Louis de Rouvroy, duc de SAINT-SIMON (1675-1755). 2 L.A.S. "SS", La Ferté 7 and 19 October 1733, to the comte de Belle-Isle (the future marshal) in Metz half-page and 1 page and a half in-4. On his eldest son Jacques-Louis, duc de Ruffec (1698-1746). 7 October. "My son fulfils me by asking me again today the instructions which you wanted to give him, and I cannot my dear and very dear Bellisle tell you how much I am. That is all you will get from the man in the world who loves you best. I am deeply touched by your friendship, but I do not wish to be importunate. What do you think Me de St Simon is to you? A thousand things for her and for me to your exquisite wife. Everything my son tells me delights me for her and for you and does not surprise me. 19 October. "Even if you did not want to [...] this time you would still be bothered. I have had complete confidence in you for many years now and I am counting on what you have told me, and this delights me with the comfort of my son and with the gratitude and feeling of all that you have done for him as well as for yourself. The question is the implementation and God over everything. I am very sorry that the other [his youngest son Armand, Marquis de Ruffec] was not able to be close enough to you to enjoy the same, but with this beautiful thread they will both pass through your hands more than once. Ha, it's been 3 and 4 years! since the session in your cabinet has often passed through my head and my heart, and this is a repeat of it. The height of what you have done is the importunity you have kindly taken to have dealings with my son. This will be of infinite use to him, so that he will not neglect himself and will be doubly instructed. If there were only my overflowing that I could neither contain nor write, if you did not come this summer you would see me in Metz and if I did not have the Bishop there [his cousin Claude de Saint-Simon, bishop-prince of Metz], I still think I would jump out of my skin. The long peace has set you back a long way. The position you are in is a relief. The beginnings will be small, but they cannot be lasting. You have not been given it entirely for your good looks. You will show that we were not mistaken, so it will be good and useful to give you the opportunity to do even better. Those who will be in charge will want this for themselves, and once that is done you will be Coadjutor. In the meantime I cannot regret the fact that Lorraine is occupied by someone else, that someone else is in command there [Marshal de Berwick] and is the butt of the cries of the complaints of the cabals and that you come there only after all the rumours. In all this an isolated septuagenarian is better than any other. I am delighted with Hasfeldt in Italy, where there is no possibility that he will not soon be what he should have been a long time ago [Asfeld was made Marshal in 1734]. It will not be done alone, it will enlighten the general l[ieutenan]ts, give you cadets and advance you by the teste and by the tail"... Centuries and Days. Letters... (pp. 513-515, nos. 288 and 289).