VAUCLUSE. Letter written from AVIGNON APRIL 20, 1814 signed - Lot 327

VAUCLUSE. Letter written from AVIGNON APRIL 20, 1814 signed GUILLAUME, addressed to his Uncle Étienne André François de PAULE de FALLOT de BEAUMONT de BEAUPRÉ (Avignon 1750 - 1835), Bishop of Plaisance (1807/1817), appointed to the Archbishopric of BOURGES (1813-1815) in BOURGES, Cher. He announces the fall of the Empire, the liberation of the Pope and the restitution of the Comtat Venaissin: "Avignon April 20, 1814. My Dear Uncle. I only received your letter of the 1st of this month yesterday, and I see that you are not yet aware of any of the great events that have just changed the face of France by restoring her King, happiness and Peace to Europe. When you receive this letter, all the details of this great event will no doubt be known to you, and you will bless God with us. Imagine, my dear Uncle, that a certain Cochon, sent here by the Commissaire Général de Police, had drawn up a Proscription list of 500 Notables of the department, on which we were all on. We managed to remove him from the People's fury by making him escape. Nothing has disturbed public life, which has been as peaceful as ever: the people are good people, and they want the happiness that awaits them to be unclouded. The Civil and Military Authorities delayed until the last moment to make known the Great Events. There has been much indisposition against them, but no excesses. The Garde Urbaine, which was put into action, rendered the greatest service in this circumstance, and I'm glad to be part of it; I've never stopped telling all our M.M. reaction points that God and the King forgive them. Let's forgive all the same, and maintain good order at the risk of our lives. We'll be doing very active service, but we'll be doing it with pleasure, because we're protecting our fellow citizens. The revolt in Luberon has subsided, and the abolition of conscription will bring everyone back to duty and give agriculture back the manpower it was deprived of. Three consecutive days of spontaneous festivities were held here, and even before the authorities had decided to proclaim the changes that had just taken place, illuminations, farandole, banquets, cavalcades, fireworks - in short, everything that manifests universal joy - was employed, after the White Cockade had been displayed, to the cries of long live the King. The city of Avignon was the first to express its feelings and set an example for Provence, and much more will be done, if, as we have no doubt, the Comtat is returned to the Holy Father; we are even told of the imminent arrival of an Austrian Corps to take possession in the Pope's name. Cardinals Brancador and Oppirozon leave for Rome. Abbé Poulle is in Orange with the Prince, and I believe he will also be leaving soon for Paris, along with Mr D' esprague and an infinite number of other people from the city. As for me, my dear Uncle, I want to leave too, but it's for Bourges and I'm only waiting for your reply to get me on my way, despite the sad state I'm in with rheumatism in my left arm, which does me almost no good. It is written from Paris that the institution will be given to all appointed bishops and archbishops. I had never thought that it could be refused, especially to those who, like you, had used the little influence they could have for the good of religion and the deliverance of its head, but now that everyone here thinks the same about everything in our society and among our very friends, who have on this article an exaltation beyond all expression. We will now have to place Etienne, whose news we are very anxious to hear, and our poor Louis, if providence allows Emperor Alexander's generosity to be of no use to him... GUILLAUME " 3 pages in-4°.