Reunion of 3 pamphlets in 7 volumes on the Regency and the c - Lot 174

Reunion of 3 pamphlets in 7 volumes on the Regency and the century of Louis XV, bound: 1 (Beaumarchais.). Aux mânes de Louis XV, et des grands hommes qui ont vécu sous son règne, ou essai sur les progrès des arts & de l'esprit humain, sous le règne de Louis XV. Two parts in one volume. Lausanne, 1777. One volume. 8.5 by 16 cm. XIV-(2)-522 pages. Contemporary half basane, smooth spine, red title page. Correct condition of binding. Title page restored on verso, with old paper, but not missing, otherwise good condition inside. 2nd edition (E.O.: 1776). Quérard III-p. 496. According to Renouvaud (Vaud network of libraries), "the address 'à Lausanne' is probably fictitious; this edition seems to have come off the same presses as the original 1776 edition, published under the address 'Aux deux ponts, de l'imprimerie Ducale'." "The introduction of this work into France was forbidden by the police. The author [...] portrays Beaumarchais as the Caton of France, for having dared to plead against a member of the Paris Parliament. This work earned its author thanks from Voltaire." (Quérard). 2. [LA MOTHE, dit de La Hode, ex-Jesuit]: La vie de Philippe d'Orléans, petit-fils de France, régent du Royaume. During the minority of Louis XV. By Mr L.M.D.M.. London, at the Company's expense, 1736. 2 volumes. 9 by 16 cm. 1 portrait-(4)-386; (2)-403 pages. Contemporary full calf, spine with 5 ornate bands, red title-piece, roulette on edges. Epidermoles on the 1st and 2nd boards, small wormholes at the bottom of the spines (not serious). Title leaves short of lower margin (original), the booksellers' warning after the title is erroneously bound between pp. 24 and 25 of volume I. Otherwise a fine copy. Quérard II-p. 799. Counterfeit of the original edition, published the same year; volume 1 has no plates, volume 2 has 403 pages (the E.O., 402). "It is enough to remember that the Jesuit de La Motte's sermons against the Regent caused him to be expelled from France to know what to expect of the accuracy of this life of Philippe d'Orléans. The biographer does not forget the preacher. He is only here out of tolerance. (Quérard). 3. [MOUFFLE D'ANGERVILLE (Barthélemy): Vie privée de Louis XV; ou principaux événemens, particularités et anecdotes de son règne. Decorated with portraits. London, John Peter Lyton, 1781. 4 volumes. 10 by 16.5 cm. VIII-398 pp. + 4 h.t. portraits; (4)-403 pp. + 2 h.t. portraits; (4)-399 and (4)-391 pages + 3 h.t. portraits. Contemporary full calf, ornate smooth spines, red title-pieces, roulette on the edges. Small defect on the spine of volume II, 1 cm, otherwise very good condition. Very good condition inside. First edition. Quérard VI-p. 334; Cioranescu 47506; Stourm, p. 70 (ed. 1788); Conlon, 81: 1577; "This book contains various useful administrative documents to be found together: Liste des gens taxés ["which enumerates the amount of the approximately 4,500 taxes pronounced by the Chamber of Justice of 1716"], biographies of the fermiers généraux up to 1751, miscellaneous memoirs." (Stourm, p. 69). "The work contains vigorous portraits of prominent politicians: "infamous zeal", hypocritical dexterity", embezzlement of the Count d'Argenson under the Regency, yet "vast and varied genius", gifted with "very great and rare qualities for administration" (T. I, pp. 34-36), and the "contemptible and infamous" character of Dubois, despite his being a "true statesman" (t. I, p. 114). In short, from 1754 onwards, "the system of the court began to be to have none followed, to foresee nothing far ahead, to live for the moment, and to gain time" (t. 3, p. 29). The work details the various campaigns on land and sea, with their vicissitudes. It contains a condemnation of Law's system in the same terms as in the Vie de Philippe d'Orléans (London, 1737) [...]. The author praises all efforts at reform. [...] He also praises all the moments of balance in religious politics between Jesuits and Jansenists. In condemning Louis XV, he pays a vibrant tribute to the Regent, whom he places "among the greatest men who have governed France".