Marc-Antoine JULLIEN de Paris (1775-1848) politician and pub - Lot 242

Marc-Antoine JULLIEN de Paris (1775-1848) politician and publicist, entrusted with important missions during the Terror. L.A.S., Genoa 21 messidor VII (July 9, 1799), to his friend BRIOT of the Conseil des 500; 4 large fol. pages on his letterhead and vignette. Very interesting and long letter on the catastrophic situation in Italy, where the army is in complete destitution. ... "I fear sleepers more than alarmists. We have been sleeping for so long and the abyss is deepening... and the conspirators who have sold the blood of our soldiers, the blood of the people, and Switzerland, Italy and France, they are triumphing... freedom is perishing [...] and no decisive action has yet been taken [...] MACDONALD's army has evacuated Tuscany [....] We no longer have any communication with the unfortunate Neapolitan Republic, which is covered with insurrections and is almost nothing more than a Royal Vendée [...] the sad Roman Republic is a gaunt skeleton [...] no bread, no gold, no energy, no public spirit"... Insurrection was everywhere, the enemy was gaining ground, reinforcements were not coming, anarchy was sweeping through the army, etc. "Our way of evacuating is the height of horror. We impose and loot. [...] the French name is dishonored, freedom is sullied; we are losing everything, even our honor"... Jullien paints a critical picture of Italy, region by region. He condemns "the impious war of Switzerland and the disastrous and impolitic expedition of Egypt". He outlines a rescue plan, urgent measures to be taken, indicates laws to be enacted, and exclaims: "Proclaim the Italian R[epubli]que, and you offer a powerful motive to discouraged and desperate men who will henceforth know for what interests they can lavish their lives. A Nale assembly and an Italian army will be formed. Don't waste a moment"...