Description:

JAMES MONROE
(1758 - 1831) Fifth President of the United States who negotiated the Louisiana Purchase and promulgated the Monroe Doctrine. Superb content A.L.S. as Minister Plenipotentiary to France, 3pp., 4to., Paris, January 27, 1796, a highly detailed report of revolutionary France's early setbacks and successes, "...witnessed since our arrival many great & interesting scenes..." Monroe first discusses the newly-established Directory's efforts to combat the miserable failure of the fiat money (assignat) to stanch inflation by imposing a Forced Loan on France's richest 25%: "...At present the revolution seems to rest on a basis more solid than at any former period. The new govt. seems daily to acquire more & more the publick confidence & with it to display a greater degree of energy & force. The forced loan will succeed & whereby abt. 25.000.000 strg. will be raised..." Monroe then reports on the First Coalition-- England, Austria, and Prussia-- and their ongoing battle to quell France's revolution: "... Such are the efforts of the coalised powers to prevent the success of the French revolution, & the establishment of a free government here, & so various are the measures adopted by them for that purpose, that every week has furnished some incident of importance... " Monroe makes specific mention of General Pichegru's Oct. 29, 1975 evacuation of Manheim on the Rhine and the subsequent treaty with Austria: "...A truce was lately agreed upon between the French and Austrian generals on the Rhine, & approved by the Directoire for one month, & latterly prolonged for sometime yet to come. It was asked by the Austrians & according to report with a view of commencing a negotiation for peace. But what the prospect of success in this respect no one can judge...It is believed that France will not agree upon other terms than the complete restitution of every thing taken from her & Holland, & on the other hand England will not agree to these, in the present state of things being superior at sea..." Boldly signed, "Jas Monroe". Monroe's analytic abilities as Minister were fair at best: the Directory's attempts to secure the country's finances would fail until Napoleon introduced the franc in 1803; however, Monroe was correct in doubting the security of the treaty, which only lasted until spring of 1796. Monroe was recalled by President Washington on Dec. 9, 1796. Slight toning, else fine.

Provenance: Monroe reports on the ongoing French Revolution and European efforts to seek its ruin

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May 13, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
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