NORTH. L.A.S. by Cl. CRESPIN, Lille July 20, 1793, to a frie - Lot 309

Lot 309
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Estimation :
100 - 150 EUR
NORTH. L.A.S. by Cl. CRESPIN, Lille July 20, 1793, to a frie - Lot 309
NORTH. L.A.S. by Cl. CRESPIN, Lille July 20, 1793, to a friend; 3 pages in-4. Curious and interesting letter, during the first coalition against France. Crespin (assistant to the commissioner-ordinator Ollivier) mentions the capture of Condé, the siege of Valenciennes (which will capitulate on July 28), which is now "nothing but a heap of burnt stone"; it would be futile to bring help to it because "the army is not strong enough in cavalry nor educated enough to risk the fate of the Republic in a single affair. On the contrary, it is necessary to remain on the defensive in the North and the Pas-de-Calais, and to prevent the enemy from moving on Cambrai, from where he would go "to Bapaume, Albert, Doullens to cut us the communication of these two departments, finally the most murderous weapon that they want to employ is the famine and if you do not take care of it we will find ourselves taken like mice in the mousetrap". It is necessary to educate recruits, to avoid squandering. As for Lille, La Marlière, who has done "everything possible to put his entire division in a state of respectable defiance," and La Valette, who has come to "play against the constituted authorities in order to bring about division in this city," with the help of a man named Calendini, who "had a ministerial letter written to him in order to give an account of the situation in the city, and it is perfectly clear that he is an intriguer, and who claims to be supported by the Dantons and Robespierre. [...] Would you believe that Du Hem is suspicious of them and soon Lesage-Senault because these representatives are friends of the order of truth and they do justice to La Marlière...
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