ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE. - LAMARTINE Alphonse de (... Lot n° 4

ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE. - LAMARTINE Alphonse de (1790-1869). 2 L.A.S. "Lamartine", October 16 and 27, 1829, to Abel VILLEMAIN; 3 and 4 pages in-8 (some small splits). Lamartine prepares for his election to the Académie française (he will be elected on November 5, 1829). Château de Montculot, October 16: "There is more than admiration in my feelings towards you. [...] I feel I should be in Paris, helping at least my friends in what concerns myself. I feel it, I say it, I'm ashamed of it and I can't take it upon myself to go. Self-love is stronger than propriety, I think of the day after an unfortunate election, of my friends' condolences, of my opponents' ill-veiled laughter, of my father's and mother's grief, of the ridiculousness of going twice with confidence to seek and report a disapointment. [But at least I pray on the mountain". He is told that CHATEAUBRIAND will not vote for him, and that CUVIER will vote for the Duke of Bassano... October 27. "I believe that if I am not admitted, your four letters will console me. My descendants will say in the future: look, he was not received among the elite men of his time, but M. Villemain judged their judgment and found him worthy to be his colleague as well as his friend. So don't worry too much about my election, if I fail I am consoled in advance. [...] Sadness and boredom are my two muses. Who knows them better than I? The soul withdraws into itself and its tortures are what we call genius"... 2 other L.A.S., château de Montculot October 20, 1829 and n.d., to a duke and Amédée de Pastoret, on his candidacy for the Académie. Plus 3 L.A.S., a dictated letter and a copy of a letter (May 28, 1848). Also enclosed are 2 L.A.S. from Jules SIMON concerning the Académie, 1861 and 1875 (plus 9 L.A.S. to others).