DESROCHES, Pierre-Vincent - Lot 44

DESROCHES, Pierre-Vincent 2 autograph letters. Constantinople, 1734. 2 letters in-4 (216 x 165 mm) of 15 pp. and 8 pp. Ink on paper, with musical notation. Red half-chagrin, title-piece on the upper cover (Atelier Laurenchet). Beautiful and very detailed autograph letters written by Pierre-Vincent Desroches (1686-1734), secretary at the French embassy in Constantinople and addressed to Charles-Marie de La Condamine (1701-1774). Long and interesting letters from Constantinople Desroches evokes the political situation in Constantinople, the war between the Turks and the Persians, the negotiations of peace; he speaks about the Grand Vizier and the seraglio, about the Europeans who live in Constantinople and converted to "the Mahometan religion" (the abbot Marc Carthy, the marquis of Mornay, the count of Ramsay, the count of Bonneval). He speaks at length about Voltaire (la Henriade, Lettres philosophiques...) and he also notes a Turkish song (words and music). Bound at the end is an autograph letter signed by Arnaud de Constantinople on August 1st 1734, to La Condamine. He gives a Turkish song (music and text) with the verses in Turkish followed by a translation in French. Nice set.