LAMARTINE Alphonse de (1790-1869)

Lot 158
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LAMARTINE Alphonse de (1790-1869)
MANUSCRIPT autograph signed "Lamartine representative of the people", 26th Council to the people. Des institutions préventives de la guerre sociale ou Une matinée à Londres, London 23-25 september 1850; 75 pages in-fol. or in-4, bound in one volume in-fol. red percaline bradel, smooth spine, black long title, slipcase (late 19th c. binding; used slipcase). Important manuscript on life in London, and reflection on what socialism should be. The manuscript, in black ink on English paper, was used for printing; it is written mainly on laid paper watermarked Britannia for pages 1 to 8 (including 5 bis) and 30 to 59, on blue laid paper watermarked KENT and Britannia for pages 9 to 29 (including 21 bis), and the end on wove paper in-4 for pages 60 to 71 (including 65 bis and 67 bis). It is divided from [I] to XIII (XII in the edition), and presents about a hundred corrections, annotations and additions, as well as variants with the edited text. This article was published in October 1850 in Le Conseiller du Peuple (a monthly publication that Lamartine continued for three years and which was succeeded by Le Civilisateur), under a different title from the manuscript: Une matinée à Londres ou Du socialisme conservateur et du socialisme destructeur. Lamartine stayed in London from 11 to 24 September 1850. He was "dazzled by the immense progress made by England [...] in population, wealth, industry, navigation, railways, extension, buildings, embellishments and improvements to its capital, but also and above all by the institutions of assistance to the People and associations of true religious, Christian, fraternal socialism between the classes", guaranteeing social peace... Lamartine had already seen England in 1822, then in 1830 when he was struck by "the misery of the English and Irish proletarians"; but everything changed in 1850. He describes London and its surroundings, the bustle of the city that had become prosperous, the public spirit... He admired the action of the "institutions preventing social wars" and "conservative socialism" which reconciled the classes. Then, under the guidance of a guide, he visits London, and becomes enthusiastic about the work of the many charitable institutions... In conclusion, he appeals to the French leaders, recommending a "civilized and conservative socialism" à la Peel to "defeat the execrable socialism which for a moment perverted this beautiful name, just as the excesses of 1793 had perverted the name of Republic ! A rare printed booklet is attached: Lamartine Président de la République pour la campagne présidentielle de 1848 (4 p. in-8 with portrait). PROVENANCE Alidor Delzant (ex-libris), Louis Barthou (II, 1059)
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