Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau Autograph

Autograph letter signed, 2 1/4 pages - both sides (on two conjoined sheets), 7,5 x 10,75 inch (first sheet), [early 1776], in French, to a friend "Mon cher ami" - concerning a strategy to soften his father`s severity, written and signed in dark ink "Mirabeau fils", with soiling, a horizontal crack (repaired at the edges) to the first page, creasing to the edges, and bottom of second sheet missing (without loss of text) - in fine to good condition. Accompanied by an unsigned portrait picture.

In parts:
"[...] car enfin il peut prendre un parti vis-à-vis du ministre, et avec toute sa feinte indifférence me faire arrêter. Le tems n'y fait rien ; il doit bien penser que je ne suis pas éloigné de la frontière ; et Pontarlier n'est qu'à une lieue ; ainsi vous êtes censé avoir tout le tems nécessaire pour m'avoir vu [...] J'espère que vous ne regarderez pas comme une importunité les nouvelles supplications que j'ai l'honneur de vous adresser [...] Certainement il n'est pour monsieur votre fils qu'un danger, c'est d'avoir aliéné votre coeur sans retour. Le secret dont il est chargé n'est absolument rien. Je me garderais bien, Monsieur le marquis, d'oser vous donner mes opinions en fait de procès [...] mais les formes judicaires sont mon métier [...] vous êtes son curateur et quelques embrouillées que puissent être ses affaires, votre prudence et votre habileté en viendront à bout. Les ordres du roi ne seront jamais accordés contre M. le comte de Mirabeau qu'à votre sollicitation. [...] Un prisonnier est sous une garde. Sa détention n'est pas volontaire et s'il recouvre la liberté en s'échappant, il ne désobéit point, il use des moyens que lui suggère son adresse, ce n'étoit pas à lui à se garder [...] évidemment le fruit d'un premier mouvement et d'une vive inquiétude [...] M. le Comte propose de se laver des imputations dont on pourroit le noircir. Il auroit beaucoup mieux fait sans doute de ne les point prévoir [...] mais enfin, ce tort, qui est celui d'un jeune homme, auquel on avoit exagéré votre mécontentement et les projets de votre sévérité n'a pas mérité sa perte, et ne la lui attirera pas [...] Vous apercevrez que ne pas sauver votre fils en ce moment, c'est le perdre, que ne point le relever c'est le précipiter [...]"

Translated:
Mirabeau urges his friend to write to his father without further delay, "because at least he can take a stand against the minister, and with all his feigned indifference have me arrested. Time is not object; he must think that I am not far from the border; and Pontarlier is only a league away; so you are supposed to have all the time necessary to have seen me" [...] Mirabeau then writes the contents of the letter to the Marquis de Mirabeau, for his friend to copy and sign: "I hope you will not regard as an importunity the new supplications I have the honour of addressing to you"; his approach is dictated by friendship: "Certainly there is only one danger for Monsieur your son, and that is to have alienated your heart without return. The secret with which he is entrusted is absolutely nothing. I would be very careful, Monsieur le Marquis, not to dare give you my opinions on lawsuits [...] but legal forms are my profession." Creditors are not the biggest concern, as "you are his curator, and however tangled his affairs may be, your prudence and skill will see them through. The King`s orders will never be granted against M- le comte de Mirabeau except at your request. [...] A prisoner is under guard. His detention is not voluntary and if he regains his freedom by escaping, he does not disobey, he uses the means suggested by his skill, it was not up to him to guard himself." 
Only the marquis`s wrath could be a real misfortune for his son. As for the report the latter is said to have sent to the Comte de Saint-Germain, it is "obviously the fruit of a first movement and of deep concern." This letter is in no way a reproach: "M. le Comte proposes to clear himself of the imputations with which he could be blackened. He would undoubtedly have done much better not to foresee them [...] but in the end, this wrong, which is that of a Young man, to whom your displeasure and the plans for your severity have been exaggerated, has not deserved his loss, and will not bring it upon him." That the Marquis should not remain insensitive to a son who seeks only to please him and relieve the grief that surely oppresses his heart: "You will see that not to save your son at this moment is to lose him, that not to raise him is to precipitate him [...]" Mirabeau concludes by urging his friend to send this letter the very same day.