91 - DE PEYSSONNEL: Examen du livre intitulé Considérations sur la Guerre actuelle des Turcs, par M.Volney. Amsterdam, 1788

DE PEYSSONNEL: Examen du livre intitulé Considérations sur la Guerre actuelle des Turcs, par M.Volney. Amsterdam, 1788 First and only edition. In 8vo, contemporary marbled hardcovers, upper joint weak but holding, some light wear at the edges, some scattered spotting and foxing. Complete: half-title, title, 331 p. Overall, almost very good. The book is a reply to Volney’s Considérations. Both works concern the destiny of the Ottoman Empire and the possible rise of a new Greek state. Volney strongly supported Russia and anticipated the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire; he was rewarded with a gold medal by the Empress of Russia. Peyssonnel, by contrast, defended the preservation of the Ottoman Empire, a traditional ally of France. These two influential French writers had completely different views of how French interests would be best served. Volney, a Philhellen, seeing the weakness of the Turks, believed it better to change sides in this early phase, while Peyssonnel, who had lived for 25 years as a consul in the Levant, feared the loss of the traditional privileges of French traders there. These simultaneous publications, appearing during the Russo-Turkish War, were most likely intended for the wider European audience in order to influence decision-making circles toward either the agreed partition or the preservation of the Ottoman Empire. They played an important role in the rise of Philhellenism. References: Atabey 953, not in Blackmer