NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821)

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821)
NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. A good L.S., `Np´, a bold ink signature, one page, 4to, St. Cloud, 20th September 1810, in French. Napoleon signs to the left border of the letter, beneath an annotation forwarding his order stating `Renvoyé au Maréchal Duc d´Istrie, pour m´en rendre compte´ (Translation “Sent back to Marshal duke d´Istria to report back to me”), the letter being a hand written demand addressed to the Emperor and sent by Second Lieutenant Ricaumont, officer of the 24th Regiment. Ricaumont humbly requests from His Majesty being appointed Second Lietenant in the Emperor´s personal Garde, stating in part `Je suis sans appui; vous êtes le père du soldat, je n´ai d´autre titre. Pour espérer que votre Majesté voudra bien satisfaire mon ardant désir. Je suis enrolé volontaire, je sers depuis dix ans, j´ai fait toutes les campagnes depuis cette époque; j´ai été blessé deux fois, par des coups de feu, notament à la Bataille d´Esling. Votre Majesté passant près de moi j´ai fixé Son attention, en criant Vive l´Empereur, je vous admire Sire, et vous n´avez pas de sujet plus dévoué que moi…´ (Translation: “I am without support; you are the father of the soldier, I have no other title. To hope that your Majesty will be willing to satisfy my ardent desire, I enlisted voluntarily, I have served for ten years, I have done all the campaigns since that time; I was injured twice, by gunfire, notably at the Battle of Esling. Your Majesty passing near me he fixed His attention, when I was shouting Long live to the Emperor, I admire you Sire, and you have no subject more devoted than me…”) With blank integral leaf. Light repair to the left edge and fold. VG

Jean-Baptiste Bessieres (1768-1813) Marshal of France, Duc d´ Istria.