FLECHIER ESPRIT : (1632-1710) French Preacher and Author. Bishop of Nantes 1687-1710. One of the greatest orators of the XVIIº century. Fléchier entered the Academy on 12 January 1673, the same day as Jean Racine. Rare A.L.S., `Esprit Ev[eque] de Nismes´, two pages, 8vo, Montpellier, 22<sup>nd</sup> January 1700, in French. A cleanly written letter by Fléchier to a friar, stating in part `… les médecins ont conçu quelque espérance de votre guérison. Mais comme vous n'êtes pas sans fièvre, que votre poitrine souffre, et que vous êtes affaibli, dégoûté et presque découragé, je n'ose pas encore me consoler…´ (“…the doctors have some hope on your recovery. But as you are not without fever, your chest aches, and you are weak, disgusted and almost discouraged, I do not yet dare console myself...”) Fléchier advises his correspondent to have faith in God, and further states `… il faut un peu s'aider soi-même, ne pas se laisser accabler par le mal, quoi qu'on en soit abattu, user de remèdes quoique dégoûtants, dont Dieu veut peut-être se servir pour opérer votre guérison…´ (“you have to help yourself a little, not let yourself be overwhelmed by evil, no matter how dejected you are, use remedies, however disgusting, which God may want to use to reach your healing...”) Two water stains to the left border only partially affecting very few words, but not affecting the signature. Accompanied by an original printed engraving of the XIXº century. G