Bidspirit auction | [HISTORY] - BARRAS Paul (1755

[HISTORY] - BARRAS Paul (1755 - 1829) - Unpublished Apologia Of A Revolutionary Leader - Convention member, Member of the Directory, 1755-1829. Outstanding unpublished manuscript entitled ”Barras, ” written or inspired by him, containing numerous autograph corrections in his hand. 15 pages, folio. Manuscript copy, in good handwriting, with NUMEROUS AUTOGRAPH CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS BY BARRAS in the interlinear spaces and margins. Tourneux cites no printed edition of this document entitled simply BARRAS, which begins: ”Exaggeration and hatred are perhaps, in the circumstances in which we find ourselves, our most dangerous enemies...” and ends with: ”When one is vested with great powers, it is easy to distinguish oneself by great services.” It is a veritable apologia for Barras and the principal events of his military service before 1789 and his political career during the Revolution and the Directory. Whether Barras himself drafted this document or was closely inspired by it is clearly demonstrated by the numerous corrections and additions he made to this manuscript. They fill four pages in the accompanying transcription. Shortly before the end, we read the following passage: ”...it is true that in difficult circumstances, he (Barras) twice accepted the supreme command, but each time, after the peril, he cast it off as a burden.” Barras added in the margin: ”I know that if he had not been relentlessly pursued by enemies of the fatherland, he would have already withdrawn from the eminent post from which he longs to descend...” THIS REMARKABLE DOCUMENT WAS THEREFORE DRAFTED WHEN BARRAS WAS STILL DIRECTOR, BEFORE THE 18TH BRUMAIRE, which marks the end of his political career and the triumph of his friend Bonaparte. •⁠> This lot is located in and ships from Switzerland. Import duties, VAT, and clearance charges will apply in the destination country and are the buyer's responsibility.