“HOW TO BE THE MASTER, RATHER THAN THE HELPLESS SERVANT OF REVOLUTIONARY FORCE”: SCARCE FRENCH REVOLUTION BROADSIDE OF SEPTEMBER 1789, PROCLAIMING THE BENEDICTION OF FRENCH FLAGS IN NOTRE DAME, INCLUDING THE TEXT OF A PUBLIC LETTER TO LAFAYETTE
(FRENCH REVOLUTION). French Revolutionary Broadside. Assemblée des Représentans… Lettre… à M. le Marquis de la Fayette. (Paris): Lottin & Lottin, 1789. Folio sheet, measuring 16-1/2 by 21 inches, printed on recto; small contemporary notation in manuscript hand on verso.
Original 1789 French Revolution broadside, an extraordinary document marking the efforts of the newly formed government—under President Jean-Sylvain Bailly and his close friend the Marquis de la Fayette, leader of the French National Guard—to “establish the credibility of the revolutionary government” (Schama, Citizens), announcing the celebratory benediction of National Guard battalion flags in Notre Dame Cathedral on September 27, 1789. Extremely scarce.
Following the chaos of the French Revolution, Jean-Sylvain Bailly, first President of the newly formed National Assembly, “faced the need to bring some measure of calm to the government of the capital.” Bailly, who was later beheaded by Robespierre government, was a close friend of Franklin and Lafayette, and it was to Lafayette that Bailly immediately turned when faced with “the crucial dilemma of how to remain the master, rather than the helpless servant, of revolutionary force… [Lafayette] was so commanding a figure in the summer and early autumn of 1789 that it comes as a shock to realize that he was still only 32 years old and a complete political novice… For at least a few months Lafayette was the père nourricier, the father-provider of the city; its judge-arbitrator, the source of police protection and military authority… It is to his and Bailly’s credit that they did succeed in establishing the credibility of the revolutionary government. None of this could have been done without the National Guard… [which] had to wield a double-edged sword: against royalist conspiracy on one flank and against mob anarchy at the other” (Schama, Citizens, 446-52). That extraordinary effort is evidenced by this scarce, original 1789 broadsheet, publishing an edict for the benediction of all National Guard battalion flags to be held in Notre Dame Cathedral on September 27, 1789, with the further printing, beneath that order, of a September 22nd letter to Lafayette, describing careful preparations made to ensure the success of the event.
Significantly, as seen in the spirit of this broadside, the 32-year-old Lafayette was the ideal leader for his times. “Lafayette had a genuine appreciation of the psychological power of emotive symbols. He knew that, at a time when the traditional bonds that had held men in deferential relations to one another had collapsed, it was vital to reincorporate them in a new patriotic community. For that to work, outward forms that could signify ‘friend,’ ‘brother,’ ‘citizen’ were as crucial as—perhaps even more crucial than—decrees coming from the National Assembly.” In addition to inventing the French tricolor as a symbol of patriotic unity, Lafayette commanded each Guard battalion “to design its own flag; the flags were ceremonially blessed in the churches from which the districts took their names. Lafayette tried to attend as many of these ceremonies as he could and when that was impossible sent Bailly… Throughout August and much of September, this combination of armed containment and patriotic charisma held the line in Paris against counter-revolution and anarchy.” One of the most critical moments in that campaign came on September 27, when “there was a general benediction at Notre Dame” of the flags from each battalion of Lafayette’s National Guard. The much anticipated event was “preceded by a great parade of all the battalions, marching from their district quarters to the center of the city” (Schama, Citizens, 453-55).
This original broadside contains the National Assembly’s oral edict for a “Cérémonie de la Bénédiction générale des Drapeaux de la Garde-Nationale-Parisienne” to be held on Thursday, September 27, 1789. Beneath that proclamation is a printed letter to Lafayette, dated September 22, 1789, describing final preparations for the celebratory benediction of the flags. The entire text, in French, is printed as follows: [Engraved seal] “Assemblée des Représentans de la Commune de Paris. Extrait du Procès–Verbal de l’Assemblée des Représentans de la Commune de Paris. Du Mercredi 23 Septembre 1789. Sur la demande de M. le Commandant-Général, qu’il fût nommé des Commissaires pour veiller aux préparatifs de la Cérémonie de la Bénédiction générale des Drapeaux de la Garde-Nationale-Parisienne, qui doit se faire en l’Eglise Notre-Dame, Dimanche 27 du present mois, l’Assemblée a nommé MM. de Rammainvilliers, Chef de la troisiéme Division; Quatremère de Quincy, Célérier & Jallier de Savault, Représentans de la Commune, pour faire les dispositions necessaries à cette Cérémonie, & en ordonner les details. Signé Bailly, Maire’ Maussion, Vice-Président. Brousse Desfaucherets, Secrétaire. [engraved line] Lettre de M. le Compte de S.-Priest, à M. le Marquis de la Fayette. A Versailles, le 22 Deptember 1789. Le Roi m’a prescript, Monsieur le Marquis, d’ordonner qu’on tirat du magazine des Menus tout ce qui s’y trouve pouvant server à l’ornement de l’Eglisse de Notre-Dame, le jour de la Bénédiction des Drapeaux. Il sétoit glisse une erreur sur la réserve de ne rien placer, je viens de la rectivier. Je me fais un honneur de concourir à la dignité d’une Cérémonie où l’on consacrera des Drapeaux d’une Troupe Nationale dont Sa Majesté compte faire usage dans toutes les circonstances importantes de l’Etat: le repos actuel de sa Capitale est une de ces occasions essentielles; Sa Majesté voit avec satisfaction que votre zèle & celui des Milices Parisiennes s’y consacrent sans reserve, & distingue ce genre de service par-dessus tous les autres. J’ai l’honneur détre avec un très-parfait attachement, Monsieur le Marquis, votre très-humble & très-obéissant serviteur, Signé, Le Comte de S.-Priest. [engraved line] De l’Imprimerie de LOTTIN l’ainé, & LOTTIN de S.-Germain, Imprimeurs-Libraires Ordinaires de la Villre, rue S.-André-des-Arcs (No 27) 1789.”
An approximate English translation reads: “Assembly of the representatives of the Commune of Paris. Extract of the oral proceedings—at the assembly of representatives of the Commune of Paris. On Wednesday, September 23, 1789. At the request of the Commandant-General, who was nominated by the Commissaires to oversee the preparations for the Benediction Ceremony for the Flags of the Parisian National Guard, which will take place in Notre Dame Cathedral, Thursday, the 27th of the present month, the Assembly nominated MM. de Rammainvilliers, Chief of the Third Division, Quincy the Fourth, Célérier & Jallier de Savault, Representative of the Commune, to make the necessary arrangements for this ceremony, & to be in charge of the details. Signed Bailly, Maire’ Maussion, Vice-President. Brousse Desfaucherets, Secretary. [engraved line] Letter of M. le Compte de S.-Priest, to M. le Marquis de la Fayette. To Versailles, the 22nd of December 1789. The King has commissioned me, Monsieur le Marquis, to order the purchase of all that is needed to serve as ornamentation of Notre Dame Cathedral, the day of the Benediction of the Flags. If any errors were made in the reservation and placement of details, I will rectify them. I have the honor of ensuring the consecration of the Flags of the National troops that were used by Your Majesty in all the important circumstances of the State of the Ceremony; the firm security of your assets is one of the essentials on this occasions; His Majesty sees with satisfaction that your zeal & that of the Parisian Milita is honored without reservation, & distinguishes this type of service above all others. I’ve the honor to be, with a truly perfect affection, Monsieur le Marquis, your very humble & very obedient servant, Signed, Le Comte de S.-Preist.” Published by the renowned family-run French publishing firm of Lottin and Lottin. Text in French. With contemporary notation in manuscript on verso reading “23 Sept. 1789.”
Text quite clean and bright, faint creasing along foldlines, light edge-wear, with only two small pieces of tape affixed to upper edge of verso; a near-fine document, exceedingly rare.