Unpublished autograph letter dated December 22, 1830, and signed by the Marquis de Lafayette, written during his tenure as "commandant général des Gardes nationales du royaume" (La Fayette)

During the July Monarchy (1830) Lafayette--one of the greatest heroes of the American Revolution--was given command of the Gardes Nationales du Royaume on August 16, 1830. While he performed admirably, Louis-Philippe began to doubt whether he was a wise choice and, while congratulating him on a job well done, forced him out on December 26 of that year (four days after this letter was written). This letter--surely delivered by hand, and not sent through the post--orders an unnamed general to take commande of the National Guard troops on the right bank of the Seine (the general is not named for good reason, in case the letter had fallen into the wrong hands.) 25 x 20 cm, with blank verso and blank conjugate leaf. A little creasing and some tiny marginal closed tears, but overall in ver good condition. AN EXCELLENT LETTER BY A KEY FIGURE IN AMERICAN AND FRENCH HISTORY.