Autograph Letter Signed ('Depping') to Mathieu Guillaume Therese de Villenave (1762-1846).

12mo: 4 pp. 78 lines. Very good. A highly interesting letter, addressed by Depping to his collaborator on an edition of the works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (8 vols, 1817) praised by Brunet as the most complete that had yet appeared. Written in French. Such is the strength of Depping's feeling that he cannot bring himself to address Villenave directly. He begins by stating that he hopes that evening to end an arrangement with Villenave which fills him with disgust (qui m'accable de degout). In the meantime he feels compelled to write to say that while he is grateful for Villenave's 'bons procedes' on his behalf. However there are 'd'autres procedes' which have made him feel uneasy, and have proved to him that although Villenave has not been lacking in good faith, 'il y'a du moins un peu de legerete de caractere. Je peux m'etre trompe; mais voila du moins ce que j'ai cru voir'. Villenave knew that Depping was depending on his humble talents for his livelihood ('que je vis de mes faibles talens') and that any delay in payments would be extremely damaging to him, but 'cela ne l'a jamais engage a s'imposer la moindre privation pour remplir ses engagemens'. Despite the fact that it is more than four months since he informed him of his decision, Villenave has reproached Depping 'd'avoir quitte la redaction brusquement'. 'Il y'a quinze jours que je l'ai prevenu de nouveau; il y'a 24 heures que je lui ai offert de continuer jusqu'a ce qu'il trouve un remplacant'. Another two pages in the same vein, ending bitterly 'M. Villenave peut etre assure que jamais je ne lui ferai autant de mal qu'il m'a fait non pas depuis quelques jours, mais depuis plusieurs mois.' He predicted to him that 'les interets pecuniaires nous diviseraient'. He signs himself with a 'coeur navre'.