LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 October Rare Books & Manuscripts #675  / 

30555

Rochambeau Letter Signed

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
Rochambeau Letter Signed
<B>Rochambeau Manuscript Letter Signed</B></I> “<I>le Cte de Rochambeau,</B></I>" 1.5 pages, 6” x 7.75”, front and verso. At Rochambeau near Vendôme April 22, 1790. Integral leaf addressed to “<I>Monsieur de Versailles-/Police Chief of the King for the/Department of Loir and of/Cher/at Romorantin.</B></I>” In French, translated. In full, <I>“The two questions you ask me, Sir, seem to me to have been answered by the explanations in the text issued by the Constitutional Committee, a printed copy of which I sent to you through Mr. Lancoigne. It seems to me that only the old clergy 'les religieux faisant vieu' should be excluded from rights of active citizenship. With respect to the reserves in the salt storehouse, it seems to me they are excluded by the decrees, since the committee was favorably disposed only toward the Legratiers. You must have noted from the explanations of the committee that each primary assembly section, or each primary section of the same canton is to name its number of deputies in proportion to its population, and that there is to be no other census than the report of the poll of the primary assembly which will have finished first. I have the honor of being, Sir, your very humble and obedient servant.</B></I>” Loir-et-Cher was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790, seven weeks before Rochambeau wrote this letter. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Orléanais and Touraine. Rochambeau was born and lived in Vendôme, Loir-de-Cher. In 1780, French Lieutenant General the Count of Rochambeau arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, in command of 6,000 French troops with a fleet commanded by the chevalier de Ternay. In July 1781, his troops joined Washington's forces in White Plains, N.Y., and marched south. Linking up with a French fleet at the head of Chesapeake Bay, they joined Lafayette's forces and the 14,000 troops besieged the British position, forcing their surrender on October 19, 1781, ending the war. In 1791, Rochambeau was made a Marshal of France and given the command of the Northern armies. He was arrested during the Reign of Terror (1793-1794) and narrowly escaped the guillotine. Fine full impression of Rochambeau's black wax seal depicting the Rochambeau family crest with three six-pointed stars interspersed with a chevron. This crest appears on the pedestal of the Rochambeau statue in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House. There is a seal tear in a blank area on the integral leaf. With light folds, the letter is in very fine condition. Accompanied by a small portrait of Rochambeau.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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