MALESHERBES GUILLAUME-CHRÉTIEN DE LAMOIGNON DE: (1721-1794)

MALESHERBES GUILLAUME-CHRÉTIEN DE LAMOIGNON DE: (1721-1794)

MALESHERBES GUILLAUME-CHRÉTIEN DE LAMOIGNON DE: (1721-1794) French Statesman. Counsel for the defence of Louis XVI, he had the painful task to inform the King of his condemnation. Despite his committed monarchism, Malesherbes was best known for his vigorous criticism of Royal abuses. His works contributed to the development of Liberalism. Malesherbes was arrested and imprisoned together with his family accused of ''conspiracy with the emigrants''. They were all guillotined few months later. A good L.S., `Malesherbes´, one page, 4to, Versailles, 2<sup>nd</sup> March 1776, in French. Malesherbes grants his correspondent that he will report to the King about the fire as soon as he will dispatch matters with him, saying `Je rendrai, Monsieur, compte au Roi, à mon premier travail avec Sa Majesté du procès verbal d´incendie, que vous m´avez adréssé et ne lui laisserai point ignorer les preuves de zèle que vous avez donné dans tous les temps pour le bien de son service et particulièrement pendant ce triste évènement…´ (Translation: `I will render, Sir, report to the King about the fire, at my first work with His Majesty, report which you addressed to me, and I will not allow him to ignore the proofs of zeal which you have given in all times for the good of his service and particularly during this sad affair...´) Paper with watermark. Small overall age wear, mostly to edges. G

 

Malesherbes probably refers to the fire which destroyed the Palace of Justice in Paris on the night of 10^th to 11^th January 1776. Most of its archive burned.