SOUBERBIELLE JOSEPH: (1754-1846) French surgeon and military physician, a close associate of ...

SOUBERBIELLE JOSEPH: (1754-1846) French surgeon and military physician, a close associate of Maximilien Robespierre during the French Revolution. A.L.S., Le Dr. Souberbielle, one page, 4to, Paris, 27th April 1846, to [Etienne] Cabet, in French. Souberbielle states that, if his health would have allowed him, he would have called on Cabet personally to express the satisfaction he always feels upon reading their newspapers 'par l'esprit de justice et de verite qui le caracterisent' (Translation: 'because of the spirit of justice and truth that characterises it') and continues 'Mais celui d'aujourd'hui surpasse tous les autres, par les articles qu'il contient, et les reflexions judicieuses dont vous les accompagnez. Mais c'est surtout le tableau si developpe sur les bienfaits de la religion chretienne prechee par le Christ qui remplit l'ame de consolation et d'esperance. Je considere cet article comme l'indication du plan de l'ouvrage que vous vous proposez de publier sur a religion chretienne; cela ajoute a votre journal un titre honorable de plus: a celui de populaire, on doit ajouter et de morale chretienne, qui lui appartient legitimement. C'est ce que tout le monde verra avec satisfaction. Le bien qu'il produira parmi le peuple est inappreciable, il lui servira de breviaire ou de regle de conduite' (Translation: 'But today's paper surpasses all the others, by the articles it contains, and the judicious reflections with which you accompany them. But it is above all the picture so fully developed of the benefits of the Christian religion preached by Christ which fills the soul with consolation and hope. I regard this article as an indication of the outline of the work you intend to publish on the Christian religion; it adds another honourable title to your journal: to that of Populaire, we must add Christian morality, which rightfully belongs to it. This is what everyone will see with satisfaction. The good it will produce among the people is inestimable; it will serve as a breviary or a rule of conduct'). Some light age wear and a few minor stains and small tears (one repaired with old tape to the verso) to the lower edge, not affecting the signature. About VG

Etienne Cabet (1788-1856) French philosopher and utopian socialist, founder of the Populaire in 1833 (which he revived in 1841) and author of Le vrai christianisme suivant Jésus Christ ('The Real Christianity according to Jesus Christ', published in 1846 in five volumes) which described Christ's mission to establish social equality, arguing that the kingdom of God announced by Jesus was nothing more than a communist society.