MAHY THOMAS DE: (1744-1790) Marquis de Favras. French aristocrat and supporter of the House of Bourbon during the ...

MAHY THOMAS DE: (1744-1790) Marquis de Favras. French aristocrat and supporter of the House of Bourbon during the French Revolution. Often seen as a martyr to the Royalist cause, he was executed for his part in 'planning against the people of France'. A fine A.L.S., Le Mis. de Favras, one page, 4to, Prison de l'Abbaye, Paris, 7th January 1790, to a gentleman, in French. The Marquis announces 'It is at the moment when I had the consoling hope of being able to shed light on the charges which (according to what happened at my session of accusation right after my arrest) I can suppose to have been made against me that I was subjected to a growing number of afflictions. Not by the nature of the secret, which is always the same, but by the most extraordinary precautions taken for my maintenance. Much as I try to work it out I cannot understand the cause of this procedure at all. It is an illusion, a dream for me that everything that is happening to me by the fatality of the conclusions, doubtless seemingly probable in your eyes, which, by deceiving your judgement cause my downfall as well as that of my charming wife' and continues 'You have told me, Sirs, that after a few days of detention you have sent my case, as is the procedure in law, to the Chatelet; is it you or it that I must implore to begin the procedure?...,to clear myself of guilt in the eyes of the Nation, in the eyes of the universe, will give me a new existence', concluding 'I beg you to take care that each day increases more deeply the character of the heinous crimes with which I have been charged by libelists; for I do not presume, Sirs, that it is from you; and that to prolong the length of time until my justification, which I desire so much, would be to confirm the general opinion which you also surely have at heart which came from abroad'. A letter of excellent content, written by the Marquis while imprisoned and a little over a month before his execution. Accompanied by two contemporary printed pamphlets, in French, the first (4to) entitled Judgement without Appeal, detailing his sentence to execution and dated 18th February 1790, and the second (8vo) entitled Act of Faith by Madame de Favras and describing his wife's mourning on the day of the execution. Some light overall foxing to the letter and minor age wear, generally VG, 3 The Marquis de Favras had been arrested in December 1789 for conspiring against the state and was charged with helping to organise an elaborate plot to rescue the royal family, encircle Paris with foreign troops, and assassinate the three most prominent liberal leaders. The city would then be starved into royal submission by cutting off food supplies. After a lengthy trial Favras was found guilty and publicly hanged on 19th February 1790. Upon reading his death sentence warrant he is reported to have remarked, in a deadpan manner, 'I see that you have made three spelling mistakes'. Provenance: The present lot is accompanied by the original sales receipt issued by Walter R. Benjamin Autographs Inc. of New York, dated 4th December 1995.