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32 History Cornwallis received Hardy’s pleas, he would be treated honourably as a prisoner of war. As Hardy was no doubt writing to the French Directory, he asked him to inform them, as well as the Minister for Marine [Bruix] of his situation, and did not doubt their support. He reiterated his own trust in Hardy’s friendship, knowing that he would support his claim to be treated as a prisoner of war as soon as he arrived in Dublin. Hardy had promptly written to Cornwallis on 4 November, claiming Tone’s rights, but the reply stated that Tone was a traitor who would be punished as befit the crimes he had committed against his king and country. (v) 1798 Letter in Tone’s hand to ‘My Lord’ [Chief Secretary Viscount Castlereagh, Dublin Castle], Provost [prison] Dublin barracks 9th November [1798], marked ‘Copy’. Pp2, quarto. Though the contents of this letter were known, no original in Tone’s hand had been identified to date; the transcript in Writings III, p. 369-70 was taken from a contemporaneous copy in another hand held by the National Library of Ireland. Tone requests that Castlereagh forward three letters from him to ‘Citizen [Joseph] Niou’, French commissioner in London for the exchange of prisoners of war, Minister of the Marine (Bruix), and ‘a short memorial’ to the French Directory. It is unclear if these were sent, but unlikely they were. Tone then aggravated his case by reiterating his claim to be treated as a prisoner of war, with due attention to the rank he had ‘the honour to hold in the armies of France republic. (vi) Tone to Niou, ‘de la prison de Dublin ce 19 brumaire an 7 [9 November 1798], in the name ‘T W Tone dit Smith’. Pp2, quarto. Reprinted in Tone Writings III, p. 370 [transcript taken from contemporary copy in another hand, NLI]. Joseph Niou was posted in London and on 13 September had there signed a Franco-British ‘Cartel’ for the exchange of prisoners of war. Tone requests that Niou forward a letter to the French Minister of Marine (Eustache Bruix, directly responsible for the French expeditions, and the POWs) and a memo to the French government. Unreasonably hopeful, he also asked that Niou would take measures to ensure that nothing would be decided in his case by the English government until their French counterparts had pronounced themselves. (vii) Tone to the Minister of Marine [Bruix] 19 brumaire 7, in the name ‘T W Tone dit Smith’. Not reprinted in Tone Writings III. Pp2, quarto. ADD NOTE??? (viii) Tone to the ‘Directoire exécutif de la République française’, 19 brumaire 7 [9 November, in the name ‘T W Tone dit Smith’. pp2, quarto. Reprinted in Tone Writings III, p. 371. [transcript taken from contemporary copy in another hand, NLI]. Tone informs the Directory of his captivity and his treatment, of his communications with Hardy, and of requests he had made for due regard to his rank. But given he was for the moment considered more as a ‘prisoner of state’, and would probably soon be tried, he appeals to them to take measures and contact the British government. He repeats phrases from the earlier letters, namely that he be treated honourably as a French officer, and a citizen (which he was not). When Tone arrived in France in February 1796, he self-dramatised in his diary that he hardly knew any French. This was something of a conceit, as written records demonstrate he was perfectly operational in the language. While this letter rambles a bit as any man would, in his desperate situation, it is remarkably eloquent and displays near-fluent competence in French. Dr Sylvie Kleinman, March 2020 TheobaldWolfe Tone; Appropriated by Adjutant-General Sir George Hewett; Thence by descent; Bonhams, London, 26 June 2019, lot 17; Private collection. Condition: Very good, no apparent faults. Estimate €5000-€7000 (approx £4,550-£6,360) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 32