Description:

Marquis de Lafayette ALS Supporting a Political Prisoner and Former Ally in July Revolution

A letter from the Marquis de Lafayette regarding the character of Antony Thouret (1807-1871), then a political prisoner, corroborating his military service during the July Revolution of 1830. 1p, measuring 7.25" x 8", dated October 20, 1831, Paris, France. Signed at conclusion as "Lafayette". Accompanied by the letter's original integral address leaf, intact and bearing several philatelic marks. Exhibits darkened age toning and soiling to edges, with two small pin holes present at lower left. Very good overall, boldly penned.

Translated in full:

"It is a duty and a pleasure to send Mr. Thouret the certificate he has asked me for.
It was on the morning of July 30 that he presented himself to City Hall with his companions on behalf of the city of Douai and its Garrison- after thanking them for their enthusiasm in going to Paris, I sent them to General Gerard to use the measures they had come to propose. I have since identified Mr. Thouret in the expedition to Rambouïllet when I was reviewing it and learned that he had been accidentally injured.
I hope that the testimony satisfies to the intent of Mr. Thouret, at the same time I would like to do justice to the proofs of patriotism that he gave in the first and critical period of the Revolution of July 1830."

The Revolution of 1830 was a direct response to King Charles X's Ordinances of Saint-Cloud, the effect of which would have excluded the commercial middle class from future elections and dissolved the Chamber of Deputies. Overnight, Paris erupted in riots against their leader, who had already been causing discontent among the French citizens. Lafayette, then living at his country estate, rushed to Paris as soon as he received news of the decrees, and by the time he arrived, the bloody July Revolution had begun. The revolutionaries in turn looked to the Marquis for leadership, asking him to take charge of the National Guard. At 72, the hero of the American and French Revolutions once again took command against royalist forces during the three-day revolution. On July 29, 1830, after the capture of City Hall, the Chamber of Deputies offered Lafayette the position of military dictator of France, which he declined.

Antony Thouret was a political journalist who, at the age of 23, was tasked by the citizens of Douai to bring cannons to Paris to use against Charles X after the state of the 1830 Revolution. A few days later, he joined the expedition against Legitimist forces at Rambouïllet where, as Lafayette states in this letter, he was gravely wounded, nearly losing his life. It was at Rambouïllet that Lafayette led "an expedition" of 500 national guardsmen against Charles X, prompting his abdication on August 2nd.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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