Gibbon, Edward

Written in French, warmly thanking her for her interest in his forthcoming trip, praising the effect the climate of Lausanne has had on his health and its society has had on his heart and spirit, lamenting his continued enslavement to gout, commenting on the seasonal migrating habits of the English colonies and on current politics ("...la Republique est divisee, la politique a travaille sourdement toute la nuit..."), and paying warm tribute to the friendship of the Severy family,

Two pages, 4to (227 x 180 mm), integral autograph address leaf, "Pro Patria" watermark, Lausanne, Switzerland, 19 October 1784; light dust-marking to horizontal fold, seal tears to address-leaf, professionally repaired, remains of mount. Modern cloth chemise lettered in gilt,

"Je vous permets de soupconner que l'amour de mon cabinet et d'une vie sedentaire ont influe sur ma resolution, pourvu que vous me rendiez la justice de croire que ce motif seul n'auroit point resiste a l'envie de vous accompagner, et de cultiver une liaison qui me sera toujours chere et preciouse. Des mon arrivee a Lausanne, j'ai vivement senti vos bontes et celles de Monsieur de Severy, et j'aspire a meriter l'honneur de votre amitie..."

Catherine de Sévery's daughter Angletine (Mme de Wildegg, 1770-1848)--her gift to M. du Maunoir of Geneva in 1841 (sale at Puttick and Simpson's, 18 December 1846, lot 153) — Maggs, July 1952 — William Rees-Mogg, 1958 (inscription to chemise) — Sotheby's London, December 16, 2004, lot 103. acquisition: Purchased at the forgoing sale through Bernard Quaritch

Printed (from an incomplete copy) in The Letters of Edward Gibbon, edited by J.E. Norton (1956), vol. III, No. 622 (pp. 8-9).

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This is the earliest known letter by Gibbon to one of his greatest friends, in which he pays notable tribute to her.

The Sévery family, Catherine (1741-96) in particular, were among Gibbon's greatest friends in Switzerland in his later years. The present letter to Catherine's is the earliest to survive, despite the fact that Gibbon had first met her in 1763. In addition, of the hundred or so extant letters by Gibbon to the Sévery family, this is one of only two recorded as being outside the Archives Cantonales Vaudoises in Lausanne.