Campaign in Russia. Gal Mériage. L.A.S. to... - Lot 348 - Conan Belleville Hôtel d'Ainay

Campaign in Russia. Gal Mériage. L.A.S. to his wife Esther Gibert. Orel [Russia] "chief town of the government of the same name," March 7, 1813. 3 pp. in-8. Address and postmark on back. Letter from Russia, while a prisoner in residence at Orel, after being seriously wounded at the Battle of Krasnoy (Nov. 18, 1812). "My wounds have healed, I have been going out for a few days, there is very good society here, the nobility is polite, and the town of Orell where I am is one of the principal towns of Russia; so in this respect, I have only to congratulate myself for having such a residence; There are many pleasant castles in the vicinity, dressed for the most distinguished lords of the empire, the feasts follow one another, the ladies are of the most brilliant education, as for the people they are ignorant and still very Moskovite, in general this step is very curious to see and it is badly judged in the rest of Europe or rather it is too little known to judge it. He gives instructions to transfer funds from Warsaw to Petersburg, asks for news of his family, but "I warn you that the letters are opened and read, so there should be only personal objects and no news. I have written to you in my previous letters about the valet Francois who is staying with me; if this strange man has the effrontery to come to your house, he must be expelled.... ». He will return from captivity in July 1814.