Details
DUMAS, Alexandre père (1802-1870). Autograph letter signed (a draft), addressed to the members of the Municipality of Meta [di Sorrento, near Naples], n.p. [Naples], n.d. [1860-1862], marked for an insertion on the second page, written in black ink on blue paper, 1½ pages, 4to.
A letter, probably intended for publication, responding to an article mocking his correspondents for referring to Saint Anthony (who died in 1231) as a Bourbon saint. 'Je ne vous dis pas que St Antoine ne sois pas desesperé au ciel de ce qu'on lui fait faire sur la terre. Je ne vous dis pas qu'il ne sois pas aussi bon patriote que St Joseph qui a fait eclairé la ville et que St Janvier qui la garantit des tremblements de terre. Mais il n'en est pas moins vrai que consentant ou non consentant, il a été au milieu de tous les saints choisi par le Cardinal Ruffo pour etre le patron de la reaction du 13 Juin 1799' - a reference to the reinstatement of Ferdinand IV after the French occupation of Naples.
Dumas, who espoused wholeheartedly the cause of Italian freedom and was at first an ardent supporter of Garibaldi, spent four years in Naples from 1860 - 1864, editing L'Indépendente, a journal devoted to the latter's cause written partly in French, and acting as director of Excavations and Museums. He also wrote a history of the Bourbons of Naples as well as editing Garibaldi's memoirs. He became disillusioned with Garibaldi on his withdrawal to Caprera when Victor Emmanuel entered Naples in 1861, and published increasingly severe criticisms of him and of his followers' conduct, before returning to France in 1864.
A letter, probably intended for publication, responding to an article mocking his correspondents for referring to Saint Anthony (who died in 1231) as a Bourbon saint. 'Je ne vous dis pas que St Antoine ne sois pas desesperé au ciel de ce qu'on lui fait faire sur la terre. Je ne vous dis pas qu'il ne sois pas aussi bon patriote que St Joseph qui a fait eclairé la ville et que St Janvier qui la garantit des tremblements de terre. Mais il n'en est pas moins vrai que consentant ou non consentant, il a été au milieu de tous les saints choisi par le Cardinal Ruffo pour etre le patron de la reaction du 13 Juin 1799' - a reference to the reinstatement of Ferdinand IV after the French occupation of Naples.
Dumas, who espoused wholeheartedly the cause of Italian freedom and was at first an ardent supporter of Garibaldi, spent four years in Naples from 1860 - 1864, editing L'Indépendente, a journal devoted to the latter's cause written partly in French, and acting as director of Excavations and Museums. He also wrote a history of the Bourbons of Naples as well as editing Garibaldi's memoirs. He became disillusioned with Garibaldi on his withdrawal to Caprera when Victor Emmanuel entered Naples in 1861, and published increasingly severe criticisms of him and of his followers' conduct, before returning to France in 1864.
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