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194 - COUTHON (GEORGES). "WE WOULD GIVE TO THESE GREAT CHARACTERS,…
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Estimate €3,000 - €5,000
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COUTHON (GEORGES). "WE WOULD GIVE TO THESE GREAT CHARACTERS, LESSONS OF CARMAGNOLE...". Autograph letter signed to his fellow citizens of Clermont-Ferrand. Paris, 1st messidor year II [19 June 1794]. 1 p. 3/4 in-4, small tear not affecting the text. LETTRE VIBRANT D'ENTHOUSIASME REPUBLICAIN, ECRITE UN MOIS AVANT SON EXECUTION AUX COTES DE ROBESPIERRE, le 28 juillet 1794. A deputy for Puy-de-Dôme, his home department, in the Legislative Assembly and then in the Convention, Couthon was a skilful politician, maintaining regular correspondence with his electoral base in Clermont-Ferrand. He was a member of the Comité de Salut Public, a friend and staunch accomplice of Robespierre, and fell with him on 9 Thermidor. "More excellent news... Ypres, this important place which denied the port of Ostend, and prevented us from completely encircling the enemy, Ypres is ours. Long live the Republic. Charleroi will not fail either to fall to our power incessantly, by means of which the enemy enclosed on our territory, that is to say in Valenciennes, Condé, Landrecy, and the country of Quesnoi, without being able to withdraw supplies from any part, all the avenues being closed to him, will be forced before perhaps one month, to return to us all that treason had delivered to him. O THE BEAUTIFUL DAY WHEN WE MAY SAY, "THE HOLY LAND OF FREEDOM IS NO LONGER SOILED BY THE PRESENCE OF THE SLAVES OF AUSTRIA, PRUSSIA, AND ENGLAND; we are at home, and woe betide any foreigner who dares to attempt to enter it by force or cunning. The only thing missing from this glorious day would be to see His Royal Highness THE DUKE OF YORK and His Eminence THE PRINCE OF COBOURG triumphantly led to Paris. WITH WHAT PLEASURE WE WOULD GIVE THESE GREAT PERSONAGES LESSONS IN CARMAGNOLE. I hope that this will not always happen in a dream. The news from the other armies is also very good. The Navy is still going from one capture to another, yesterday's courier again announced 14 among which is a Sardinian frigate of 36 guns; private letters inform us that one of our 3 dismasted vessels has returned happily, and give us great hope for the other two, but, in this respect, there is nothing official. Now that our affairs are going well, I'm going to get ready for my big trip, I should also say my delightful trip, since it will take me for a few days among my good friends in the Puy-de-Dôme [he would be executed before he could make this trip]. Farewell to you all. God and Liberty be with you! Provenance: the famous Benjamin Fillon collection (no. 618 of his auction catalogue, 1877).
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About the sale The Empire at Fontainebleau - Second day
Auction location
Auction time 06/21/2026 at 10:30 AM
Pictures credits:
Michel Bury and Henri du Cray
See original version (French)
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