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Title
Date(s)
- undated (Creation)
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Extent and medium
1 leaf of paper, 2 p.
Context area
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Biographical history
Van de Weyer served as Belgium’s Prime minister from July 1845 to March 1846. However, he lived for the majority of his life in London (17 Fitzroy Square, 50 Portland Place) and Windsor (New Lodge), and held the office of Belgian Minister at the Court of St. James’s under Queen Victoria, an ambassadorial role. Van de Weyer was close friends with Lord Palmerston. In addition to being a member of the Roxburghe Club, Van de Weyer was a founder member of the Philobiblon Society, the Vice President of the London Library, a Member of the Société des Bibliophiles de Belgique and the Head of the Royal Library of Brussels.
Pierre Henri Laurent said of Van de Weyer: 'His manners, taste, and savoir-faire brought him into the vital center of the intellectual, diplomatic, and financial communities. His home became the meeting place of writers, artists, and scientists’.
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Autograph letter in French, signed, probably to Jean Sylvain Van de Weyer.
Transcription:
'Mon cher collègue,
Je vous envoie "Monsieur de Talleyrand", c'est à dire, sa vie. Je vous envoie aussi le portrait dont il a été question hier soir. Je ne sais pas s'il est ressemblant mais je sais très bien que l'original n'eut la fatuité de le faire litographier.
[bien à vous?]
Dimanche matin
Vous trouverez vous ce pli, un très joli échantillon de la belle écriture du Seigneur M. Je serais charmé, si je pouvais vous faire le cadeau de ce militaire secrétaire.'
The reference to "Monsieur de Talleyrand" might be a general allusion to a crafty diplomat, rather than de Talleyrand personally.
The line before the signature might be a short version of "bien à vous", which might indicate a slightly informal tone.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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Language of material
- French
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
18.3 cm x 11.4 cm
Finding aids
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Note
Dated "Dimanche matin" but no month or year given.
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Language(s)
- French
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Transcription:
Mon cher collègue,
Je vous envoie "Monsieur de Talleyrand", c'est à dire, sa vie. Je vous envoie aussi le portrait dont il a été question hier soir. Je ne sais pas s'il est ressemblant mais je sais très bien que l'original n'eut la fatuité de le faire litographier.
[bien à vous?]
Dimanche matin
Vous trouverez vous ce pli, un très joli échantillon de la belle écriture du Seigneur M. Je serais charmé, si je pouvais vous faire le cadeau de ce militaire secrétaire.
Reference to "Monsieur de Talleyrand" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Maurice_de_Talleyrand-P%C3%A9rigord) might be alluding to a crafty diplomatic.
The line before the signature might be a short version of "bien à vous", which might indicate a slightly informal tone.