[FOUCHÉ (Joseph), duc d'Otrante (1759-1820]

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[FOUCHÉ (Joseph), duc d'Otrante (1759-1820]
Rapport au Roi sur la situation de la France et sur ses relations avec les armées étrangères par S. Ex. le Ministre de la Police générale [followed by Deuxième Rapport] Rapport au Roi sur l'intérieur de la France par son excellence le Ministre de la Police générale [followed by Troisième Rapport] 3eme Rapport fait au Roy par le duc d'Otrante Ministre de la Police générale. In French, handwritten on paper, one on bluish paper, fine cursive handwriting in brown ink, last line of each page copied in more golden ink. Text not signed but each report ends with the initial "F" for "Fouché". France, the first report is dated August 14, 1815; the other reports are not dated. First report, notebook of 4 pages, small in-4, not bound. Dimensions : 160 x 204 mm. - Second report and third report, two sewn notebooks, 10 ff. + 6 ff., large in-4, not bound. Dimensions : 180 x 247 mm. Fouché, judging that the monarchy is the regime which will allow best to France to recover its sovereignty, contributes strongly to the return on the throne of Louis XVIII, and becomes on July 9, 1815 his minister. A powerful cabal of the former emigrants (it will be recalled that Fouché had voted the death of Louis XVI) is then triggered against him. The king appointed him ambassador in Dresden to keep him away, where he was victim of the law of regicides of January 12, 1816. He lost his functions and the authorization to reside in France. He retired to Prague, became an Austrian naturalized citizen in 1818, and died in Trieste in 1820. The present reports of Fouché were published in Paris in 1815 (copy, Paris, BnF 8-LB48-2809) but published without the name of the printer. However we note differences between the handwritten texts and the printing of 1815: a comparative study is necessary, certain differences are important. A manuscript is preserved in the National Archives (Interior. Police politique. Série PP. Cote: F/7/6789): it will also be necessary to confront it with the present manuscripts. The third report is a virulent charge against the party of Monsieur. According to Waresquiel, this third report was never presented to the king and was published after the departure of Fouché from the ministry. "I should say that Fouché's report to the king of the interior was the truest representation of this country that could be given" (quoted by E. Waresquiel, Fouché. Les silences de la pieuvre (2014), notes to chapter 40, no. 74: C. Arbuthnot to the Earl of Liverpool, 30 October 1815). Fouché delivers here, on the eve of his permanent exile, a lucid vision of France, trying if possible to overcome the royal disgrace. He will never succeed and will not see his "Patrie" again. Let us note that the last words of our manuscript version indicate at the end of the "Letter addressed to the king by the ministers at the time of their retreat in 1815": "This is why we dare to beg her to believe in the regrets we feel for not being able to continue longer to serve her and in the wishes we formulate for the prosperity of Your house and for the salvation of the Fatherland". In the version printed in 1815, the last words are: "[...] for the prosperity of his house and the salvation of France". These manuscripts are set with a CBC no. 215023.
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