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‎LETTRE sur la paix, à Mr. le Comte de *** (24 décembre 1762).‎

‎A Lyon, 1763. 45 pp. Small 8vo. Modern marbled boards. Conlon 63:1331 (listed under Thomas, A.L.); Catalogue de l'Histoire de France, ii, p. 418, nr. 890. Edition from the first year of publication (there was also a Paris imprint). This letter was attributed to both J.N. Moreau (Barbier & Quérard) and A.-L. Thomas (Conlon) and thus accordingly was later collected in the Varietés morales of Moreau (1785) and in the Oeuvres of Thomas (1822).Both an analysis of the current situation of France and a program for its recovery. The author laments the weakend position and morals of the French nation and people after the Seven Years War which had just ended in the last months of 1762. He then proceeds to compare the situation in France to that of Great Britain which had laid the foundations of its empire during the war. He goes on to discuss the rulers of France and he expresses his high hopes for a long peace in which the losses of war can be repaired and relieved. Although the author understands and shares the criticism on the authorities and the monarchy he does point to past misfortunes and reminds the reader that the monarchy has always regained its former strength and glory with the institutions renewed and improved. His program consists of an appeal to the nobility to serve the nation well and use its riches for virtue, the intellectuals are urged to re-educate the people.'A dieu ne plaise, que je veuille dégrader ma patrie: mais dans l'image de ce qu'elle a été, j'aime à lui faire appercevoir ce qu'elle peut être encore' (p. 17). ‎

Reference : 21862

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