Beschreibung:

NAPOLÉON BONAPARTE Secretarially prepared letter, signed "Np" by Napoleon as Emperor of the French, single sheet at one time folded, the text written by Napoleon's secretary Méneval to Naploleon's Minister of War, Henri Clarke, the Duke of Feltre, from St. Cloud, 19th July 1810. 9 x 7 1/4 inches (23 x 18 cm); written in black ink, five lines in Méneval's hand. In very fresh condition, framed with an engraved portrait. The Emperor asks Clarke what an aide-de-camp of the Prince of Pontecorvo (i.e. Marshal Bernadotte) is doing in Quimper, Brittany. On the 9th July 1809, as a result of a public announcement made by Bernadotte that was too flattering for the Saxons and contrary to the official bulletin of the Great Army, Napoleon ordered Bernadotte to resign his command. Summoned to Vienna by Napoleon on 11th September 1809 after another announcement concerning the army of the Scheldt that equally displeased Napoleon, Bernadotte ultimately had to resign all his official functions. Bernadotte was elected Crown Prince of Sweden in August 1810. This letter, written shortly after his first dismissal, shows how Napoleon continued to distrust Bernadotte after his resignation. An unsigned note of a secretary of the Duke of Feltre in French is attached by straight pin at lower left, docketing indicating that the letter was received on 19th and forwarded to Mr Tabarin on 20th to be answered right away. C