‎EVANS, TH.‎
‎Réfutation des Mémoires de la Bastille, Sur les Principes Généraux des Loix, de la Probabilité et de la Vérité; dans une suite de lettres à Monsieur Linguet, Ci-devant Avocat au Parlement de Paris. Par Thomas Evans, Solliciteur à la Chancellerie, & Procureur au Banc du Roi en Angleterre.‎

‎A Londres, De l'Imprimerie de Edw. Cox, Imprimeur de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales, se vend chez J. Murray, 1783. (4), 68 pp. 8vo. Modern marbled boards, label with gilt lettering on spine, original marbled paper covers preserved. Conlon 83:1071. First French edition, all published. Fully supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Evans published a brochure (the present work) in which he attempted to undermine Linguet's credibility as a witness to and victim of despotism, which was the subject of Linguet's Mémoires sur la Bastille, published in 1783 (see: D.G. Levy, The Ideas and Careers of Simon-Nicoals-Henri Linguet. A Study in Eighteenth-Century French Politics, p. 223). Thomas Evans was apparently an informer in the service of Moustier, the French ambassador in London. It seems that Evans suggested to Moustier that one sure way to get rid of Linguet would be to persuade his mistress's husband to initiate proceedings against Linguet on the charge of adultery. Evans was sure that Linguet would be convicted. The work ends with the mention 'Fin de la Première Lettre', but no more letters were published. - A large paper copy. ‎

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