University of Virginia Library

8621. TUDE (M. A. de la), Imprisonment.—

De la Tude comes sometimes to take
family soup with me, and entertains me with
anecdotes of his five and thirty years' imprisonment.
How fertile is the mind of man, which
can make The Bastile and dungeon of Vincennes
yield interesting anecdotes! You know this
[imprisonment] was for making four verses on
Madame du Pompadour. [492]
To Mrs. Cosway. Washington ed. ii, 42. Ford ed., iv, 322.
(P. 1786)

 
[492]

Jefferson gives the verses as follows: “Sans
esprit, sans sentiment, “Sans etre belle, ni neuve,
“En France on peut avoir le premier amant
“Pompadour en est l'epreuve”.
—Editor.