Spain"... - "I am afraid I will not receive the wine soon because the packet-boats between Dover and Calais have not yet been re-established, I am very grateful for your punctuality [...] I hope that my sister has not outdone her magnificence. I don't find anything so ridiculous as to ruin herself in clothes for myself. I don't spend ten pennies a year on mine, so I don't have the means to spend more, too happy to have something to cover myself with"... She complains about a lady's letters, illegible and full of "some unhappy negotiation [...] which comes to nothing, just like all these offers of service. I have told Calotin not to make any more replies, the vielliard asks you to use all the moving forces to bring the money from the Marechale de Crequi by pumps or aqueducts from the Seine to the Thames".