CAYLA Zoé Talon, Comtesse du [Boullay-Thierry, 1784 - Château de Saint-Ouen, 1852], French lady who was a favorite of Louis XVIII. Autograph letter addressed to Monsieur H. Ferrand in Belley. [Turin] July 24 [1836]; 3 pages in-4° on a double sheet, address and postmarks. Small tear from broken seal affecting a few words. Long letter full of his royalist sentiments towards the Bourbon branch. After replying point by point to her correspondent's letter, the Countess analyzes the political situation in France, not mincing her words about King Louis-Philippe, whom she believes is still necessary but whose hell has begun. "After having suffered through a thousand individual turpitudes, I have resolved not to stop at men, but to judge things by the weight of events. God is great, he watches over us, when he wants to strike a people he blinds its leader, the pagans would say the same for Jupiter. Charles X precipitated us, and L. Phi. believing he was working only for himself, rebuilt the basis of our ancient and beautiful monarchy; he struck its satellites, which are our enemies; he gave daylight and life back to the fleurs de lys, Versailles is flooded with them, and how far will he not go? [...] He certainly displays a surprising character and spirit of conduct, but he lacks justice and good right, the blood of the innocent covers him, and no King's cloak can hide or whiten it". While the Comtesse du Cayla condemns a foundation steeped in baseness, shame and lies, she asserts that it paves the way for a brighter future for the fatherland. After having been the favorite of the old king Louis XVIII while serving the ultra-royalist cause, the Countess du Cayla had obtained from Charles X a pension of 25,000 francs for the upkeep of her château in Saint-Ouen, but in 1830, when Louis-Philippe came to power, she was asked to withdraw from public life.