Autographs and Manuscripts
"CITIZENESS BEAUHARNAIS" ()
Autograph Letter Signed ("la citoyenne Beauharnais") addressed to "Citoyen ministre" requesting a position in the Commissariat for Citizen Pauly, as recommended by Citizen Petion.1 page 8vo in French, n.p., 26 November 1792.
Trans: "Citizen Petion has sent you a report regarding the request made by Citizen Pauly for a place in the Commissariat. This patriot whom I know, and for whose public-spiritedness I can vouch, has prompted me to commend him to you and I will be very gratified if you were good enough to include him among the commissaries you intend to appoint, I will once again be greatly obliged to you." In a further proof of her patriotism, Josephine signs and dates her letter as "Citizeness Beauharnais, wife of the Maréchal de Camp" "25 9bre [November] 1792 the 1st year of the republic"Josephine's first husband, Alexandre de Beauharnais, was at the time Commander of the Army of the Rhine, fighting to secure France's borders against a threatened Austrian invasion. The marriage had produced two children, Eugène and Hortense, but had never been very happy, nor had Alexandre ever been faithful. Left alone in Paris with two small children at a dangerous moment in the Revolution, Josephine astutely used her charm and her friends to try to secure her and their safety.Jerome Pétion had served as Paris's Mayor in the early days of the Revolution, but in September 1792 he was elected the first President of the National Convention. He was eventually to break with the intransigent Jacobins and join the Girondins.The French Republican Calendar, with the months re-named as fructidor, thermidor, pluviose, etc., was only adopted in 1793, although back-dated to 22 September 1792. One therefore would not expect to see letters dated "an I de la République". A resolution was, however, passed on 21 September 1792, declaring it "the first year of the Republic", hence Josephine's use of the term to prove her Revolutionary ardour.In excellent condition.
Stock Code: AU3872
