Jeanne Julie Éléonore de Lespinasse  

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-:''[[salonnières]]''+'''Jeanne Julie Éléonore de Lespinasse''' (November 9, 1732 – May 23, 1776) owned a prominent salon in [[France]].
-There is another work which reflects the [[erotic moral]]s of France during the eighteenth century quite as faithfully, although it is not composed on so wide a background. This is the compilation of the [[Memoires secrets]] by the Royal Censor, Matthieu Frangois Pidausat +==Early life==
-de [[Mairobert]]. He was born in 1707 and committed suicide in his bath in 1779, when it became known that certain pamphlets directed against France which had appeared in the English press, had been composed by him. In his compilation of anecdotes not every bit of gossip is garnered up without criticism. All the little scandals that had been aired with gusto in the salon of [[Madame Doublet de Person]] by the daily visitors like [[Madame de Tencin]], [[Du Deffand]], [[Geoffrin]], [[Lespinasse]], [[Voisenon]], or [[Piron]] underwent a very strict criticism as to their truthfulness; only after truth had been conscientiously sifted from fiction were they written down by [[Bachaumont]] and his successors. It would be more correct to say that Bachaumont wrote only the first form and half of the fifth volume between 1767 and 1771 ; and Pidausat de Mairobert took charge from 1771 and continued until his death in 1779. Then the author of the [[Private Life of Louis XV]] assumed control and together with a few others accumulated material until the year 1789. +She was born in [[Lyon]], an illegitimate child of the comtesse d'Albon, but was brought up as the daughter of Claude Lespinasse of Lyon. At the age of 16, on leaving her convent school, she became governess in the home of her mother's legitimate daughter, Madame de Vichy, who had married the brother of [[Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand]]. Here Madame du Deffand made her acquaintance, and, recognizing her extraordinary gifts, persuaded her to come to [[Paris]] as her companion.
-These articles and memoirs contain more than mere gallant anec- +==The Salon of Madame du Deffand==
-dotes. Politics and religion likewise play important parts therein +Julie moved into Madame du Deffand's apartments in Convent of St. Joseph in 1754, location of the glittering salon that attracted famous diplomats, great ladies, philosophers and politicians. The relationship lasted ten years until 1764, when Madame du Deffand became jealous of the younger woman's increasing influence and a violent quarrel resulted.
-but the gallantries occupy chief place. Particularly interesting are +
-the notices concerning erotic writings and pamphlets. Naturally +
-these memoirs are not to be regarded as trustworthy historical +
-sources, for many of them are obviously a result of prejudice, and +
-there is certainly no denying the delight in piquant indecencies. +
-By and large however they constitute an unsurpassable reflection +==Establishment of her own Salon==
-of contemporary social life. +Mlle de Lespinasse then set up a salon of her own which was joined by many of the most brilliant members of Madame du Deffand's circle. [[Jean le Rond d'Alembert]] was one of the most assiduous of her friends and eventually came to live in her house. This arrangement ensured d'Alembert's comfort and lent influence to Mlle de Lespinasse's salon. Although she had neither beauty nor rank, her ability as a hostess made her get-togethers the most popular in Paris. She owes her distinction, however, not to her social success, but to circumstances which remained a secret during her lifetime, even from her closest friends.
-The second work of this class is[[ L'Observateur Anglais]] (1777- +Two volumes of ''Lettres'' published in 1809 displayed her as the victim of a passion of a rare intensity. In virtue of this ardent, intense quality, [[Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve]] and other of her critics place her letters in the limited category to which belong the Latin letters of [[Heloise (student of Abelard)|Héloise]] and the ''[[Letters of a Portuguese Nun]]''.
-78), reworked in [[L'Espion Anglais]] (1779). This too is probably +
-the product of [[Pidansat]]'s pen although there is no certainty on this +
-point. At least this much is certain, that many remarks and verbatim +
-quotations from this work were found scattered among his other +
-writings. The work contains a collection of satirical and free pieces +
-and is a most important source document for the study of prostitu- +
-tion in eighteenth-century France. The infamous Mde. Justine +
-and equally notorious Mde. Gourdan maintained the most lavish +
-brothels in France. They were figures of national importance and +
-exercised great influence on the moral conditions of their time. +
-There were many supplements to the memoirs of Bachaumont +==Relationship with the marquis de Mora==
-and P idausa t. The [[Marquis d'Argens]], for example, served up some +Her first passion, a reasonable and serious one, was for the marquis de Mora, son of the Spanish ambassador in Paris. She first met him about two years after establishing her salon, and then met him again when he returned to Paris two years later. Julie fell in love with the wealthy and handsome Mora, and he returned her feelings. He began to suffer symptoms of consumption, however, and returned to Spain because of his ill health. Mora's illness and the separation caused Julie much pain and anxiety, although soon after his departure she became acquainted with the man who would be the main passion of her life, the comte de Guibert. On the way to [[Paris]] in 1774 to fulfil promises exchanged with Mlle de Lespinasse, Mora died at [[Bordeaux]].
-very saucy details concerning the amorous relationships of the +
-French kings combined with anecdotes and satirical verses in his +
-[[Memoires historiques et secrets]] (1739). And there were many +
-other scandalous chronicles. The most infamous penny-dreadful +
-journaHst of this time was undoubtedly [[Thevenot de Morande]] +
-(1748- 1803) who proliferated a great deal of smut and obscenity. +
-He led a rather active life. At the wish of his own family he was +
-held in the Bastille for a while, and upon his release journeyed to +
-England. Here he published the ''[[Le philosophe cynique]]'' and the +
-''[[Melanges Confus]]'' (1771 ), both of which caused considerable scandal +
-and brought the author a considerable profit. Since his business +
-was flourishing, he devoted himself to the accumulation of further +
-scandals and anecdotes of a similar type. +
-He made a sally against [[Du Barry]] with a satiric blast: Vie (Vune +==Relationship with the Comte du Guibert==
-courtesane du dix-huitihne siecle (1776), and at her instigation he +Julie's letters to the [[Jacques Antoine Hippolyte, Comte de Guibert | Comte de Guibert]], the undeserving object of her fatal infatuation, begin from 1773.
-was pursued by the London police. As early as 1774 she had sent +From the struggle between her affection for Mora and her blind passion for her new lover, the letters go on to describe her partial disenchantment on Guibert's marriage and her final despair.
-the police inspector Receveur to London to bring the pamphletist +
-back to France, but in vain. Persons of high and low degree feared +
-his sharp tongue and pointed pen. Hence it was not considered at +
-all queer to enter into negotiations with this dangerous pamphletist. +
-For a second pamphlet which had already been printed, Du Barry +
-paid the author 32,000 lires and assigned him an annual pension of +
-4800 lires, whereupon the edition was destroyed. It was only later +
-in 1784 that the Marquis de Pellepart dared to lash Morande's +
-shameless career in his Diable dans un benitier, but he himself +
-brought out many scandalous stories about Dubarry, Gourdan, and +
-others. +
-Thevenot de Morande wrote another amusing work which was +==Death==
-not quite in the vein of his other satirical blasts. It is called[[ La Portefeuille de Madame Gourdan]] ( 1783). A strongly augmented edition +Julie finally fell into total mental and physical collapse, apparently caused by the agitation and misery surrounding her relationship with Guibert. On her deathbed, she refused to receive Guibert and was watched over by her faithful friend, d'Alembert. She died on May 22, 1776 at the age of 44. She is said to have uttered the last words "Am I still alive?" before expiring.
-appeared the following year but still the work found far from +
-sufficient recognition. The author states that he had come into +
-possession of the letters which comprise the volume through a visit +
-to Mde. Gourdan and was now giving them to the public. This +
-lady was called by the pet name of La Comtesse and was, as we +
-have mentioned above, one of the most notorious brothel-keepers +
-of her time. She practised her extremely lucrative profession to- +
-gether with the equally notorious [[Justine]] Paris from 1759 till her +
-death, probably from poisoning, in 1783. This work presents a +
-paragraph in the erotic history of France far better than many +
-thick folios of that time. Here are a few specimen letters to be +
-found in Morande's work. +
-From Mademoiselle Savigni, +==Publications==
-Paris, July / j, i'J7<f' +Her ''Lettres'' were published by Mme de Guibert in 1809 and a spurious additional collection appeared in 1820. Modern editions include that of [[Eugène Asse]] (1876-1877). ''Lettres inédités de Mademoiselle de Lespinasse à Condorcet, à D'Alembert, à Guibert, au comte de Crillon'', edited by M. Charles Henry (1887), contains copies of the documents available for her biography. In addition to the ''Lettres'' she was the author of two chapters intended as a kind of sequel to [[Laurence Sterne]]'s ''Sentimental Journey''.
-Dear Mama, +[[Mary Augusta Ward]]'s novel, ''Lady Rose's Daughter'', owes something to the character of Mlle de Lespinasse.
- +
-The officer who supported me has had to return +
-to his regiment because his furlough is over. I don't know what +
-to do and am turning to you for help. You know that I'm a good+
-girl, afraid of nothing, and that everything's all right with me +
-provided I am well paid for it. I am not of the class that de- +
-mands that everything be done according to rules of decency. +
-That's nonsense. What do men expect to find? A regular whore +
-is everywhere at her post and has every privilege. I hope that +
-you will praise my principles and not forget your loving child. +
- +
- +
- +
-From Mademoiselle Rancourt, July, 8, ijSi. +
-Madame: +
- +
-At the Italian theatre yesterday I saw in your com- +
-pany a young pretty person. If you can get her for me for one +
-night I shall pay you six louis d'or. Entirely yours, R. +
- +
- +
- +
-From Mademoiselle Sophie, +
-Paris, February 2j, ijS^. +
-Dear Mama, +
- +
-I've gotten into a hell of a hole with your damn +
-Carmelite. He has gotten me into a terrible condition. Never in +
-my life have I been so sick. A-Iy physician, for whom I have +
-sent this morning, informs me that I shall be sick for at least two +
-months. I hope that you will help me and not leave me in this +
-condition. After all, I got this wound while under your stand- +
-ards. Please send me by this messenger, two louis. You will +
-greatly oblige. Yours gratefully, S. +
- +
- +
- +
-From Madame Berbier, Paris, April p, I'jS^. +
-Madame: +
- +
-My daughter is not able to comply with your wish +
-at this time. Immediately after the ballet she had a miscarriage. +
-As soon as she will be well again, however, she will present her- +
-self at A'ladame's, and will be ready for service. +
- +
-I have the honor to be your very devoted servant. +
- +
-Mrs. Berbier. +
-ill +
- +
- +
- +
-THE EKOTIC HISTOKY OF FRANCE +
- +
-From Mademoiselle Frangois, +
-Arpajon, May 27, 77^5. +
-Madame: +
- +
-I'm only a simple country girl but that I am pretty, no +
-one can deny. I am an orphan, and not yet eighteen years old. +
-I've heard the servants at the castle say that I have a maiden- +
-head which would be bought dearly at Paris and that for you +
-Madame, I would be worth much gold. Hence, I have obtained +
-your address from them, who laughed at my request but gave it +
-to me none the less. If you want me, you have merely to sum- +
-mon me and I shall come with my maidenhead. I don't know +
-yet what it is, but they say that you will take care of every- +
-thing. I remain very respectfuly, +
- +
-Your devoted servant. +
- +
- +
- +
-From M. T., Paris, 2^rd June I'jj^. +
-Madame: +
- +
-My daughter is turning fourteen. If you wish we can +
-talk about first fruits. It will not be at all difficult to win the +
-youngster. With a few bonbons and a little courtesy one can do +
-with her what one wills. One only needs certain preparations. +
-It will be necessary that you take her to you as chambermaid. +
-Please specify the time and I will come with my daughter and +
-we shall settle everything. I have the honor to remain in all +
-respect, your very devoted. +
- +
-F. +
- +
- +
- +
-From Monsieur de B., May i, i'j'j6. +
-Madame: +
- +
-I possess a collection of the positions of Aretino in +
-forty pictures. Since I am going to Rome I should like to dis- +
-pose of them. It seems to me that as a room decoration nothing +
-would be more suitable for you. They cost five thousand francs. +
-Only a year ago I was unwilling to part with them to (Duke +
- +
-de ) for a hundred louis. If you wish to inspect them I shall +
- +
-remain at home all day tomorrow. +
- +
-112 +
- +
- +
- +
-BOOK III: THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY +
- +
-From Mr. D. (Book Agent), June 22, ijSo. +
-Madame: +
- +
-I have just received from Holland editions de luxe of +
-the Virgin, Portier des Chartreux, Margo, Positions of Aretino, +
-Ode to Friapus, Futromeni, Discourse of Two Nuns, for the +
-instruction of young dames who want to enter into society. If +
-any of these appeal to you, madame, please inform me at what +
-time to bring them. +
- +
-This sheaf of letters from the portfolios of the notorious and +
-powerful panderess gives us some insight into the nefarious life +
-which she and countless others of her ilk led, and the infinite mis- +
-chief and corruption they engendered.+
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Jeanne Julie Éléonore de Lespinasse (November 9, 1732 – May 23, 1776) owned a prominent salon in France.

Contents

Early life

She was born in Lyon, an illegitimate child of the comtesse d'Albon, but was brought up as the daughter of Claude Lespinasse of Lyon. At the age of 16, on leaving her convent school, she became governess in the home of her mother's legitimate daughter, Madame de Vichy, who had married the brother of Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand. Here Madame du Deffand made her acquaintance, and, recognizing her extraordinary gifts, persuaded her to come to Paris as her companion.

The Salon of Madame du Deffand

Julie moved into Madame du Deffand's apartments in Convent of St. Joseph in 1754, location of the glittering salon that attracted famous diplomats, great ladies, philosophers and politicians. The relationship lasted ten years until 1764, when Madame du Deffand became jealous of the younger woman's increasing influence and a violent quarrel resulted.

Establishment of her own Salon

Mlle de Lespinasse then set up a salon of her own which was joined by many of the most brilliant members of Madame du Deffand's circle. Jean le Rond d'Alembert was one of the most assiduous of her friends and eventually came to live in her house. This arrangement ensured d'Alembert's comfort and lent influence to Mlle de Lespinasse's salon. Although she had neither beauty nor rank, her ability as a hostess made her get-togethers the most popular in Paris. She owes her distinction, however, not to her social success, but to circumstances which remained a secret during her lifetime, even from her closest friends.

Two volumes of Lettres published in 1809 displayed her as the victim of a passion of a rare intensity. In virtue of this ardent, intense quality, Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve and other of her critics place her letters in the limited category to which belong the Latin letters of Héloise and the Letters of a Portuguese Nun.

Relationship with the marquis de Mora

Her first passion, a reasonable and serious one, was for the marquis de Mora, son of the Spanish ambassador in Paris. She first met him about two years after establishing her salon, and then met him again when he returned to Paris two years later. Julie fell in love with the wealthy and handsome Mora, and he returned her feelings. He began to suffer symptoms of consumption, however, and returned to Spain because of his ill health. Mora's illness and the separation caused Julie much pain and anxiety, although soon after his departure she became acquainted with the man who would be the main passion of her life, the comte de Guibert. On the way to Paris in 1774 to fulfil promises exchanged with Mlle de Lespinasse, Mora died at Bordeaux.

Relationship with the Comte du Guibert

Julie's letters to the Comte de Guibert, the undeserving object of her fatal infatuation, begin from 1773. From the struggle between her affection for Mora and her blind passion for her new lover, the letters go on to describe her partial disenchantment on Guibert's marriage and her final despair.

Death

Julie finally fell into total mental and physical collapse, apparently caused by the agitation and misery surrounding her relationship with Guibert. On her deathbed, she refused to receive Guibert and was watched over by her faithful friend, d'Alembert. She died on May 22, 1776 at the age of 44. She is said to have uttered the last words "Am I still alive?" before expiring.

Publications

Her Lettres were published by Mme de Guibert in 1809 and a spurious additional collection appeared in 1820. Modern editions include that of Eugène Asse (1876-1877). Lettres inédités de Mademoiselle de Lespinasse à Condorcet, à D'Alembert, à Guibert, au comte de Crillon, edited by M. Charles Henry (1887), contains copies of the documents available for her biography. In addition to the Lettres she was the author of two chapters intended as a kind of sequel to Laurence Sterne's Sentimental Journey. Mary Augusta Ward's novel, Lady Rose's Daughter, owes something to the character of Mlle de Lespinasse.


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