Du Deffand, Marie de Vichy Chamrond, marquise, 1697-1780
Call Number:
LWL MSS 11 Box 8
Image Count:
43
Resource Type:
unspecified
Abstract:
Madame du Deffand's diary, written in the hand of Jean-Francois Wiart, she having lost her sight in 1754, for the last months from July 1779 to September 1780 in which she records details of her dinner engagements with her circle of friends, the entries ending less than two weeks before her death on September 23. She also makes note of who she has corresponded with that day and records details of interest to her about 01the news contained in the letters she receives or events of the day
Description:
Marie Anne de Vichy Chamrond, marquise du Deffand (1697-1780), was married at 21 to her kinsman, Jean Baptiste de la Lande, marquis du Deffand. The marriage resulted in a separation as early as 1722. However, her intelligence, cynicism, and wit gained her such friends as Voltaire, Montesquieu, Fontenelle and Madame de Staal-Delaunay, the president Henault, and D'Alembert. The principal friendships of her later years were with the duchesse de Choiseul and with Horace Walpole. She died on September 23, 1780, leaving her papers to Walpole., In French., Title from cover., Final 206 pages blank. Bound in green vellum., and Formerly classed as: 49 2545 II.
Subject (Geographic):
France
Subject (Name):
Du Deffand, Marie de Vichy Chamrond, marquise, 1697-1780.
Subject (Topic):
Women, Conduct of life, Authors, French, and Social life and customs
Sévigné, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de, 1626-1696
Call Number:
49 2576
Image Count:
29
Resource Type:
unspecified
Abstract:
ALS from Madame de Sévigné to her daughter soon after she married and moved to Provence. The letter begins by assuring her daughter of a preference for her company over that of Mme. de Brissac and continues with a report on the weaknesses of her brother Charles and his affair with an actress. She responds to an invitation to visit Provence and talks about her other possible travel plans. She reports on an evening spent at the home of Madame de la Fayette, with M. de La Rochefoucauld and the amusement the "Marans woman" caused when she appeared with nothing on her head and a child-like hair cut. She conveys more news about social engagements at the Arsenal and the Luxembourg where there were "men of all ranks". She relates a conversation with Abbe Tetu that she had in the afternoon spent at Mme. Richelieu's home. She thanks her for a gift of gloves and describes material that she has purchased for a dress. She conveys more words of encouragement and affection about her daughter and compliments from mutual friends. A postscript includes a description of the King's visit to Chantilly, his hunting, the fireworks, and the shocking suicide of the well-respected maître d'hôtel, Vatel. She closes with a report on the engagement of M. de Ménars to Mlle. de La Grange Neuville
Description:
In French., Bound in red morocco with silk endpapers and with a binder's stamp on the inside front cover: "Bain London"., and Not in Manuscript Catalogue of 1763.
Subject (Geographic):
France
Subject (Name):
Sévigné, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de, 1626-1696., Sévigné, Charles, marquis de, 1648-1713., and Grignan, Françoise Marguerite de Sévigné, comtesse de, 1646-1705.
Subject (Topic):
Women, Conduct of life, Authors, French, Mothers and daughters, and Social life and customs