Charles-Lucien BONAPARTE (1803-1857), ornithologist. Autograph letter signed to Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. 3 pp. ½ in-4. Spa, 27th August 1849. Address on the back. Beautiful letter on the Roman Republic, written from his exile, asking for the support of his fellow members of the Academy of Sciences [he took an active part in the Roman insurrection (1847-1849); in 1849, he was elected to the Roman assembly, took part in the creation of the Roman Republic; he became vice-president of the legislative council and took part in the defence of Rome against the forty thousand French soldiers sent by his cousin, Louis-Napoléon; he left Rome after the Republican army was defeated in July 1849; he landed in Marseille, but had to leave the country on Louis-Napoléon's orders; he then went into exile in Leiden]. "Despite your silence, I cannot doubt your old and sincere friendship and your interest in me in these painful circumstances [...]. You are aware of the unworthy and anti-French way in which I have been treated!... what shall I say unworthy?... worthy in every way of the cowardly assassins of the Roman Republic, and of the pygmies who dream of empire without glory, and who through false ambition and greed for gold or power betray the cause of France even more than that of the peoples they oppress by deceiving a great and generous nation. Many friends have urged me and urge me to speak out in the House against the abuse of power which has distanced me and is distancing me from the country where I was born and to which (I defy anyone to prove the contrary), I have never renounced, like several of my relatives who were representatives of the French people by name, etc., while serving in my exile as a representative of the French people. while in exile for half a century serving the cause of freedom, civilisation and progress in America, England and Italy, unable to do so in France, which certainly never had to be ashamed of me as one of its children! He pleaded his case at length, explaining his actions and denying that he had taken up arms against France. He asked for the support of his fellow members of the Institut. "As a member of the Institut, doesn't this body owe me protection and support? That's what I asked myself! If Arago has done so much for Mellori in this capacity with foreign governments, will I not find someone who will take the initiative for me? That's what I've come to ask you, along with some advice that is as patriotic as it is enlightened". He added in a postscript: "I leave it to you to judge whether it is useful and appropriate to make this letter known or the sentiments it contains: in any case, I shall be obliged to you to communicate it to Arago and Milne-Edwards, with my affectionate compliments which extend to everyone, those of my colleagues in Paris who will remember me and especially Messrs Le Verrier, Duméril, Blainville, Valenciennes, Jussieu, etc.".