NORTH. L.A.S. by Cl. CRESPIN, Lille July 20, 1793, to a frie - Lot 132

Lot 132
Go to lot
Estimation :
90 - 150 EUR
NORTH. L.A.S. by Cl. CRESPIN, Lille July 20, 1793, to a frie - Lot 132
NORTH. L.A.S. by Cl. CRESPIN, Lille July 20, 1793, to a friend; 3 pages in-4. Curious and interesting letter, during the first coalition against France. Crespin (assistant to the commissioner-ordinator Ollivier) mentions the capture of Condé, the siege of Valenciennes (which will capitulate on July 28), which is now "nothing but a heap of burnt stone"; it would be futile to bring help to it because "the army is not strong enough in cavalry nor educated enough to risk the fate of the Republic in a single affair. On the contrary, it is necessary to remain on the defensive in the North and the Pas-de-Calais, and to prevent the enemy from moving on Cambrai, from where he would go "to Bapaume, Albert, Doullens to cut us the communication of these two departments, finally the most murderous weapon that they want to employ is the famine and if you do not take care of it we will find ourselves taken like mice in the mousetrap". It is necessary to educate recruits, to avoid squandering. As for Lille, La Marlière, who has done "everything possible to put his entire division in a state of respectable defiance" and La Valette, who comes "to play against the constituted authorities to bring about division in this city", helped by a man named Calendini who "has had a ministerial letter written to him to give an account of the situation in the city, it is perfectly clear that he is an intriguer and who claims to be supported by the Dantons and Robespierre. [...] Would you believe that Du Hem is suspicious of them and soon Lesage-Senault because these representatives are friends of the order of truth and they do justice to La Marlière...
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue