Previous to the publication,
the marechal asked me for all the letters M. de Malesherbes had
written to me on the subject of the work. My great confidence in both,
and the perfect security in which I felt myself, prevented me from
reflecting upon this extraordinary and even alarming request. I
returned all the letters, excepting one or two which, from
inattention, were left between the leaves of a book. A little time
before this, M. de Malesherbes told me he should withdraw the
letters I had written to Duchesne during my alarm relative to the
Jesuits, and, it must be confessed, these letters did no great honor
to my reason. But in my answer I assured him I would not in anything
pass for being better than I was, and that he might have the letters
where they were. I know not what he resolved upon.
The publication of this work was not succeeded by the applause which
had followed that of all my other writings. No work was ever more
highly spoken of in private, nor had any literary production ever
had less public approbation. What was said and written to me upon
the subject by persons most capable of judging, confirmed me in my
opinion that it was the best, as well as the most important of all the
works I had produced. But everything favorable was said with an air of
the most extraordinary mystery, as if there had been a necessity of
keeping it a secret. Madam de Boufflers, who wrote to me that the
author of the work merited a statue, and the homage of mankind, at the
end of her letter desired it might be returned to her.
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