Beschreibung:

CHRISTINA (1626-1689), Queen of Sweden . Autograph letter to Monsieur Chanut (French ambassador to Sweden), Stockholm, incompletely dated [November?] '1652', 3 pages, large 4to , autograph address, remains of red wax seal, contemporary docket on verso ('La Reine de Suede novemb[re] 1653 [ sic ]'), annotation in a later hand in top left hand corner (a few light stains, small nicks in outer edge at centre fold on both leaves, small paper loss in 2nd leaf from tear touching 2 words).
CHRISTINA (1626-1689), Queen of Sweden . Autograph letter to Monsieur Chanut (French ambassador to Sweden), Stockholm, incompletely dated [November?] '1652', 3 pages, large 4to , autograph address, remains of red wax seal, contemporary docket on verso ('La Reine de Suede novemb[re] 1653 [ sic ]'), annotation in a later hand in top left hand corner (a few light stains, small nicks in outer edge at centre fold on both leaves, small paper loss in 2nd leaf from tear touching 2 words). A forceful letter demanding justice in a matter involving the sale of ships [to France] which is linked to the payment of a debt: 'Tout ce que ie vous puis dire est que ie ne puis consentir a la vente des vaisseau[x] sen que lon me rend iustice sur ce point dont ie ne rebatteres rien. ie demande iustice et ie ne veux point mandier de grasse. Si lon croit me rien devoir ie le veus seulement savoir ... Je suis conten de traitter et de conclure sur ce proiect avec quel ministre que le roy ordonnera de traitter avec moy'. Pierre-Hector Chanut's Mémoires (1675) do not throw light on the circumstances of the letter, but describe for 1652-53 a tangled web of diplomatic negotiations while the Swedish court was so impoverished that Christina could not afford to attend the Prince Palatine's funeral. The letter may be connected with the seizure of Swedish ships by the English in 1652. Chanut arrived in Sweden in 1645 and, captivated by Christina and her intellectual brilliance, brought Descartes to Stockholm to instruct her.