Tocqueville, Alexis de. (1805 - 1859)
Autograph Letter Signed
Autograph letter signed "Alexis de Tocqueville" from the great French philosopher and observer of America, writing to secure a copy of a missing issue of the Bulletin Algérien. Dated 1850, 1 page, translated in part:"Sir, I mistakenly told you that I was missing issue no. 303 of the Bulletin Algérien. In fact, I am missing no. 313, so I'm returning the one I first took from you..." Approx. 5.1 x 8.25 inches (13 x 21 cm.). Central mailing fold, else fine.Tocqueville visited Algeria twice and supported Algerian colonization. "During the 1830s and 1840s the future of France’s new colony in Algeria became Tocqueville’s chief preoccupation in politics. At first confident that settlers from Europe would mix with the natives of Algeria, eventually he lost his belief in an integrated colonial society. Yet he never abandoned his opinion that France must consolidate its hold over Algeria for reasons of strategy and international reputation. He deplored the pre-eminence of military men over the political affairs of the young colony but accepted and even praised their manner of waging war against the Algerian people. Nostalgia motivated Tocqueville’s enthusiasm for empire, but contemporary influences shaped his views on the policies his country should adopt for the conquest and colonization of Algeria." (John Veugelers, "Tocqueville on the conquest and colonization of Algeria," Journal of Classic Sociology, Vol. 10, issue 4, 2010) (18657)
Literature Autograph Letter