Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (1737-1814),... - Lot 9 - Conan Belleville Hôtel d'Ainay

Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (1737-1814), botanist and writer, traveller and academician, succeeded Buffon as intendant of the King's Garden. L.A.S. to the botanist André Thouin (1747-1824). "In Essonnes, at the paper mill, this 23rd ventôse in year 2 of the Republic [March 13, 1794]" [In 1792, he had acquired an island on the Essonne River on which he had his house built by the architect Moreau-Desproux]. 1 p. in-4. He reminds him of the promise of plants he made to one of his farmer friends. "The season for planting and sowing is coming up and my neighbour wants to take advantage of it. He would also like to be part of your annual distribution of seeds, seeds and seedlings that could embellish or vary the production of his soil. It is composed of two different lots. One is high and stony, the other is a slightly swampy meadow. If you can satisfy his desire to contribute to the advancement of agriculture you will make another friend.... In this case he will send him the valet of citizen Didot [he had just married his daughter, Félicité]. "I ask you to reiterate the assurances of my friendship to Citizens Daubenton, Vanspandonck, Guilbert, Dingé, and all your kind family. I further ask you to recommend to the Cit. Lucas the memory of my wine that I would like to have here, when my house is habitable. He plans to exchange it with his father-in-law [Didot]. "I will need it to receive you when you come to see the places that you have embellished with the plants that you have sent me []". It is likely that this delivery was in fact intended for the property he was developing on the Essonne islet on the site of the former paper mill of Didot, his father-in-law].