MAINE DE BIRAN François-Pierre [Bergerac, 1766 - Paris, 1824], French writer. Autograph letter, addressed to his daughter, Elisa. Paris, January 13, 1822; 6 pages in-8°. After having reviewed the health of the family and his own, Maine de Biran speaks about the political situation (he is deputy of the Dordogne) and analyzes it as a philosopher: "I am always under the influence of political storms and I feel that I would be much more tormented, if I had not made all my sacrifices beforehand. We live in a time when no position is stable. Woe betide those who do not know how to make a point of supporting their conscience, the duty of a good man, and resignation to the will of God for all external events. I have more need than ever to believe that there is I need more than ever to believe that there is a justice, a reason, an immutable truth that judges us all [...]. Without this idea I would give in to irritation and despair at seeing so much injustice, ingratitude, false judgments, confusion of ideas of good and evil. In this world, we must live in it as best we can, until God and men order otherwise [...]. This week we are going to enter into very serious and stormy discussions whose outcome is uncertain. I am trying to protect myself against all storms. "Various domestic and family news follow. The letter ends with tenderness. (In the margin, certificate of Ernest Naville who published the unpublished works of Maine de Biran. Very rare. Another autograph letter is attached, signed, concerning a request for information in order to "answer an old comrade".