HISTORY - GALLIFFET Gaston Auguste (1830 - 1909) - Autograph letter signed

He served in the cavalry during the military campaigns of the Second Empire. In 1871, he brutally repressed the Paris Commune. In 1889-90, he was Minister of War. He worked actively for the resolution of the Dreyfus affair. Autograph letter signed "Gal Galliffet" to Mr L... (Paris), January 7, 1897, 3 pp. in-8°. Beautiful piece. After beginning by saying that he cannot make an appointment with his correspondent because he is kept at the bedside of his friend General de Ligniere who is slowly dying, Calliffet speaks at length about his dog: "il était parfait quand il le reçut d'Angleterre mais il l'a un peu gâté: nez parfait, caractère excellent, pedigree, race (Sandringham). Mr M... peut venir voir la bête un matin; il devra insister auprès du concierge .. car ma retraite est barricadée en temps ordinaire…"