LOUIS XV Autograph letter unsigned to Etienne-François de Choiseul, comte de Stainville, in French, discussing the Empress Maria Theresa, that although she is a great princess she is a woman and has the weaknesses of a woman and is not a good negotiator, assuring him that he will be rewarded if success is achieved, even though they are not well acquainted, going on to say that he (the King) has realised he is a man like any other and suffers as they do, his knee gave out for a few days and, at almost 50 years old and he will soon only have his eyes left, and even then he will have to wear glasses, ending by mourning the death of the Pope [Benedict XIV, who died 3 May], address panel on reverse, one page on a bifolium, light dust-staining, remains of red wax seal, seal tear, creased at folds, ink blots dusted with sand, 4to (218 x 168mm.), Versailles, 14 May 1758 Footnotes: 'QUOIQUE L'IMPERATRICE SOIT FEMME, ET QU'ELLE EN AIE LES FOIBLESSES ELLE N'EN EST PAS MOINS UNE GRANDE PRINCESSE': A revealing letter from Louis XV to his ambassador, on the Empress, the third treaty of Versailles and his preoccupation with ageing. Written after the negotiations leading to the Third Treaty of Versailles between France and Austria during the Seven Years War, Louis XV sends a personal letter to his chief negotiator, Etienne-François de Choiseul, comte de Stainville (1719-1785). He begins by commenting that Marie-Thérèse of Austria, despite being an Empress and a great princess, does still demonstrate the weaknesses of womanhood and is not a good negotiator. After promising to reward de Stainville for his part in the negotiations, he laments that at nearly fifty years old, he recognises that he is indeed a mere mortal and that he is suffering just like any other man would at that age and that he fears he will soon have to wear glasses. The rise to power of the comte de Stainville was enabled in large part by the patronage of Madame de Pompadour. After proving a successful negotiator as ambassador to Rome, he was in 1757 transferred to Vienna, where he was one of the principal authors of the Second Treaty of Versailles, signed in May of that year, cementing an alliance between France and Austria against the might of Prussia under Frederick the Great. Our letter refers to the ratification of that treaty in May 1758, and contrary to the King's opinion expressed here, the Empress demonstrated that she was rather a good negotiator. By this third Treaty, plans for an independent state in the Austrian Netherlands were revoked, with Austria not only retaining the region but acquiring Parma and Piacenza into the bargain. Louis made good his word to reward him, as intimated here, and promoted de Stainville as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State, a position he held from 1758-1761 and again from 1766-1770. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing