1733 Duke Antoine De Gramont Appoints Buchet Major Surgeon In The Regiment Of The Béarnese Bands

Rare Handwritten Letter from Louis Antoine Armand, Duke of Grammont and Peer of France, appointing Pierre Buchet Barbier-Chirurgien to the post of Surgeon Major in the Bandes Béarnaises regiment in 1733. Folio format (36.5 cm x 24 cm). Content of the letter: "Louis Antoine Armand Duke of Gramont, Peer of France, Sovereign of Bidache, Lord of Lesparre, Knight of the King's Orders, Governor and Lieutenant General for his Majesty in his kingdoms of Navarre and Sovereign Country of Béarn, Special Governor of the Chateau de Pau, the city castles and citadel of Bayonne and the citadel of St Jean de Pié de Port, Colonel of the regiment of the French Guards. To Sieur Buchet fils. Greetings The position of surgeon major of the regiment of the Béarnaise Bands being vacant by the death of Sieur Guilhaume who was provided with it, and being necessary to fill it, we believed that we could not for this, make a better choice than that of you, by the good and praiseworthy report which was made to us of your good life and morals, activity, prudence, profession of the Roman Catholic Apostolic religion, zeal and affection for the service of the King, and experience in the Art of Surgery. For these reasons We, by virtue of the power given to us by his Majesty and for his good pleasure, have committed and appointed you, commit and order by these presents for Surgeon Major of the regiment of the Béarnaise Bands, to exercise everywhere to humans, ranks, rights, prerogatives, preeminences, pay, profits, and emoluments attached thereto such and similar as enjoyed by Sieur Guilhaume and as enjoyed or should have enjoyed by those who preceded him in the said position. We mandate to Sieur Hiton Major and Inspector of the regiment, that after having taken from you the oath in the required case, he receives you and installs you in the place, makes you enjoy the attributes attached thereto, recognize, obey and hear all those and as it will be appropriate, and things which will relate to it. In witness whereof we have sent these presents, signed by our hand, sealed with the seal of our arms and countersigned by our secretary. in Paris on the thirteenth of December one thousand seven hundred and thirty-two. (Signature of the Duke of Gramont and black wax seal with his arms and Countersignature of his secretary). On the second page of this document is the following text: "In the place of Clarac and in our noble house, there appeared before us the Lord of Buchet, son of Garlin, who lent in his hands the oath taken in the commission in the other part and consequently we received him and installed him in the place of Surgeon Major of the regiment in faith of which we signed in Clarac on the fifth of January, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty-three. (Signature of Hiton) Pierre Buchet, native of Garlin (old Béarnaise bastide 30 km from Pau in the Pays de Vic-Bilh) is part of a family of Surgeons and Barber-Surgeons who played important roles in Béarn and in the Landes and one of whom was Mayor of Tartas under the Empire.