DANTON GEORGES: (1759-1794)

DANTON GEORGES: (1759-1794) French lawyer, a leading figure in the French Revolution who served as Minister of Justice (1792) and as the first President of the Committee of Public Safety (1793). Danton, who has been described as ´the chief force in the overthrow of the French monarchy and the establishment of the First French Republic´, was executed by guillotine at the age of 34. A rare D.S., Danton (a fine example), one page, folio, Paris, 3rd September 1792, in French. The manuscript document is headed ´Loi du trois Septembre 1792 l´an Quatrieme de la liberte´ (Translation: ´Law of the third of September 1792 in the fourth year of liberty´) and states, in part, ´ L´Assemblee Nationale voulant accelerer pour tous les moyens qui sont en son pouvoir, l´arrivee des deux cents pieces de canons que le Ministre de la Guerre se propose de retirer des Cidevant Provinces de Standres et d´Artois et de la fonderie d´Indres, ainsi que de celles qu´il voudrait faire venir de toutes autres parts pour les porter dans le camp qui si forme sous les murs de Paris.......L´Assemblee Nationale apres avoir Decrete l´urgence, decrete que le Ministre de la guerre est autorise a se servir des chevaux de Poste pour la conduite de ces differentes pieces et les faire ainsi arriver a leur destination donner le delai le plus court. Au nom de la Nation, le conseil executif Provisoire mande et ordonne a tous les Corps administratifs et tribunaux que les presentes ils fassent consigner dans leurs registres, lire, publier et assister dans leurs departements et ressorts respectifs, et executer comme loi´ (Translation: ´ The National Assembly wanting to accelerate by all the means which are in its power, the arrival of the two hundred pieces of cannon which the Minister for the War proposes to withdraw from the Cidevant Provinces of Standres and Artois and from the foundry of Indres, as well as those which it would like to make come from all other parts to carry them in the camp which is formed under the walls of Paris.....The National Assembly, having decreed the urgency, decrees that the Minister of War is authorized to make use of the horses of the Post Office for the driving of these various pieces and thus to make them arrive at their destination in the shortest possible time. In the name of the Nation, the Provisional Executive Council instructs and orders all the administrative bodies and courts that the present provisions be recorded in their registers, read, published and witnessed in their respective departments and jurisdictions, and executed as law´). Boldly signed by Danton at the foot alongside an official red circular stamp, certifying that the text conforms with the original. Some very light creasing and minimal age wear, VG