PÂRIS (François-Edmond). - Lot 237

PÂRIS (François-Edmond). Born in Paris in 1806 - died in 1893. French naval officer, hydrographer and naval draftsman. One of the great witnesses to traditional navigation in the 19th century. L.A.S. "E. Pâris" to "My dear Doctor". Brest, July 26, 1856. 3 pp. in-12, address on verso. Marginal tear without damage to text. Charming, lively letter written after a stay in the Orient and the Crimean campaign, combining memories of Constantinople, sketches brought back from Turkey and evocation of the operations around Sebastopol. Pâris first apologizes for having inadvertently kept a sketch of "Ludovic's store" in Constantinople: "I made a big blunder keeping the sketch of Ludovic's store in my pocket...". The drawing, crumpled and partially erased, was nevertheless returned to its correspondent, the officer deeming it preferable to pass on the souvenir "as is". He goes on to talk about the Kinburn Division he commanded, which has just published a commemorative album of the positions occupied during the previous winter: "...an album of the singular positions in which it found itself during last winter..." The letter contains several particularly interesting passages on the aftermath of the Crimean War and the memories brought back from Sebastopol. Pâris asks his correspondent to send him any prints or views taken during the expedition: "I was told that there were some very interesting prints of Sebastopol (...) I tried to draw it, but the wind and rain prevented me..." He also mentions the panorama from "the three-decker ship of the 12 Apostles", a famous Russian vessel scuttled after the siege. Finally, he gives news from Brest, where he now commands the frigate l'Audacieuse, "a magnificent 800-horsepower frigate", while preparing her outfitting: "I've got a lot of work to do on the outfitting...". A fine letter combining personal recollections, artistic considerations and first-hand account of the aftermath of the Crimean campaign. An interesting document on François-Edmond Pâris, future curator of the Musée de la Marine and major author of studies on the world's traditional navies.