Description:

Edmund Burke
Beaconsfield, England, March 17, 1796
Edmund Burke, Founder of Conservatism, Writes to His French Translator
ALS

Edmund Burke (1729-1797). Autograph letter signed, "Edm Burke," 3pp, on bifold stationery measuring 7.5" x 9.375", Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, March 17, 1796. Integral address leaf at verso addressed in Burke's hand to Jean-Gabriel Peltier (1760-1825), who was the French translator of Burke's famous work, "Letter to a Noble Lord." Expected transmittal folds and creases. Tiny areas of loss at fold intersections, one of which gently touches the "k" in "Burke." Remnants of black wax seal with minor opening tear. Scattered contemporary ink smudging. Toning and soiling, heavier at folds. Overall, in very good plus condition.

Peltier was tasked with translating one of Burke's final significant works, which was a scathing response to criticisms of his pension by the Duke of Bedford and the Earl of Lauderdale. Here, Burke suggests some corrections and compares the possibilities of English versus French for expressing his ideas and style.

In part:

"I have received your collection of interesting pieces with what is far more valuable, your own original judicious and entertaining remarks. Without them, many of the most important events in this wonderful course of Revolutions, which seems to form a system of this kind, could not be understood.

I am very sensible of the honour you have done me in amusing your leisure hours in a translation of any thing that comes from me. You seem to express the sentiments very perfectly, where there is no allusion or oblique sense. If there be any mistake, it is where there is some parody, some sarcasms or some matter of reference. I am very sensible of the difficulty of managing, in another language, sentences in which a variety of senses and matters are endeavoured to be combined and made to bear upon each other without a breach of unity and harmony. I have marked some other things for your own private satisfaction in the copy I send you. They can be of no use for correction. This translation, though excellent indeed, and beyond the merite of the piece, will hardly pass to a second impression as there are hardly a sufficient number of French readers in London to demand more than one; if so much as one, especially on a subject which so far it concerns me is personal, and of little importance to the publick.

As to what you say of the two languages, I believe you hardly do sufficient justice to your own, which as far as I am capable of judging, is equal to everything of which our language is susceptible. The difficulty of transposing into one language the spirit of another is a general difficulty. That part may be strong in one language which is weak in another, and this partial inequality is not sufficient to settle the balance in favour of any of them. Once more, Sir, permit me to thank you for the honour you have done me."

Burke adds a postscript: "I believe I am in your debt for three years subscription, but I have been rendered inattentive by great affliction I shall write to a friend to discharge what I owe you with my best acknowledgments."

Peltier indeed published his translation of Burke's book in London in 1797. This partnership helped circulate Burke's staunch anti-revolutionary views, which, by 1796, advocated for total war against the French revolutionary government.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 7.5" x 9.375"
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