The Chevalier D'Eon Archive on Her Hopes for Peace between England and France "A bad peace is better than a good war and I would die happy if I could execute this noble design."

D'Eon, Chevalier

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Chevalier D'Eon, famed transgender French spy and duelist. One of the earliest well-known openly trans women in history. Two Autograph Letters Signed by the Chevalier D'Eon to her close friends Colonel and Madame John Kemeys-Tynte. Six handwritten pages total. French. Both dated March 8th, 1793. Both letters pertain to D'Eon's plan to drop off a "cassette" (a small case) with the Tyntes for safe-keeping before a trip to France, despite the ongoing French Revolution. D Eon was in a precarious position as a noble and former diplomat but she believed she would be able to sort out her late mother s affairs in Tonnerre and receive her inheritance before the Revolution descended into chaos. She writes "I received yesterday all the necessary passports to return to Paris in a more honest and graceful manner than if I were the sister of Monsieur Egalite". Here D Eon is referring to the Duke of Orleans, a supporter of the French Revolution who changed his name to Philippe Egalite in 1792. He would be executed during the Reign of Terror in November 1793. At this time D Eon still believed the Revolution could be salvaged and continues "My dearest desire.will be to arrange the affairs of my mother's small estate and negotiate a good peace between France and England. A bad peace is better than a good war and I would die happy if I could execute this noble design." D Eon also refers to a "case that I must leave at your home until it is withdrawn by the French government". It is unknown what was in the case (potentially documents from her years as a spy and politician) or which French government she believed would withdraw it, but it was important enough for her to believe she would not be able to take it with her nor leave it unattended in her absence. Either creditors in England or fears of the Revolution may have taken the better of her, as her biographies indicate that she did not return to France during this time period. Her pension would eventually be abolished under the new Revolutionary government and D'Eon was plagued by financial difficulties for the remainder of her life, but she continued to write often of her desire to quell the ongoing conflicts between England and France. Letters signed "D" and "Genevieve D Eon", affirming D Eon s personal identity as a woman among her friends. Letter is legible and in overall very good condition. Provenance: By descent to Charles John Halswell Kemeys-Tynte, 9th Baron Wharton (1908-1969). Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 20943

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Titel: The Chevalier D'Eon Archive on Her Hopes for...
Signiert: Signatur des Verfassers