Ferdinand de LESSEPS - Belorgey de Granville / Verdier Latour - 1854

Manuscript letter signed by Count Ferdinand de Lesseps to the Marquis de Moustier – Paris, June 29, 1854

Beautiful manuscript letter signed by Count Ferdinand de Lesseps, written on the foreign affairs ministry letterhead, dated Paris, June 29, 1854, and addressed to Léonel de Moustier, Minister Plenipotentiary in Berlin. Envelope preserved with red wax seal.

Regarding the succession to the chancellorship of the French legation at Karlsruhe after the resignation of Mr. Belorgey de Granville. Ferdinand de Lesseps explains the reasons that prevent retaining the candidacy of the young Albert Heep and announces the appointment of Mr. Verdier Latour, an experienced diplomat who has served in Sweden and in China. The letter closes with a confidential postscript, written in Lesseps’ own hand, personally recommending Verdier Latour because of his backing from several influential personalities of the Second Empire.

Transcription

Paris, June 29, 1854

Sir Marquis,

The minister has received the letter you were kind enough to send him on the occasion of Mr. Belorgey de Granville’s resignation, and he has entrusted me to inform you that, at the moment it reached him, the successor to this chancellor had already been named by the Emperor.

This circumstance would therefore not have allowed him to follow up on the proposal you made in favor of Mr. Albert Heep, even if this candidate had been in line to obtain the appointment.

As you know, indeed, Sir Marquis, it is only in August last, that is to say not yet a year ago, that this young man, who is not even twenty-five years old—the age required to be named chancellor—was admitted as a simple clerk at the chancery of the French legation at Karlsruhe.

We could not, without compromising our rules and the hierarchy, grant Mr. Heep such a substantial promotion.

I wish, moreover, to add, Sir Marquis, to reassure you, that the minister has chosen, to replace Mr. Belorgey de Granville, a person who is already very familiar with the chancery service.

This person is Mr. Verdier Latour, who has held the functions of chancellor of the legation in Sweden and in China, and who, apart from his perfect knowledge of Swedish and Danish, knows German and German affairs well enough to render to your legation all the services it has a right to expect from it.

In the case, moreover, Sir Marquis, where the aid of Mr. Albert Heep to the work of your legation would seem desirable to you, it might perhaps be possible to attach him there in a situation analogous to that which he occupies at Karlsruhe.

Please accept, Sir Marquis, the assurances of my high consideration and my complete devotion.

Ferdinand de Lesseps

P.S. — Mr. Verdier Latour is the son of a counselor at the Imperial Court of Riom, who is the close friend of Counts Morny, Rouher and Chazelles. These gentlemen should recommend him to you, from what I have been told.

Careful dispatch
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