76 - Letter of allegiance to the restored King Louis XVIII, from the French officers held prisoner at Bishop’s Castle.

Letter of allegiance to the restored King Louis XVIII, from the French officers held prisoner at Bishop’s Castle. L.A.S. “The French officers held as prisoners of war on parole at Bishop’s Castle,” dated May 5, 1814, at Bishop’s Castle, and addressed to the Editor of The Statesman in London. “The patriotism and military spirit that guide us lead us to rally to our government and to the person of the new sovereign who has been given to us… Though we were attached to Napoleon’s glory while he reigned, we fulfilled our duty; his glory was that of the French people. Now that the illustrious heir to our French sovereigns has been restored to his rightful place, it is at his feet that we shall pay our homage… it is to him that we swear allegiance.” Manuscript bearing the signatures of some fifty French officers, along with their ranks and their Legion of Honor, if they had been awarded it: Bouteille, Robert, Debussy, Levêque, Delannoy, Beauvais, Colas, Bailly, De Lisle, Barrès, Thibon, Couture, Bertrand, etc. 3 ½ pages, folio format, brown ink on paper. Good condition, small tears along the edges.