Teaching Freedom: The Abbé Combalot Trial (1844)

Description

Liberté d'enseignement. Procès de M. l'abbé Combalot, preceded by introduction by Louis Veuillot and followed by historical documents. Paris, Bureau de l'Univers, March 1844. In-8°, XXVIII-146 pp., paperbound (worn cover). Very rare. Memoir addressed to the Bishops of France and Heads of Families concerning the war against the Church and society by the university monopoly, subscribed in the name of Abbé Combalot, apostolic missionary. He signaled this publication as bearing a degree of violence that clearly warranted legal suppression: defamation and insult against the entire body of the French University and state-founded and maintained schools, prosecuted under press offense laws. Théodore Combalot (1797-1873), preacher, appeared before the Assize Court of the Seine on 6 March 1844. He was condemned to 15 days imprisonment and a fine of 4000 francs. L'Univers, which had defended his excesses, called for a subscription to cover the fine amount. First edition.