LESPÈS (Sébastien Joachim) - Lot 210

LESPÈS (Sébastien Joachim) Bayonne, 1828 - 1897. French admiral. He took part in the Crimea and Indochina campaigns before holding various positions in the Ministry of the Navy. He was Maritime Prefect of Cherbourg from 1888 to 1893. L.A.S. "J. Lespès", Paris, October 3, 1883, 1 p. 1/3 in-8 on printed letterhead of the Ministère de la Marine et des Colonies, État-Major Général. Interesting administrative letter concerning historical research in the archives of the French Navy. Lespès informs his correspondent that the president of the archives commission has been informed of "Monsieur Gabriel Marcel's" wish to be authorized to carry out research in the archives of the Navy, adding that the reply, which he hopes will be favorable, will be sent to him on receipt. This document is typical of the French maritime administration of the Third Republic, and bears witness to the workings of archive commissions and the authorization of consultation in military and naval archives at the end of the 19th century. Fine signature of Admiral Lespès.