AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY FRENCH STATESMAN AND PHILOSOPHER JULES BARTHELEMY-SAINT-HILAIRE.

Paris: 6 October, 1877.. 1877.. Good. - Approximately 119 words penned in black ink on a 8-1/4 inch high by 5- 1/4 inch wide sheet of bluish-gray paper. Signed "B. S Hilaire". The paper is lightly bumped with its edges slightly faded. There is a small tear to the right edge. Folded twice for mailing. Good. <p>Barthelemy-Saint- Hilaire writes in French to an English gentleman who has been referred to him by Lord Houghton. He apologizes for failing to find him at a crowded function. He explains that he had ordered the guards to make sure that the gentleman got past the door, and had also brought with him a friend who spoke very good English. He says that he is completely at the gentleman's disposal if he can be of use in acquainting him with "nos affaires politiques", which at the moment are very complicated.<p>Jules Barthelemy- Saint-Hilaire [1805-1895] was a French statesman and philosopher. In his early years he worked for the Ministry of Finance and was an active journalist. After 1830 he gave up politics in order to devote himself to the study of ancient philosophy, undertaking a translation of Aristotle which occupied him for most of his life. After the revolution of 1848 he was elected a republican deputy from the department of Seine-et Oise. Following further political upheavals he was apppointed senator for life. From 18800-81 he was minister of foreign affairs in the cabinet of Jules Ferry.