Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour (French, 1721-1764) Autograph, May 5, 1750 Bill giving orders to send a messenger to deliver a letter written by the Marquise de Pompadour to "M. d'Argenson" at the exit of the "Opéra", on the occasion of the premiere of Léandre et Héro, and to wait if there is a reply in return. One page in-12 oblong. (small lack, small tear). Framed. France, May 5, 1750. A handwritten note by Madame de Pompadour ordering a messenger to deliver a letter to Monsieur d'Argenson. Extremely rare handwritten bill written by the Marquise de Pompadour, favorite of King Louis XV, addressed to one of her "people" devoted to her service [Madame du Hausset, her chambermaid, Charles Jacques Collin, her confidant and first steward, or the Chevalier d'Hénin, her squire]: "Just now, send one of my people to deliver this letter to M. d'Argensson [sic]. Whomever you send need only go to one of the Opera gates. He will surely find M. d'Argensson's people waiting for their master. All he has to do is give the letter to M. d'Argensson on his way out of the Opéra, and he'll only stay there if M. d'Argensson tells him to." At the top of the bill a handwritten apostille probably from a member of his staff: "5 may 1750. Dépêché Lajamelle postillon". On May 5, 1750, "Léandre et Héro", an opera-tragédie composed by the Marquis de Brassac to a text by Le Franc de Pompignan, was performed for the first time at the Académie royale de musique, known "vulgarly" as the Opéra. The catalog of the Marquise de Pompadour's library mentions a copy of this opera, published on the occasion of this performance by Mme Boivin/M. Leclerc in Paris. Leclerc in Paris. René Louis de Voyer de Paulmy, Marquis d'Argenson, wrote a critical review of Brassac's tragic opera in his manuscript "Notices sur les œuvres de théâtre, depuis le théâtre grec jusqu'au XVIIIe siècle" [fol. 179], held by the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal. In the spring of 1750, relations between the Marquise de Pompadour and de Voyer de Paulmy's brothers, René-Louis, Marquis d'Argenson, former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and Marc-Pierre, Comte d'Argenson, Secretary of State for War, were detestable, even hateful. The Court was divided into two rival factions: on the one hand, the devout or "family party", around Queen Marie Leszczynska, several bishops, the king's children and a few minority government ministers, such as the comte d'Argenson, secretary of state for war; and on the other, the majority of the government, such as Saint Florentin (Maison du Roi), Machault (Garde des Sceaux), supported by the marquise de Pompadour, who exercised a veritable tutelage over the king's mind. Forced to resign his portfolio at Foreign Affairs in January 1747, René-Louis, Marquis d'Argenson wrote in his diary and memoirs: - "[March 1748] The marquise sells everything, even regiments. The master falls more and more into the ease of letting himself be governed by this woman and by those whose flattering rather than estimable qualities seduce him, which does not make the state count." - "April 25, 1750 ( ) The Marquise de Pompadour is increasing in credit, but she is hoarding tiles and storms for the time when her favor will wane ( ). - May 5, 1750: ( ) The King is convinced that he governs at his best and that everything is well governed. He sees in my brother a man of expediencies to whom everything succeeds, war, victory, today arrangements in Paris ( ) I would define the king and his reign of deceived reason" "The Marquise de Pompadour is becoming more and more the mistress of affairs, that she has had four or five decided differently than my brother had settled them, which was called four or five camouflets, and that they were trying to give her others".