A series of letters from French officials to Alfred Nobel during 1888-1890 were found recently in Sweden. They provide evidence that ballistite was examined by the French army during 1889. These activities were only guessed before from Paul Vieille's 1893 study and from an article by Patrice Bret. Nobel's first ballistite patent application of late 1887 was not met with enthusiasm by the French government. It preferred its own smokeless poudre B, which it believed was less erosive and less dangerous to manufacture. No details were given in various sources on continued efforts in France, following 1887. His next known step was the signing of a first contract with Italy in 1889. The letters demonstrate that the French rejection was not total. Nobel and his French partner Paul François Barbe (the influential member of the Chamber of Deputies) continued with their efforts to promote ballistite with the army and the private industry. In a late 1888 letter Nobel asked the army for the performance acceptance criteria of the Lebel military rifle, developed in 1886 with poudre B, which greatly increased its muzzle velocity. Ballistite samples were tested following the letter by mid 1889. In what seems to follow, Charles de Freycinet the minister of War sent a letter to Paul Barbe on July 3, 1889. He suggests more optimal thicknesses and lengths for Ballistite flakes and cubical samples which were already tested. De Freycinet writes that he is also ready to test Nobel's' powders in larger calibers and provides the needed technical data for a 90 mm cannon. Another official letter of late December 1889 indicates that the minister of War was still interested in providing Nobel with the ability to test his powders. In some of the letters the minister and other officials take care to remind Nobel that, even if his powder is shown to be better, they are not required to accept it.