Tableau des Etats-Unis en 1805
« Rejects of Europe, the inhabitants of the United States have brought to America all the vices, and they have added almost none of their own virtues. They have neither dignity of character, nor elevation of soul, nor generosity in their sentiments; a low and vile greed is their universal passion and no agreeable art, almost none of the charms of society embellish their lives » (Félix de Beaujour, Philadelphia, January 1808).
Famous original manuscript by Consul General Félix de Beaujour, handwritten in Philadelphia in January 1808, providing a complete economic, moral, and financial overview of the United States from 1774 to 1805.
In-folio of: Title, 36 pages of text, 48 pages of tables.
Red morocco, Duseuil-style decoration on the covers, “Tableau des Etats-Unis” stamped in gold letters at the center of the upper cover, decorated edges. Contemporary binding.
400 x 255 mm.
Beaujour, Louis-Auguste Félix de (1765-1836). Tableau of the United States in 1805 with Explanatory Tables by Mr. Félix de Beaujour, Consul General of His Majesty the Emperor and King.
Written in Philadelphia in January 1808.
Original manuscript of the Tableau of the United States hand-copied in Philadelphia in January 1808, which served for the unique 1814 edition.
Félix de Beaujour studied in Aix-en-Provence and Paris and entered the diplomatic service. He was successively secretary of legation in Munich in 1790, and Dresden in 1791, then consul general in Greece in 1794, and Consul General in charge of business in Sweden in 1799.
Back in France in 1800, Abbe Sieyes appointed him a member of the Tribunat, where he was successively secretary and president of the Tribunat in 1803. Upon the dissolution of the assembly, he went to the United States as Commissioner General, with a mission to raise the money for the French government, that had been delegated to Mexico, by Spanish subsidies. After serving as consul general in Washington from 1804 to 1811, he returned to France in 1814. Talleyrand made him Consul General in Smyrna in 1816, then Inspector General of the French Establishments in the Levant in 1817. In 1818, Louis XVIII gave him the title of baron, and he then changed his name (Feris) to (Félix).
“Rejected by Europe, the inhabitants of the United States brought all the vices of America with them, and they have hardly mixed in any virtues of their own. They possess neither dignity of character, nor nobility of soul, nor generosity of sentiment; a base and vile greed is their universal passion, and hardly any pleasing art, almost none of the charms of society, brighten their lives. Crossing the seas, they seem to have lost all sense of glory and to have forever separated themselves from Europeans.
Are these people happier than those of Europe? With more means to be so, they appear to be less so. However, like all young nations, they find it easier to live and therefore have fewer worries and cares; but if they live almost without hardship, they also live almost without pleasures.”
The 48 pages of tables provide us with the exact state of the United States from 1774 to 1805. Thus, in 1774, the number of free persons was 1,935,000 and 5,156,000 in 1805; the number of slaves was 500,000 in 1774 and 1,024,900 in 1805.
Superb copy of this remarkable manuscript by Félix de Beaujour, hand-copied in Philadelphia in January 1808, preserved in its beautiful period long-grain morocco binding.
