User:Wrecksdart

I'm a librarian with varied interests and an appreciation for primary source materials. For instance, while reading up on Pierre Beaumarchais I found that Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes, in asking Louis XVI for authorization to support the American Revolution, noted that, if authorized, he would have his 15 year old son respond to Beaumarchais given that British spies were familiar with Vergennes' handwriting but not that of his son. He also noted that he was confident in his son's discretion, which means that secret French support for America's Revolutionary War was, for a time, dependent upon a diplomat's son keeping quiet about it. As the cliche goes, truth is definitely stranger and more interesting than fiction.

I'm also a fan of the way people closed their letters in pre-20th century times.

With the most perfect respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your very obedient servant, &c, &c, (Signed)