"le temps de planter est venu"

| "the time for planting has come" |
Autograph letter signed by François-René de Chateaubriand, dated March 14, 1827. 3 1/2 pages in black ink on a bifolium, addressed to Michel-Augustin Varcollier.

Chateaubriand writes to the husband of his goddaughter, Atala Stamaty-Varcollier, the first to bear the name of the heroine of his famous novel that propelled him onto the literary scene in 1801. Head of the Fine Arts Division of the Seine Prefecture, Michel-Augustin Varcollier acted as Chateaubriand's intermediary in the development of the grounds of l'Infirmerie Marie-Thérèse, his wife Céleste's grand project to house elderly priests and nobles widowed by the French Revolution.

Here, Monsieur, is a bill from Madame de Chateaubriand to M. de Chabrol, inviting him to attend Marie-Thérèse's council meeting, which will take place next Wednesday, the 21st at 2 a.m.". M. de Chabrol was kind enough to suggest Friday of this week, but it has been impossible to gather MM. the Counselors for that day. Kindly explain this to Monsieur de Chabrol. [...] I have obtained permission from the Prefect of Police to place palisades along the walls.

Now I need permission from M. le Préfet de Paris to plant within these palisades. I'm going to pretend I've already got it, because the time for planting has come. I have no doubt that Mr. Préfet will continue his gestures of kindness. There is still, to complete the work on the trellis on my little boulevart [sic] to give two coats of paint to the barriers. I recommend myself to M. de Fresnes for the completion of this great work. I must thank him and you, Monsieur, for all the kindness you have shown me."