LATUDE (Jean Henry, known as Danry, known as Masers de). - Lot 169

LATUDE (Jean Henry, known as Danry, known as Masers de). Born in Montagnac. 1725–1805. An adventurer and prisoner famous for his numerous escapes. He published *Mémoires*, which were a great success during the Revolution. Letter from “Delatude” to the Duke of Ayen. Paris, October 7, 1786. 3 folio pages. Green laid paper with watermark. Imprisoned after fabricating a false plot against Madame de Pompadour, Latude spent 35 years in prison, despite his spectacular escapes. The Duke of Ayen and a certain Madame Legros, a haberdasher, had taken steps to secure his release, which were successful on March 18, 1784.He assures the duke …that not a single day goes by without Madame Legros and I offering prayers to heaven for the preservation of your precious life… The Duke’s generosity—to which Latude owes the greater part of his existence—moved him so deeply that …upon learning of your arrival last Sunday, I had no greater urgency than to set out the next day at daybreak to come and kiss the knees of my benefactor… The duke was busy at the time, but he wishes to inform him without further delay of the good fortune that has befallen them… The Duchess of Kingston, greater in her virtues than in her illustrious birth, has just granted my liberator a pension of six hundred pounds…This gracious duchess has also given the Chevalier de Pougens a superb apartment in her London palace, and he has promised in return to secure for the duchess’s nephew, Mr. Medos, …permission to go hunting two or three times a week in your captaincy of St. Germain… However, the Chevalier obtained permission for only a single day, so Latude—alerted by the duchess, with whom he was yesterday—is interceding with his benefactor. …You are well aware, Your Grace, of what it means to have the misfortune of displeasing people of your standing. The Chevalier de Pougens has the honor of being your friend—and mine. I know the depths of his heart, I am morally certain that his wealth, his blood, and his life belong to you, and I dare say the same of myself; and just as it would be less painful for me to break an arm and a leg than to see Her Ladyship the Duchess of Kingston displeased with your true friend—and mine—to prevent this misfortune, I dare to appeal to your kindness, Your Grace…Latude, emphasizing both the Duchess’s kindness and all that the Duke stands to gain from the matter, concludes very humbly: …I was but a child when I was imprisoned, and I have spent three-quarters of my life there. Unaware of the proper style to use when writing to persons of your rank, I hope you will be kind enough to forgive me for any errors you may find in my petition…