Memorandum relating to Swiss Cantons; letters regarding French education

Three apparently unrelated documents in French, namely:
1. An eight page manuscript memoranda, probably written by an emigré Frenchman, containing observations on the attitude of the Swiss Cantons towards France, and the possibilities of involving them in a war against France, written in London, 28 Mar 1792.
2. Letter from Comte Origeon(?), written from Paris, 4 Mar 1789, unaddressed.
3. Letter from Jean Marie Cécile Valentin-Duplantier (1758-1814), Préfet of the Landes, to the Director of the École Polytechnique [of Mont-de-Marsan?], acknowledging receipt of information about examinations, and written from Mont-de-Marsan, 28 Aug 1802.

Switzerland is divided into 23 cantons, each of which has two delegates in the upper house of the federal parliament. In 1792, the Napoleonic Wars were about to break out, with France ranged against various coalitions of European countries: in 1798, the French armies marched into Switzerland and established a Helvetic Republic, though this was disbanded when Switzerland regained her independence in 1803.Jean Marie Cécile Valentin-Duplantier (1758-1814) was appointed Prefect of the area of Landes, South-West France, in 1802. He was based in Mont-de-Marsan, and established several experimental agricultural schemes in the area.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Bought from Mortlake Bookshop in 1964. Two printed items bought with these manuscripts have been transferred to the Goldsmiths' Library.

Collection level description.

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

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