DIDEROT DENIS: (1713-1784)
DIDEROT DENIS: (1713-1784) French Philosopher, art Critic and Writer, a significant figure during the Age of Enlightenment, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie. An extremely rare and with excellent content A.L.S., Diderot, one page, 4to, Paris, first Sunday of June, n.y., in French. Diderot is outraged by some published articles in which he is attributed as the author of "Préface de la Comédie des Philosophes" ("Preface to The Comedy of the Philosophers") which he denies in the present letter, stating in part `J´apprends que des personnes mal informées ou mal intentionnées m´attribuent une brochure intitulée, Préface de la Comédie des Philosophes; je crois devoir vous prévenir que je n´ai aucune part, quelle qu´elle puisse être, ni directe ni indirecte à cet ouvrage, et que je n´en connais ni n´en soupçonne l´auteur. Si les recherches les plus rigoureuses que j´ose vous demander en grâce d´ordonner, vous conduisent à quelque découverte contraire à ce que j´ai l´honneur de vous assurer, j´aurais mérité toute votre indignation, moins pour avoir eu la moindre connaissance de ce qui a rapport à la brochure en question, que pour avoir menti indignement en le niant.´ (Translation: "I have learned that some ill-informed or malicious individuals are attributing to me a pamphlet entitled "Preface to the Comedy of the Philosophers." I feel it my duty to inform you that I have no part whatsoever, direct or indirect, in this work, and that I neither know nor suspect its author. Should the most rigorous investigations, which I dare to ask you to order, lead you to any discovery contrary to what I have the honour to assure you, I will have deserved your utmost indignation, less for having had the slightest knowledge of anything relating to the pamphlet in question, than for having shamefully lied by denying it.") Further Diderot insists on his innocence and states forcefully `Il est bien malheureux pour moi d´avoir à vous importuner sans cesse et qu´il ne suffit pas toujours d´être innocent pour être tranquille. Je n´ai point été à la pièce des Philosophes. Je ne l´ai point lue. Je n´ai point vu la préface de Palissot; et je me suis interdit tout ce qui a trait à cette indignité. Loin de ces injures atroces, je ne serias point tenté de manquer à la promesse que je me suis faite et que je mesuis tenu jusqu´à professer de ne pas écrire un mot de représailles. Quand les honnêtes gens veulent bien s´indigner pour nous, nous sommes dispensés de l´être.´ (Translation: "It is truly unfortunate for me to have to bother you constantly, and that innocence alone is not always enough to guarantee peace. I did not attend the play by the Philosophers. I did not read it. I did not see Palissot's preface; and I have forbidden myself anything related to this disgrace. Far from these atrocious insults, I would not be tempted to break the promise I made to myself and have kept to the point of professing not to write a single word of retaliation. When honest people are willing to be indignant on our behalf, we are spared the need to be indignant ourselves.") With blank integral leaf. Very small overall age wear, mostly to edges, otherwise G to VG
Charles Palissot de Montenoy (1730-1814) French playwright, admirer and disciple of Voltaire. Paradoxically, he was often denounced as a Counter-Enlightenment, opponent to the "Parti Philosophique", especially for his criticism of Diderot and the "Encyclopedistes". He is the author of the comedy, Les Philosophes, which was a huge success and caused a scandal in 1760.
DIDEROT DENIS: (1713-1784) French Philosopher, art Critic and Writer, a significant figure during the Age of Enlightenment, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie. An extremely rare and with excellent content A.L.S., Diderot, one page, 4to, Paris, first Sunday of June, n.y., in French. Diderot is outraged by some published articles in which he is attributed as the author of "Préface de la Comédie des Philosophes" ("Preface to The Comedy of the Philosophers") which he denies in the present letter, stating in part `J´apprends que des personnes mal informées ou mal intentionnées m´attribuent une brochure intitulée, Préface de la Comédie des Philosophes; je crois devoir vous prévenir que je n´ai aucune part, quelle qu´elle puisse être, ni directe ni indirecte à cet ouvrage, et que je n´en connais ni n´en soupçonne l´auteur. Si les recherches les plus rigoureuses que j´ose vous demander en grâce d´ordonner, vous conduisent à quelque découverte contraire à ce que j´ai l´honneur de vous assurer, j´aurais mérité toute votre indignation, moins pour avoir eu la moindre connaissance de ce qui a rapport à la brochure en question, que pour avoir menti indignement en le niant.´ (Translation: "I have learned that some ill-informed or malicious individuals are attributing to me a pamphlet entitled "Preface to the Comedy of the Philosophers." I feel it my duty to inform you that I have no part whatsoever, direct or indirect, in this work, and that I neither know nor suspect its author. Should the most rigorous investigations, which I dare to ask you to order, lead you to any discovery contrary to what I have the honour to assure you, I will have deserved your utmost indignation, less for having had the slightest knowledge of anything relating to the pamphlet in question, than for having shamefully lied by denying it.") Further Diderot insists on his innocence and states forcefully `Il est bien malheureux pour moi d´avoir à vous importuner sans cesse et qu´il ne suffit pas toujours d´être innocent pour être tranquille. Je n´ai point été à la pièce des Philosophes. Je ne l´ai point lue. Je n´ai point vu la préface de Palissot; et je me suis interdit tout ce qui a trait à cette indignité. Loin de ces injures atroces, je ne serias point tenté de manquer à la promesse que je me suis faite et que je mesuis tenu jusqu´à professer de ne pas écrire un mot de représailles. Quand les honnêtes gens veulent bien s´indigner pour nous, nous sommes dispensés de l´être.´ (Translation: "It is truly unfortunate for me to have to bother you constantly, and that innocence alone is not always enough to guarantee peace. I did not attend the play by the Philosophers. I did not read it. I did not see Palissot's preface; and I have forbidden myself anything related to this disgrace. Far from these atrocious insults, I would not be tempted to break the promise I made to myself and have kept to the point of professing not to write a single word of retaliation. When honest people are willing to be indignant on our behalf, we are spared the need to be indignant ourselves.") With blank integral leaf. Very small overall age wear, mostly to edges, otherwise G to VG
Charles Palissot de Montenoy (1730-1814) French playwright, admirer and disciple of Voltaire. Paradoxically, he was often denounced as a Counter-Enlightenment, opponent to the "Parti Philosophique", especially for his criticism of Diderot and the "Encyclopedistes". He is the author of the comedy, Les Philosophes, which was a huge success and caused a scandal in 1760.
