TALLEYRAND-PÉRIGORD (Charles-Maurice de). Autograph... Lot 49

TALLEYRAND-PÉRIGORD (Charles-Maurice de). Autograph letter signed [to the Duchess of Sagan]. Valençay, November 10 [1821]. 2 pp. in-8 square. "PERMIT ME TO SEIZE SO AS NEVER TO LET IT BE LOST THIS WORD OF FRIENDSHIP WHICH YOU WERE SO GOOD AS TO USE IN YOUR LAST LETTER. Please believe that in whatever corner of the world I may be, there is a man there who is personally devoted to you. I don't know how many years I have left to live, but those years are at the disposal of your mother's children. Dorothée speaks happily of your plan to come here in April. I'm delighted. You need to get out of Germany for a while, and Dorothée needs to get out of Paris. It is only through movement that one manages to fortify oneself enough not to be damaged by all the jolts of the soul. The death of the Cardinal de Périgord [Alexandre-Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord, then archbishop of Paris, uncle of the Prince de Talleyrand] and of an old bishop who had been staying with me for many years, has thrown more darkness around us; BUT THIS IS NOT CHAGRIN; ONE HAS ONLY ONE IN ONE'S LIFE, AND THIS I SHARE WITH YOU [Wilhelmine de Sagan's mother, Dorothée von Medem, had died in August 1821]. Adieu, Madame la duchesse, accept with kindness the homage of my devotion and respect..." Wilhelmine von Biron, Duchesse de Sagan, was the sister of the Prince de Talleyrand's companion, Dorothea von Biron, Duchesse de Dino. Their mother, Dorothea von Medem, Duchess of Courland, had died in August 1821.