Guizot, François, French politician and writer (1787-1874). Autograph letter signed ("Guizot").

€ 450,00

Highly interesting letter to his friend, the former minister of agriculture and commerce Laurent Cunin-Gridaine (1778-1859), describing his retreat from Paris to Normandy following the Revolution of 1848 and his expectation that history will vindicate him and his toppled government sooner rather than later.

Guizot first apologizes for his late response; apparently Cunin-Gridaine's letter had got lost in the mail and he only received it after a longer visit to Victor de Broglie, 3rd Duke of Broglie (1785-1870). He then proposes to meet in Paris, where he will return for the first time since the Revolution in the "last days of November". Guizot describes his life with his children in the former Cistercian monastery Val-Richer as "quiet and industrious", with frequent visits by friends from near and far. The central passage of the letter, wherein Guizot indirectly comments on the Revolution, defends his politics and paints a grim picture of the political situation in France, even raising the spectre of socialism, is worth quoting in full: "I am waiting patiently for time and events to demonstrate more and more clearly that we were right and that we were serving our country well. If self-satisfaction were enough to console us for our misfortunes, we should have plenty to console us. But I am not there, nor are you, I am sure, and I suffer bitterly from everything I see and foresee. Misery internally and debasement externally, no freedom and no security, socialism at our heels and a state of siege in prospect - what a situation for a country that has been made to suffer so much and promised so much!" (transl.).

François Guizot was one of the most loyal supporters of King Louis Philippe, moving from the ministry of education (1832-37) to become foreign minister (1840-47), and finally prime minister of France (19 September 1847 to 23 February 1848). In 1845, during his term as foreign minister, Guizot ordered the expulsion of Karl Marx from Paris. Marx mentions Guizot's decision in his preface to "A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy" (1859). Guizot, who vainly opted for military action against the Revolution of 1848, resigned just ahead of the abdication of Louis Philippe and left Paris for London a few days later, remaining in exile just over a year before he settled in Val-Richer.