French cleric and political theorist (1782-1854). Autograph letter signed. N. p. 8vo. 1 p. on bifolium. With autograph address.
$ 1,071 / 1.000 €
(91632/BN60953)
To the lawyer and politician Isaac-Jacob Adolphe Crémieux, responding to the question whether his 1843 publication "Amschaspands et Darvands" ever was "the subject of legal proceedings" - which had not been the case: "Vous désirez savoir si l'ouvrage que j'ai publié, il y a dix ans, sous le titre Amschaspands et Darvands, a été l'objet de poursuites judiciaires. Non, jamais, et quiconque a lu ce livre sait parfaitement que le parquet, même sous Louis-Philippe, ne pouvait seulement en avoir la pensée".
- The title of the book refers to Zoroastrianism: Amahraspands or Amesha Spenta are the seven great divine entities emanating from Ahura Mazda, while darvand denotes the unrighteous. - Minor stains..
French cleric and political theorist (1782-1854). Autograph letter signed. La Chênaie [Plesder, Ille-et-Vilaine]. 8vo. 1 p. and 2 lines on bifolium. With autograph address panel.
$ 2,679 / 2.500 €
(91633/BN60954)
Important political letter to the mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and politician François Arago, congratulating him on his re-election in the 1834 French legislative election, "a true victory for France", and discussing pressing political matters. Lamennais writes that he saw in Arago a trustworthy republican ally, otherwise he would not have made dangerous statements, such as describing the reign of Louis-Philippe as a tyranny and predicting the end of "despotism". In his opinion, the most important project of the opposition was electoral reform, although not politicians but "thousands of petitioners" should demand it, since "petitions have not yet been forbidden", while "it is forbidden to associate to defend one's rights".
Finally, he warns Aragon not to trust the opposition members Charles Beslay and his like-named father, as their businesses are "dependent on the government". He also alleges that Beslay, who "does not enjoy a high reputation of integrity", only "escaped the Assizes" due to an illegal intervention by the Minister of Justice Jean-Charles Persil - a piece of information that Arago is instructed to treat with discretion. - François Arago (1786-1853) was on the height of his scientific career as director of the Paris Observatory and perpetual secretary of the Academy of Science when he was first elected deputy in 1831 as part of the Republican opposition to Louis-Philippe. Following the Revolution of 1848, Arago briefly held several ministerial positions in the provisionary government. During his brief term as Minister of the Navy and the Colonies, Arago achieved the abolition of slavery in the French colonies on 27 April 1848. Faced with another undemocratic ruler in 1852, Arago refused to take the required oath of allegiance to Napoleon III and offered to resign as astronomer at the Bureau des Longitudes. The Emperor declined to accept Arago's resignation and made an exception for him. - With tears from breaking the seal..
French cleric and political theorist (1782-1854). Autograph letter signed. N. p. 8vo. ½ p. on bifolium. With autograph address and red wax seal.
$ 429 / 400 €
(91658/BN60979)
To a Mr Edmond Laporte in Paris, probably an autograph collector, apologizing that he can only send him this "simple letter", which should nevertheless be a token of his good will: "Je regrette, Monsieur, de ne pouvoir vous envoyer que ce simple billet. Il vous prouvera du moins la bonne volonté de celui qui vous prie d'agréer l'expression cordiale de ses sentiments." - With the stamp of an autograph collection underneath the address panel. Traces of folds.
French cleric and political theorist (1782-1854). Autograph letter signed. [Postmarked: Paris. 8vo. 1 page on bifolium with integral address panel.
$ 129 / 120 €
(91718/BN61040)
To Monsieur Gaubert with apologies for making him wait for a servant called Victor, who would be taken into service, and a new appointment for the meeting: "Je regrette beaucoup, cher Docteur, de vous avoir fait attendre le petit domestique que vous voulez bien prendre à votre service. Ce retard a tenu à des circonstances que je ne pouvais prévoir. Mais demain, à 2 heures, Victor sera chez vous, et je crois être sûr que vous aurez lieu d'être content de lui [...]". - Counter-leaf with a small tear due to opening of the letter; some brownstaining from glue residue.