[GASTRONOMY]: BERCHOUX JOSEPH (1760-1838) French poet and humourist credited with inventing the word gastronomy as a result of his poem La Gastronomia (1801) which praised the culinary arts. A.L.S., Berchoux, three pages, 4to, Arly, 16^th December 1829, to Monsieur Dumont at the Ministry of the Interior in Paris, in French. Berchoux wonders if his correspondent will remember the old countryman 'qui a censure pendant quelques mois tout pire de vous au ministere de l'interieur' (Translation: 'who for a few months censored everything worst about you at the Ministry of the Interior') although continues to seek a small favour, having been encouraged in the process by Mr and Mrs St. Cyr, and quoting from a note that he has received, 'le retranchement  de 200,000 f opere par la loi de finance de 1830 sur les fonds speciaux du ministere.....dans la necessite de proposer a Sa Majeste la diminution quelques allocations acordees sur les fonds et datee du 1er Janvier 1830. Celle......M. Berchoux sera reduite a 1500 f' (Translation: 'the deduction of 200,000 francs operated by the finance law of 1830 on the special funds of the ministry….in the need to propose to His Majesty the reduction of some allocations granted on the funds and dated 1^st January 1830. That…..of Mr. Berchoux will be reduced to 1500 francs' ). Berchoux further writes 'Il une semble que lors de la discussion du dernier Budjet quand il fut question de toucher aux lettres, la chambre passa a l'ordre du jour...... S'il est question en effet d'une mesure generale qui retrancherait tout brusquement un quart de toutes les pensions litteraires, ou si cette mesure me regarde uniquement, si cela serait facheux pour moi et j'etais bien loin de m'y attendre dans le ministere actuel. Le serait une bien petite economie au prejudice d'un homme qui touche a sa 70e annee, mais je n'ai plus rien a dire, si je n'epouve qu'un sort commun. Poriez vous dans tous las cas me procurer une expedition du rapport qui fut fait en ma faveur pour M. de Corbiere pour m'obtenir une pension? J'y ai vu la signature du roi: il me servirait du moins de titre en cas d'evenement' (Translation: 'It seems that during the discussion of the last Budget, when it was a question of touching on letters, the chamber passed to the order of the day…..If it is indeed a question of a general measure which would suddenly cut off a quarter of all literary pensions, or if this measure concerns me alone, that would be unfortunate for me and I was far from expecting it in the current ministry. It would be a very small saving to the detriment of a man who is nearing his 70^th year, but I have nothing more to say, if I only fear a common fate. Could you in any case get me a copy of the report that was made in my favour for Mr. de Corbiere to obtain a pension for me? I saw the King's signature there: it would serve me at least as a title in case of an event') and concludes 'Vous aurez le plaisir de voir M & Mme de St Cyr vers la fin de fevrier. J'espere pouvoir les aller rejoindre au mois d'Avril. Il sera pour une fois bien agreable de vous revoir encore si vous n'avais pas trop de repugnance pour un censeur l'etait, a la verite, un triste metier. .........J'attends un mot de vous a votre premier loisir en attendant je vous prie de croire d'avance a toute ma reconnaissance' (Translation: 'You will have the pleasure of seeing Mr and Mrs de St Cyr towards the end of February. I hope to be able to join them in April. For once it will be very pleasant to see you again if you weren't too reluctant to be censored; it was, in truth, a sad profession…….I am waiting for a word from you at your first leisure and while waiting, please believe in advance in all my gratitude' ). With autograph address panel to the verso of the final page and the small remnants of a seal (some tears and a small area of paper loss, slightly affecting the text, caused by the original breaking of the seal). A few small, neat tears to the edges, G