Louis de FONTANES (1757-1821). L.A.S., 21 February 1784, to the Marquis de MARNESIA 2 pages in-8, address. About Rétif de la Bretonne. He has given the Marquis two copies of his work to be stapled: "A bit of gilt paper and a needle are enough for this little operation. [...] Mr RETIF, whom I saw yesterday, is deeply grateful, and if he were not ill, he would have shown it to you. He told me that he would commission me to write for you a new work in three volumes, which he is currently printing. These are ideas on the morality that you make people love, and on the people that you are so worthy of defending". He has a favour to ask him about money: his brother-in-law in charge of his power of attorney has died and he has been unable to receive the sum he was expecting from Poitou: 'Will you be able to lend me another ten louis by next Thursday, and give me one or two today? Together with the thirty I already owe you, they will add up to nine hundred and four pounds. I know you are going to scold me for this last line. But I am approaching the age when one must think of living on one's own resources, and I would be a little ashamed to have recourse so often to your friendship [...] if I did not see sure and forthcoming ways of existing, without being a nuisance to those who are willing to take an interest in me"... [At this time, Fontanes was staying with Rétif de la Bretonne, in the rue des Bernardins; the Marquis de Marnesia's work is Le Bonheur dans les campagnes , and Rétif's is La Prévention Nationale].