MONCEY (Bon-Adrien Jeannot de) - Lot 221

Lot n° 221
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Estimation :
200 - 250 EUR
MONCEY (Bon-Adrien Jeannot de) - Lot 221
MONCEY (Bon-Adrien Jeannot de) Born in Moncey [Doubs]. 1754-1842. General during the Revolution. Marshal of the Empire. Duke of Conegliano. L.A.S. "Moncey" to "Mon cher conservateur". Mâcon, 16 germinal an 13 [6 avril 1805]. 4 pp. small in-4. Moncey, after giving some news of his trip, explains at length to his correspondent the work and modifications planned in his various residences, and gives numerous recommendations. Thus, he says, ...I am only waiting for a word when the keys are handed over, to give some preliminary indications, and to get the work underway, because on my return from the trip I must be able to live in this house; in the event that circumstances allow me the moment of rest, it is there that my heart will find it pleasant. This house will be absolutely mine; I want to have complete control over it, and I want the Moncey house to be completely independent of it. This is my home, and my wife will have hers too. I don't mean that she can't enjoy all that may be pleasant for her in the future, on the contrary, but I want to take absolute control of it, and live there as I please... In addition, he wishes an inventory ...of all parts of the château, farm, stables and so on, that he [Mr Ganne] take with him someone of sufficient strength to recognize the means to be taken on the spot to prevent the falling down of the part of the building that is collapsing, and to make it habitable, (...). Let this same person see at the same time and give a note with approximate dimensions of the furniture necessary at least by provision to the living room, dining room, my apartment six to seven master bedrooms and as much for people either mine or other. That a small estimate of the whole be made approximately for my own information, and that all this be sent to me in Lyon without delay... He needs a great deal of information and ...wants it all the more promptly, as once I'm over the Alps I don't really know what time I'll have to myself; there I'll start again, with my great obligations of major circumstances and of every minute, and those of my correspondence from Paris and the army throughout the Empire, (...).) Once I know what I have to do, I think I'll ask my elder brother to go there (tell me your opinion) and have the work done by good master craftsmen and on the instructions you'll give them for the choice of these craftsmen, who themselves, taking the necessary helpers, will hasten what needs to be done and take care of it. These workmen - masons, carpenters and roofers - would serve me well, and would be the ones I would attach to the upkeep of the houses I have, and those I would then employ to clean up Moncey's house and make it decent... This is followed by a long enumeration of all the alterations to be made and ...In the shed building you find more lumber than you need for the whole, and just about all the stone you need too. This is what Mr. Le Prieur should have done before the nonsense in the other house, since he didn't put a farmer there, and couldn't see any urgency. He didn't uphold his reputation as an eccentric with me any more than he responded to the friendly reminder I gave him, treating me like their flock of yesteryear; I forgive him, but in the presence of all the disorder I've just seen, both in the exterior of the house and in the ruin of the heritages, you have to know how to control yourself. The unfortunate man managed to sort himself out, but at least he had to look after the interests so abundantly entrusted to him...
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