Victor Hugo – Signed Autograph Letter

Autograph letter signed to the politician and academician Narcisse-Achille Count of Salvandy. June 5 (1841); 1 page in-8°, address on the back. Victor Hugo reluctantly agrees to correct his reception speech at the French Academy following the strong discontent of Louis-Philippe who did not appreciate having been described, in his public speech on June 3, as " aide-de-camp of Dumouriez. He must revise his copy when the text is printed, reformulating his sentence as “lieutenant of Dumouriez and Kellermann” at the victories of Valmy and Jemmapes: “What the king desires will be done, my dear colleague. The biographies are formal, but I prefer to believe the king rather than his biographies. I will therefore put Kellerman as lieutenant, and I will no longer mention the name of Dumouriez. I immediately send the speech to Didot. I have just reread yours in the Debates [Salvandy's response to Hugo's reception speech in the public session of June 5], and I am happy to tell you that if, as a man, in what are probably my illusions, he perhaps offends a little, as writing, it charms me. I shake your hand. Offer, I pray you, to Madame de Salvandy, whose gracious kindness leaves me forever imprisoned, my most sincere and most respectful homage..."