Ma Mission à Rome, Mai 1849. Mémoire Présenté au Conseil d'État by Lesseps, Ferdinand de, 1805-1894 - 1849

Paris: Amyot, 1849. Hard Cover. 2 leaves, II, 168 pages. Dated: 23 July 1849. The government of the French Republic entrusted de Lesseps with a mission to Rome at the moment when it was a question whether the expelled Pope would return to the Vatican with or without bloodshed. Following his interpretation of the instructions he had received, de Lesseps began negotiations with the existing government at Rome, according to which Pius IX should peacefully re-enter the Vatican and the independence of the Romans be assured at the same time. But while he was negotiating, the elections in France had caused a change in the foreign policy of the government. His course was disapproved; he was recalled and brought before the council of state, which blamed his conduct without giving hm a chance to explain himself. Rome was then attacked by the French Army and, after a month's sanguine siege in which Garibaldi was a defender, was taken by assault. The building of the Suez Canal resulted from de Lesseps' resignation from the French Foreign Service as a consequence of this incident. This work also contains his "Réponse de M. F. De Lesseps au Ministère et au Conseil d'État, Août 1849", Paris, Amyot, 1849, 1 leaf, 38 pages, dated 25 August 1849. This copy is from the library of Nicholas Brown, United States representative in Rome during de Lesseps' negiotiations, who supported them and was asked to leave when France's policy rejected Italian independence. This is an important document of Italian Roman Risorgimento history, with a superb provenance. Bound in 3/4 leather, vg (although some foxing). Stock#OB385.