Rare collection of pamphlets printed in Toulon or Marseille, notably during the Restoration period, several of which implicate senior military figures of the First Empire.
The first item is: "Ordonnance du Roi, Portant règlement sur les Franchises du Port de Marseille et Suite de l'Ordonnance..." printed in Toulon, by Alx (sic) Curet, (1815), 16 pages, comprising an extract from the Moniteur of 24 February 1815.
Bound in half ivory vellum with corners, smooth spine, manuscript inscription in black ink to spine, blue pasteboards with some surface abrasions, contemporary binding.
Some foxing. A few nicks to the edges.
Bound in continuation:
1) Jugement rendu par la Chambre des Pairs qui condamne à la peine de mort, le Maréchal Ney, ex-Pair de France. Toulon, Impr. de Calmen, n.d. (1815), 4 pages.
Comprising an extract from the Moniteur of 7 December 1815. A rare pamphlet published in Toulon on the very day of Ney's execution. "Maladroit et susceptible, Ney ne veut pas être traité comme un tambour. Il veut être jugé par la Chambre des pairs… Quelle erreur! il se retrouve condamné à mort malgré la déposition de Davout en sa faveur - Davout qu'il a si mal traité" (Tulard, 1237).
2) Ordonnance du Roi…. Toulon, Alex. Curet, (1815), 8 pages.
Extract from the Moniteur of 8 December 1815, setting out the terms of the amnesty granted to all those who, directly or indirectly, had taken part in Napoleon Bonaparte's rebellion and usurpation — illustrating Louis XVIII's attempt to pursue a policy of reconciliation — together with moving (if incidental) details concerning the death of Marshal Ney, published on the day following his execution.
3) Pétition lue à la Chambre des Députés sur la haute trahison du Maréchal Masséna. Toulon, Impr. de Calmen, (1816), 8 pp., likewise an extract from the Moniteur of 7 February 1816.
This petition, apparently brought by the inhabitants of the Bouches-du-Rhône, heaps opprobrium upon the Marshal, accusing him above all of having facilitated Napoleon's return from the Isle of Elba. "Affaibli par une maladie de poitrine, taraudé par le chagrin" (Tulard, 1151), Masséna was to die one year later.
4) Mémoire de M. le Maréchal Masséna. Toulon, Alex Curet, (1816), 8 pages.
Extract from La Quotidienne of 2 March 1816, summarising Masséna's memoir in response to the charges laid against him by the petition of the citizens of Marseille.
5) Robert, Louis-Joseph-Marie: "L'Hermite de St. Jean, ou Tableau des Moeurs et fêtes marseillaises, depuis la Restauration des Bourbons, n° 39." Marseille, Antoine Ricard, n.d. (1815), 16 pages.
A single fascicle from this rare series, of which the Bibliothèque nationale de France holds no complete set.
6) Dupin, Charles: "Des Intérêts de Marseille et de toutes les villes maritimes de la France." Ibid., id., n.d. (1815), 8 pages.
7) Barère: "Convention nationale. Rapport sur l'assassinat de Collot-d'Herbois, représentant du peuple, lu à la Convention Nationale, au nom du Comité de Salut Public". Printed in (Paris), by Charpentier, n.d. (Year II – 1794), 15 pages.
8) Honoré-Pelletier: "Honneur aux dames, ou Leur apologie, Épître à Juvénal et Boileau." Paris, chez l'auteur, Martinet, n.d., 14 pages.
9) Comte de Salaberry: "Concernant les épurations dans plus d'un ministère et dans les grandes administrations" printed in Toulon, by Calmen, n.d., 24 pages.
A rare and curious collection of pamphlets, almost all printed in Toulon or Marseille at the fall of the Empire.
The fascicles concerning Ney and Masséna are particularly striking.
A rare collection of pamphlets censuring several of the foremost Marshals of the First Empire.