Comte de Cagliostro - Mémoire pour le Comte de Cagliostro - 1786

Historical context
This document is a legal memorandum written in 1786 for the defense of the Count of Cagliostro (Giuseppe Balsamo), accused in the context of the Queen's Necklace affair. This affair, which erupted in France toward the end of Louis XVI's reign, involved several notable figures, including Cardinal de Rohan and the Countess of la Motte, and contributed to tarnishing the reputation of Queen Marie-Antoinette.

Contents of the memorandum
The text is presented as a pleading against the Attorney General, in the presence of the other accused. It also contains an excerpt from a letter by Count de Vergennes, Minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed to Mr. Gérard, provost of Strasbourg, dated March 17, 1787, stating that Cagliostro was seeking only tranquility, safety and hospitality.

Historical importance
This memorandum is a valuable source for historians, as it illustrates defense strategies in the trials of the Ancien Régime and provides insight into the political and social tensions of the era. It is also a direct testimony of how Cagliostro sought to defend himself against the charges.

A rare and precious work for historians...