French politician and philosopher (1809-1865) who was the first to describe himself as an anarchist. ALS in French, signed “P.-J. Proudhon,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.5 x 8.5, July 29, 1861. Handwritten letter to Gustave Chaudey, his lawyer, sent from Ixelles, Brussels. In part (translated): "Let me embrace you—and at the same time offer you an honourable apology! When I saw the avalanche of outcries rising against my book (War and Peace), I asked myself, thinking of you: Will he dare? I wronged you in my heart, dear friend, because for a moment I doubted your courage—but that doubt came from my own heart. You dared to say what you thought of my book when all voices were denouncing it…
This is the second time you’ve agreed to be my advocate… Thirteen years ago, in 1848, I stood alone one day against everyone with poor Greppo. But Greppo knew neither how to speak nor how to write. Now, there is a voice, a powerful pen that echoes mine…Let us now speak calmly. You understood perfectly again that it is our democrats who need to be reassured—against the fear of despotism wielding brute force…Let us be strong! That is to say: let us stop being cowards, stop being like women—let us become men again, and we shall be free." In fine condition.
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