NAPOLEON WRITES TO HIS ADVISOR THE DUC DE FRIOUL MONTHS BEFORE HIS DEATH NAPOLEON I (1769-1821, Emperor of the French)

Fine Letter Signed 'Nap[oleon]' in French with translation to the Duc de FRIOUL Géraud-Christophe-Michel Duroc, 1772-1813, General and Diplomat, one of Napoleon's closest advisers) saying that he has been told that the wages of "the Lancers of the Guard is 666. f. and that of the second infantrymen of 765. f. - I understand very well that the old infantrymen who do their service by me have 765. f but my intention is that the second infantrymen, who are only ordinary soldiers who do not do the service by me have for first wage only 450. f. - would you draft for me a report and a project of decree. Second infantrymen and spearmen should not cost me more than 450. What is sufficient for hussar regiments should be for lancers and second hussars as well ...", 1 side 4to., Fontainbleau, 27th January

With the stamp of the Bibliotheca Lindesiana which had been planned by Alexander LINDSAY, 25th Earl of Crawford (1812-1880) and his eldest son James (1847-1913, Astronomer, Politician, Ornithologist, Bibliophile and Philatelist. He was a member of the Royal Society, president of the Royal Astronomical Society and a prominent Freemason. Father and son were instrumental in building the library up to such an extent that it was one of the most impressive private collections in Britain at the time, both for its size and for the rarity of some of the materials it contained.
In 1796 Napoleon took Duroc as his aide and made him a major in Egypt, a colonel in Syria, and then senior aide-de-camp. From 1804 he was a grand marshal and was often sent on diplomatic missions, and he signed the treaties of Fontainebleau and Bayonne (1807–08) determining the French intervention in Spain. He led a division at the Battle of Austerlitz, and was in all the campaigns. He was usually consulted by Napoleon on questions of promotion and became the best channel by which Napoleon's lieutenants could approach him. On his journey back from Russia in 1812, the emperor chose Armand de Caulaincourt as his immediate companion and Duroc followed in another sledge. Back in France, Duroc was made a senator in 1813. He was heavily involved in the organisation of the new French army and was with it at the battles of Lützen and Bautzen. Only a couple of months after this letter, he was in the outposts in Silesia and came under artillery fire and was killed.
Napoleon's invasion of Russia has been described as among the most lethal military operations in world history and this letter was written only months after the retreat.
Transcription
Monsieur le Duc de Frioul, Le ministre de la Guerre me rend compte que la 1ère mise des lanciers de la garde est de 666. f. et celle des seconds chasseurs de 765. f. - Je conçois très bien que les vieux chasseurs qui font leur service près de moi aient 765. f mais mon intention est que les seconds chasseurs, qui ne sont que des soldats ordinaires et qui ne font pas le service près de moi n'aient pour première mise que 450. faites-moi là de plus un rapport et un projet de décret. Les seconds chasseurs et les lanciers ne doivent pas me coûter plus de 450. Ce qui est suffisant pour les régiments de hussards doit l'être pour les lanciers et les seconds hussards. - Sur ce, je prie Dieu qu'il vous ait en sa sainte garde. -Fontainebleau, le 27. janvier 1813.
Seizième
Cote cent cinquante cinq
Translation
The Duke of Friuli, The Minister of War makes me informed that the 1st wage of the Lancers of the Guard is 666. f. and that of the second infantrymen of 765. f. - I understand very well that the old infantrymen who do their service by me have 765. f but my intention is that the second infantrymen, who are only ordinary soldiers who do not do the service by me have for first wage only 450. f. - would you draft for me a report and a project of decree. Second infantrymen and spearmen should not cost me more than 450. What is sufficient for hussar regiments should be for lancers and second hussars as well . - Then, I pray to God that he keeps you in his holy guard. - Fontainebleau, January 27, 1813.

Item Date:  1813

Stock No:  39568      £6750

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