Louis XVIII. Rare autograph letter signed ("Louis") in French, 1 page (9.25 x 7.25 in.; 235 x 184 mm.), Verona, 25 February 17...

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Louis XVIII. Rare autograph letter signed ("Louis") in French, 1 page (9.25 x 7.25 in.; 235 x 184 mm.), Verona, 25 February 1796, to François Charette de la Contrie; in pristine condition. Louis XVIII. Rare autograph letter signed ("Louis") in French, 1 page (9.25 x 7.25 in.; 235 x 184 mm.), Verona, 25 February 1796, to François Charette de la Contrie; in pristine condition. The future Louis XVIII rallies royalist forces after the death of Louis XVII: The blood of Henri IV is still worthy of commanding Frenchmen. The future Louis XVIII writes in part: I have been wanting to get in touch with you for a long time, you know the reason all too well: the obstacles have finally decreased and I eagerly take advantage of this. I hope that soon my brother [Charles Phillippe] will be able to prove to you that the blood of Henry IV is still worthy of commanding Frenchmen. I dare flatter myself that he will be my precursor by only a little time, but while awaiting this moment, object of my most ardent hopes, it is most essential that all those who ae inspired by honor should march along the same road just as they are aiming towards the same goal. My agents in Paris will inform you of the plans, instructions and orders that I have prepared . . . I know too well your zeal and your attachment to my person and to my service so that I would not doubt but that you lend yourself to all these arrangements which the welfare of the state demands of you. I authorize you to give the Cross of Saint Louis to those officers in your army whom you judge to be worthy by their actions and I am quite sure that the use which you will make of this authorization willincrease ratherthan diminish th consideration due to this worthy throne . . . . As to the military commissions, I have asked my brother to revoke the right to confer individual commands and even to extend hopes for advancement to those whose condition of service is so very distinguished that it would be important for the general morale to give them immediately a testimony of satisfaction. Escaping revolutionary, republican France in 1791, th future Louis XVIII declared himself regent to the French throne after his brother, Louis XVI was guillotined. The dauphin, Louis XVII, still remained imprisoned with his mother, Marie Antoinette, and his sister. According to official reports, the dauphin died in prison on 8 June 1795. It was at this time his uncle, the self proclaimed regent-in-exile, took the title of Louis XVIII. From that moment on, he engaged in constant wanderings, clandestine negotiations and conspiracies aimed at furthering the French royalist cause and his dream to become king. Together with: Danton, Charles Jacques. Document signed ("Danton"), in French, 1 page [ca. 1793], outlining charges brought against an enemy of the state; some wear--Robespierre, Maximilien de. Document signed ("Robespierre"), in French, 1 page quarto, 23 May 1794, ordering the arrest of a baker within the next 24 hours.