PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF MRS. CHARLES W. ENGELHARD
LAFAYETTE, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834). Printed circular letter signed ("Lafayette"), as commander of the Garde Nationale, Paris, 1 July 1790. 2 pages, folio, some darkening to upper edge of recto. In French.
細節
LAFAYETTE, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834). Printed circular letter signed ("Lafayette"), as commander of the Garde Nationale, Paris, 1 July 1790. 2 pages, folio, some darkening to upper edge of recto. In French.
LAFAYETTE TREADS NERVOUSLY BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC AND THE MONARCHY AS HE PREPARES FOR THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE: "The obligations entrusted to me by my fellow Citizens," he declares, "the care and the sacred trust we owe to France, the vigilance required for the security of the Capital, have all forced me to neglect many matters pressing for my attention, especially the invitation you have deigned to send me. I very much regret this neglect, dear Sirs, and can only find compensation in the honor received by the National Guard of Paris to celebrate with all of their brother armies, under the auspices of the National Assembly and the King, the anniversary of the great day that has transformed all of France and the entire world." Lafayette is most likely referring to the creation of the National Constituent Assemlby on 9 July 1789, which was followed five days later by the storming of the Bastille, on 14 July 1789. "This honor, Sirs, is particularly gratifying, as I can express my heartfelt gratitude to the deputies for the honor and recognition I have received. The success of our efforts in the Capital have been nothing less than the union of the forces and the aspirations of all Frenchmen under the flag of Liberty, in accordance with our happy Revolution which, in recovering the rights of the People, puts our Constitution on a firm and unshakeable basis. Likewise the Federative Oath, testifies to our fidelity to the Nation, to the Law, and to the King, and it will guarantee for all time our liberty, the public order, the end of all factions and the sign of general tranquility..."
The Revolution did not stay happy, and factions were far from finished. Lafayette was elected to the National Assembly in June 1789, and after the fall of the Bastille became commander of the Paris National Guard as well. His efforts to preserve both the monarchy and a republican government only managed to alienate both the left and right. Robespierre threw him in jail for four years, and upon his release Lafayette became an open opponent of the Bonaparte regime. He spent his remaining years as a political pariah, on his Le Grange estate.
LAFAYETTE TREADS NERVOUSLY BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC AND THE MONARCHY AS HE PREPARES FOR THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE: "The obligations entrusted to me by my fellow Citizens," he declares, "the care and the sacred trust we owe to France, the vigilance required for the security of the Capital, have all forced me to neglect many matters pressing for my attention, especially the invitation you have deigned to send me. I very much regret this neglect, dear Sirs, and can only find compensation in the honor received by the National Guard of Paris to celebrate with all of their brother armies, under the auspices of the National Assembly and the King, the anniversary of the great day that has transformed all of France and the entire world." Lafayette is most likely referring to the creation of the National Constituent Assemlby on 9 July 1789, which was followed five days later by the storming of the Bastille, on 14 July 1789. "This honor, Sirs, is particularly gratifying, as I can express my heartfelt gratitude to the deputies for the honor and recognition I have received. The success of our efforts in the Capital have been nothing less than the union of the forces and the aspirations of all Frenchmen under the flag of Liberty, in accordance with our happy Revolution which, in recovering the rights of the People, puts our Constitution on a firm and unshakeable basis. Likewise the Federative Oath, testifies to our fidelity to the Nation, to the Law, and to the King, and it will guarantee for all time our liberty, the public order, the end of all factions and the sign of general tranquility..."
The Revolution did not stay happy, and factions were far from finished. Lafayette was elected to the National Assembly in June 1789, and after the fall of the Bastille became commander of the Paris National Guard as well. His efforts to preserve both the monarchy and a republican government only managed to alienate both the left and right. Robespierre threw him in jail for four years, and upon his release Lafayette became an open opponent of the Bonaparte regime. He spent his remaining years as a political pariah, on his Le Grange estate.