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Description
[Second Empire]
Imperial Prince Louis-Napoléon in exile
2 autograph items
Letter written by the sender, Camden Place, Chislehurst, 24 March 1874, Jean-Baptiste Franceschini-Piétri, known as Tito (1834–1915), private secretary and trusted aide to Emperor Napoleon III, general councillor for the canton of Île-Rousse, possibly addressed to Charles Abbatucci, Member of Parliament and General Councillor for Corsica, leader of the Bonapartist party, 8 pp. in-8
(...) Having accompanied the Empress and the Imperial Prince to Switzerland [Arenenberg Castle] during the months of June and July, I travelled to Corsica to attend my General Council in the first few days of August to cast my vote in favour of Prince Napoleon’s election as President. It pained me greatly at the time not to be able to be in Camden on 15 August, when the Prince was taking the Emperor’s place in public for the first time. But it was in keeping with our political line to exhaust every means of conciliation towards Prince Napoleon and to show him every mark of deference due to the First Prince of the Blood. Consequently, on orders from above, we all travelled to Corsica at that time and, thanks to us, Prince Napoleon was able to secure the presidency he so ardently desired. (...) Our Prince made his mark right from the start, and all the French people who saw him at Camden returned to France in raptures. They believe in him and will become ardent apostles of his cause everywhere. (...) The Prince returned to Woolwich, where he resumed his studies...
Letter from the author, Chislehurst, 23 May, Augustin Filon (1841–1916), tutor to the Imperial Prince Louis-Napoleon, 4 pp., in-8
(...) You know, my dear friend, that I am not easily stirred by political passions. I am not even aware of current events. I live in a world of very calm ideas, never reading the French newspapers unless I am forced to. If I were to follow my own inclinations, I might dare to wish that our exile were to continue indefinitely; and, at the same time, it seems to me that I could not formulate any wish more favourable to our dear young prince. Every day he grows more and more in the wholesome and invigorating atmosphere in which he lives. He is his father’s height and will soon surpass him. His mind is settling down, and I take pleasure in seeing those who come here find him for the better. There are still many clouds on the horizon. The proper education for him would be one in which he were more frequently mingled with young people of his own age and of a distinguished social class. He hears too many things here…
See original version (French)
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