Gabriel SÉNAC DE MEILHAN (1736-1803). Manuscript, [Portraits - Lot 142

Gabriel SÉNAC DE MEILHAN (1736-1803). Manuscript, [Portraits et caractères de personnages distingués de la fin du dix-huitième siècle]; 256pages in-fol. mostly on bifeuillets (the first few a little frayed). Important manuscript used for the edition of this posthumous book of reminiscences. Portraits et caractères de personnages distingués de la fin du XVIIIe siècle, suivis de pièces sur l'histoire et la politique, was published by J.G. Dentu in 1813. In an introductory notice, the publisher stated: "The work we are publishing consists of portraits of several famous people, characters, and a large number of detached pieces on history, politics and literature; it ends with a few banter pieces. All these pieces are taken from the manuscripts of M. de Meilhan, which were in the possession of M. l'abbé Kinzieger of Vienne, from where they were brought back, in 1809, to Paris"... This copyist's manuscript was used for printing (names of typographers, page layout indications, etc.). Each leaf is initialed, sometimes with a second initial "DL" (the Duc de Lévis? who prefaced the work). Several marginal notes in pencil or ink. Pagination is discontinuous. The first part is devoted to portraits, paginated 15 to 63 [the first three portraits and the beginning of the next one are missing]. It includes: the end of the portrait of the Duchesse de Châteauroux; Madame de Pompadour; Madame du Barry; the Duc de Choiseul (note at the end: "after this article we will print that of the Duchesse de Grammont"); the Maréchal de Richelieu; another portrait of the same, by a woman; Mr d'Argenson; the Comte du Buat (on an inserted in-4 leaf: "article à ajouter aux portraits après Mr d'Argenson"); La Duchesse de Grammont sister of the Duc de Choiseul; Le Dauphin Père de Louis XVI; Stanislas Auguste Roi de Pologne; Gustave III Roi de Suède; Marie Antoinette Reine de France. [The "Anecdotes, reflections on various subjects" are missing]. A second part (paginated 1-85) includes: - De l'Opinion Publique; De l'Enthousiasme; De l'Esprit et du Talent; Sur le Goût; Influence du climat sur le goût. [Missing the "Pensées détachées" and the "Synonymes"]. - Dialogues: De la Sensibilité et de la Nouvelle Héloïse; De l'Amitié; Du génie (bifeuillet in-4 inserted, with passages crossed out). - Characters (margin: "Ces caractères étoient des portraits de personnes vivantes à l'époque où Mr de Meilhan écrivoit. In the first, one will easily recognize that of a lady already famous then for the superiority of her mind, and who has since become even more so for her works. We must imitate the author's discretion. Editor's note"). - Mélanges littéraires et philosophiques [in the edition: "Anecdotes, réflexions sur divers sujets"], where the chapter on the Comte du Buat has been crossed out, as well as the title Anecdote sur les Philosophes, ending with the chapter Libertin, Débauché, Crapuleux (not retained in the edition). A third set (paginated1-70) includes: - Réflexions sur l'incertitude de l'histoire, et sur quelques écrivains anciens et modernes (with a partial copy inserted on 8p. in-4); - Sur les Peuples du Nord; - Sur la Population de la Russie et de sa situation commerciale; - Note à consulter pour les auteurs qui écrivent l'histoire de la Révolution; - Sur l'héroïsme; - Des hommes honorés du titre de Grands; - De la Noblesse. A "4th cahier", 37 pages long, has remained unpublished: Histoire d'une femme légère et inconséquente, racontée par elle-même. The manuscript ends with two chapters (17 pages, published under the heading Facéties): - Le Royaume des Queues ; - L'amour Platonique. Tale.