Autograph Letter Signed ('Alphonse Esquiros'), in French, from Henri-François-Alphonse Esquiros to a 'concitoyen', regarding applications for professorships at the military academies at Woolwich, Addiscombe and Sandhurst.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged and slightly-creased paper. He begins by apologising for the lateness of his response, caused by work which was supposed to be finished at the end of the previous month. 'Sans me renseigner auprès des personnes que vous voulez bien me renommer, je puis vous dire tout de suite que l'exil est un bien suffisant et que je serait heureux de vous etre utile en quelque chose.' Alluding to a French fairy tale, he states that at the moment he finds himself in 'le cas de la Soeur Anne': 'Je ne vois rien venir.' There is no sign of 'un changement prochain dans le personnel des professeurs ni à Woolwich, ni à Addiscomb, [sic] ni à Sandhurst; mais si le cas se presentait, je ne manquerais pas de vous en informer.' He explains the reasons why these places are much sought after, advising the recipient 'd'appuyer au besoin votre candidature par quelques recommendations personnelles'. Esquiros was exiled from France in 1851 for his opposition to the Second Empire, spending his time in England, about which he published a five-volume work. On his return in 1869 he was again elected to the Legislative Assembly, and in 1876 to the senate.