Henri BAUDRILLART (1821–1892). Letter from the author, Montl - Lot 3

Henri BAUDRILLART (1821–1892). Letter from the author, Montlignon near Montmorency, July 26, 1865, to Joseph Garnier; 4 pages, in-8. Regarding an article titled “Economic Facts and Opinions,” written by a cousin of Garnier’s, which he finds poorly presented in the *Journal des Économistes*: “Not that the author lacks wit, but the tone—even with your edits—is ambiguous. […] Humor does not lend itself to the kind of mediocrity that is tolerated in serious articles, provided they are instructive and substantial. We walk as best we can, but when we dance, we must do so with grace.” He advises, in the absence of Voltaire’s pen, to draw a little closer “to the sharp common sense and tasteful wit of Alphonse Karr, or else be Bastiat! “Start a little Charivari within the *Journal des Économistes*”… “The wit must be nothing more than the seasoning for seriousness. The journal needs bees even more than it needs wasps.” He acknowledges the soundness of the ideas and the witty tone—"which I fault only for being too farcical"—and believes the author could succeed "without confining himself to the specialty of chronic humor"… Enclosed is another autograph letter, dated September 18, 1871 (2 pp., in-8), recommending his colleague Charles Vergé, of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, director of “the great Dalloz collection of case law,” who wishes to spend the month of October with his family in Rome: “To do so, he needs guidance and advice. Who better than you—with your long-standing and profound knowledge of this great city, so fascinating to study yet so difficult to understand—would be able to render him such a service?”…