MIRANDA FRANCISCO DE: (1750-1816)

MIRANDA FRANCISCO DE: (1750-1816), Venezuelan military leader and Revolutionary who fought in the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolution and the Spanish American wars of independence. An unusual character, liberal Politician, Soldier, Bibliophile, Adventurer and even a little mysterious. Miranda was appointed Field Marshal in France under Dumouriez and participated in the Battle of Valmy. He died in prison in Cadiz, Spain. A very rare autograph letter signed by Miranda from London. A.L.S., ` Miranda´, two pages, 4to, London, 13th December 1801, to Claude François Chauveau-Lagarde, in French. Miranda was twice imprisoned during the Reign of Terror but managed to escape from guillotine and fled to London thanks to his lawyer Chauveau-Lagarde who successfully defended him in May 1793. Miranda states in part ` Madame Petion m´a rendu compte des distributions qu´elle en a fait des 3000 livres que je vous ai remis, et j´en suis charmé d´être débarrassé de Madame S...t et de son avarice infâme. Pour cette malle ici, je vous fais la remise de 9000 livres pour que le paiement soit fait en entier selon la liste que j´ai eu l´honneur de vous envoyer il y a quelque temps...´´ (Translation: " Madame Petion gave me an account of the distributions she made of the 3000 pounds that I gave you, and I am delighted to be rid of Madame S...t and her infamous avarice. For this trunk here, I am giving you 9,000 pounds so that payment is made in full according to the list that I had the honor of sending you some time ago...") Miranda further refers to his situation in London and his expectations regarding France and the French, saying ` Des secours que je viens de recevoir de chez moi m´ont mis en état de former une petite rente viagère dans ce pays ici, et de payer toutes mes dettes; ce qui me mettra à l´abri, aussi, des insultes et des dilapidations que les agents de la République et de l´Espagne se sont plu à exercer impunément sur moi depuis quelque temps. Je vous avoue que pour ce moment je préfère le séjour dans ce pays à tout autre, et que je compte d´y prendre mes quartiers d´hiver pour le moins. Quand j´aurais vu ce que le gouvernement consulaire compte faire de la liberté civile des Français - alors il me sera permis de penser à revoir ce beau pays, et d´embrasser peut-être tant de personnes estimables que j´admire et que j´aime...´ (Translation: " The help I have just received from home has enabled me to form a small life annuity in this country, and to pay all my debts; which will also protect me from the insults and squanderings that the agents of the Republic and of Spain have taken pleasure in carrying out on me with impunity for some time. I admit to you that for the moment I prefer staying in this country to any other, and that I plan to take up my winter quarters there at the very least. When I have seen what the consular government intends to do with the civil liberty of the French - then I will be allowed to think of seeing this beautiful country again, and of perhaps embracing so many estimable people whom I admire and whom I love...") Before concluding Miranda refers to one of his passions, the books, and as a fervent collector and reader and adding an Horace´s statement in Latin, says ` N´oubliez pas en payant Barois, de lui recommander le soin de mes livres, qui sont toujours l´objet chéri pour moi - et actuellement je ne fais que suivre à la lettre le conseil d´Horace - vos exemplaria Graeca - nocturna verstae manu, versate diurna´ (Translation: " Do not forget when paying Barois, to recommend to him the care of my books, which are always the cherished object for me - and currently I am only following word by word Horace's advice - Study with love the masterpieces of Greece, study them night and day") To a post-scriptum, Miranda adds ` Savez-vous que Stone fut le principal calomniateur auprès de l´honnête Fouché, pour qu´on m´appliquat le 3º ostracisme au moi de Mars 1801? Cela est très certain´ (Translation: " Do you know that Stone was the main slanderer to the honest Fouché, so that the third ostracism was applied to me in March 1801? This is very certain") Miranda refers to Fouché in a sarcastic way when he calls him "honest", because in 1801 Fouché had relaunched the prosecution against Miranda by accusing him of espionage. Miranda accuses the English politician Stone of denouncing him. With address leaf bearing a red wax seal. Very small area of paper loss to the address leaf as a result of the letter opening. G to VG Claude François Chauveau-Lagarde (1756-1841) French Lawyer and Politician. well remembered for defending many notable cases during the Reign of Terror, and most of all that of the French Queen Marie Antoinette. Joseph Fouché (1759-1820) 1st Duc d´Otrante, French Statesman and Minister of Police under Napoléon I. John Hurford Stone (1769-1818) English Agent, Editor and Politician, established in France.