Henri BAUDRILLART (1821–1892). Letter from the author, April - Lot 4

Henri BAUDRILLART (1821–1892). Letter from the author, April 23, 1866, to Senator Michel Chevalier; 12 pages, in-8. A lengthy letter concerning the chair of political economy at the Collège de France, which he has held as Michel Chevalier’s substitute for fourteen years, but which Chevalier now appears to wish to reclaim. Surprised and hurt, he reproaches his senior colleague in strong terms for ruining his life and career, despite the legality of this request: “Must I ask you whether legal rights are all that matter in this world, and whether there are not moral and equitable considerations that are just as strong? […] ‘My qualifications will be taken into account,’ you say again; I hope so, but you will understand that I take it upon myself to assert them. Whether I succeed or fail, I take with me the conviction that, during these long years of teaching, I have had nothing to reproach myself for—neither toward you […] nor toward the science that you did me the honor of entrusting to my care”…