Politique, littérature et mystification. Echec à Rulhière. Un récit inédit de Diderot rapporté par D. Golitsyn

Abstract

Politics, literature and mystification : countering Rulhière, an unpu¬ blished story by Diderot recounted by D. Golitsyn. Presented by Georges Dulac, with the collaboration of Vladimir Somov. In a dispatch to the Vice-Chancellor A. M. Golitsyn, dated 16th June 1771, Dimitri A. Golitsyn, the plenipotentiary at the Hague, reproduces a letter from Diderot dated 1st June, recounting how he managed to discredit in Paris society Rulhière's account of the "revolution" which brought Catherine to the throne. The "charming account" which he wrote himself, using his conversations with Princess Dashkov, allowed him to defeat the former secretary at the St. Petersburg embassy. After having publicly destroyed this little work, he intends to finish off the task by collaborating on a history of the 1762 events in line with the Empress's views.