George SAND - Signed autograph letter

George Sand
Signed autograph letter destined to the colonel Camille Ferri-Pisani. Nohant, 23rd Sepember 1861 ; 3 pages ½ in-8th.

George Sand asks the colonel, aide de camp of prince Jérôme Bonaparte close to the writer, to intervene in favour of her friend: "My dear colonel, you promised to write to the prefect of Constantine for my friend Jean Patureau to which the benevolent administrator had announced his nomination as city councillor. Patureau thought he had to refuse the serment and I admonished him, thinking it was a useless and blind protest against the governing France has chosen. I was wrong. I have just received a new letter from my settler in Africa telling me in his own terms that it is not for him a question of conscience but a simple emotional moment which he had not been in control of. "I was imprisoned, ruined and banished", he said "for having accepted the the city councillor mandate in France. If I accept it in Africa now, what will happen to me later? I am like a bird beaten about by the wind, refusing to land." But what emerges from his letter is that he feels he has answered too hastily and fears he has shown a systematic hostlity which is not true to his nature. As such, if you would be kind enough to write this to Mr the prefect of Constantine - Patureau does not request a return upon the offer made to him but declares himself ready to do anything expected of him and asks that his feelings of Christian moderation and patriotism be known, above any kind of personal grudge. Please plead for the cause of this excellent man, armed with remarkable intelligence and a great heart. You had talked to me about the prefect of Constantine in order to give me trust in his generosity and equity. From the bottom of my heart, dear colonel, thank you for the beautiful days you have spent at Nohant."

Letter referenced in the Lubin Correspondance, tome XVI, p.643-644