FRANÇOIS DE NEUFCHÂTEAU (Nicolas-Louis, Count) Meurthe 1750– - Lot 372

FRANÇOIS DE NEUFCHÂTEAU (Nicolas-Louis, Count) Meurthe 1750–1828 - Representative of the Vosges in the Legislative Assembly, Magistrate, Minister, Senator, Member of the Academy - Superb letter signed in his capacity as Minister of the Interior (printed letterhead, vignette) - Paris, 18 Ventôse, Year 7 (March 8, 1799), to the Commissioner of the Executive Directory in DRAGUIGNAN – 4 pages, in-4°: “Citizen, the powers of Europe have seen all their efforts shattered by the courage of our invincible armies... It is no longer by force of arms that our enemies hope to defeat us, but through corruption; by bribing assassins and immoral men from within... It was through a series of these atrocious schemes that the elections of Year 4 and Year 5 were manipulated by the Royalists in so many departments, and that those of Year 6 were subjected to the influence of the Anarchists... The Government’s vigilance and action have saved the Republic…; but our enemies have not abandoned their plans, and for a long time now they have been plotting, taking action, and employing every means to seize control of the upcoming elections and steer them according to the principles that drive them. To achieve their goal, they don every mask and don every disguise... The Government places great hope, citizen, in your zeal and your activity; it likes to think that the votes of your fellow citizens will be cast only for men worthy of public trust, and that this happy outcome will be due in particular to your care and your efforts....” – Enclosed: A beautiful ENGRAVING of N. François de Neufchâteau, Member of the Executive Directory. Published in Paris at 195 Rue Jacques.