PAUL SOLEILLET (1842-1886), AUTOGRAPHS Set of 7 autograph letters signed. 1880-1881.

In French. 1) Autograph letter signed "Paul Soleillet" to "Mon Cher Monsieur" [Neubourg, representative of Messrs Maurel et Prom in Saint Louis (Senegal)]. Médine, 6 December 1880. 1 1/2 page in8. Heading: "Ministère des Travaux Publics - Mission Paul Soleillet". Very good condition. 20,5 x 13,5 cm They had arrived on 21 November "after a difficult journey" and were still waiting for their luggage. He received unbelievable news from Saint Louis "according to which [he would be] recalled to France". He hoped they were wrong, because his journey was going well and it would be a complete and tiring disorder for him, and he would end up "sending everything to the devil". Boubakar sends him his compliments and asks him to "send the enclosed letter to his wife". 2) Autograph letter signed "Paul Soleillet" to "Mon Cher Monsieur" [Neubourg, representative of Messrs Maurel et Prom in Saint Louis (Senegal)]. Médine 13 December 1880. 1 page in8. Heading: "Ministère des Travaux Publics - Mission Paul Soleillet". Very good condition but ink a little pale. 20,5 x 13,5 cm He sent him a letter for Mr Dalloy, asking him to add that the same morning he had been "executed by force and that soldiers commanded by a sergeant" had taken his weapons, tools, goods, etc. "I had placed myself under the protection of the law, but it was useless". 3) Autograph letter signed "Paul Soleillet" to "Messieurs Maurel et H Prom à Saint-Louis (Sénégal)". Médine 17 December 1880. 2 1/2 pages in8. Heading: "Ministère des Travaux Publics - Mission Paul Soleillet". Very good condition, small split right edge central fold, (without affecting the text). 20.5 x 13.5 cm Following the publication in the press of his offence, the Governor of Senegal was apparently ordered to return to France. The Superior Commander of the Haut Fleuve asked him to hand over his equipment and make an inventory. However, his mission was forfeited and he was not accountable as long as he fulfilled this mission. When he refused to hand over his luggage to the marshal, they invaded the courtyard of Moumar Diak, their manager, with whom he was staying. "They violated my home" and took his "tools, weapons and goods", leaving him with only his "linen", his "tobacco" and his "kitchen". They then invaded the "tata de Sambala", their property, "and after breaking and entering" took various objects that he had stored in a hut. The whole population witnessed the incident, which he reported to them so that they could complain to the appropriate authorities and obtain compensation for the violence. 4) Autograph letter signed "Paul Soleillet" to "Messieurs Maurel et H Prom, Saint-Louis". Médine, 20 Xbre [December] 1880. 2 1/2 pages in8. Heading: "Ministère des Travaux Publics - Mission Paul Soleillet". Very good condition. 20.5 x 13.5 cm He asked them to send a voluminous envelope to France at his own expense. "I am taking all the necessary precautions to ensure that there is a lot of noise about what is happening to me". He wrote to all his friends in the press and newspapers, as well as to politicians. He wanted to give as much publicity as possible to all this [he had in fact been stripped of his instruments and goods and recalled to France]. 5) Autograph letter signed "Paul Soleillet" to "Mon Cher Monsieur" [Neubourg, representative of Messrs Maurel et Prom in Saint Louis (Senegal)]. Médine, 20 Xbre 1880. 2 pages in8. Heading: a map of Africa with "Aperta" printed on it. Very good condition. 20,2 x 12,6 cm He was asked to read the manuscript of the brochure sent to Dreyfous. "Give me a nice spread on it for your paper". He is doing well and believes he has a firm grip on "Messieurs les jalous". "I'm going to make them sing a song they'll remember; besides, I'm going to get them all to ....". He plans to return to Europe via Gambia and to be in Saint Louis next November "because what happens to me today will not prevent me from starting again or succeeding". 6) Autograph letter signed "Paul Soleillet" to "Monsieur Neubourg in Saint-Louis". Médine, 5 January 1881. 1 page in8. Heading: "Ministère des Travaux Publics - Mission Paul Soleillet". Very good condition. 20.5 x 13.5 cm He asks her to frank and seal two letters after reading them. 7) Autograph letter signed "Paul Soleillet" to "Messieurs" [Messrs Maurel et Prom in Saint Louis (Senegal)]. Médine, 10 January 1881. 1 page in8. Heading: a map of Africa with "Aperta" printed on it. Very good condition. 20.2 x 12.5 cm He takes the opportunity... to send them a "voluminous package". Paul Soleillet. French adventurer and explorer.