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BONAPARTE (Pauline, Princess Borghese)
See original version (French)
17
-
BONAPARTE (Pauline, Princess Borghese)
See original version (French)
Estimate €400 - €500
Voluntary lot
Description
BONAPARTE (Pauline, Princess Borghese)
Frascati (near Rome), 15 September 1817.
Autograph letter signed ‘Pse Pauline Borghese’ to Count Bertrand.
3 pp. in-8.
A long letter giving news of the Emperor’s family.
Napoleon, hurt that his correspondence was not being addressed to him with the title of Emperor, decided that his close associates and family should write to him, addressing their letters to Counts Las Cases and Bertrand.
Pauline Borghèse did indeed receive his letter of 3 July ‘with the statement concerning the San Martino campaign. I was deeply touched by this thoughtfulness on your part. ’ Indeed, Napoleon’s sister hoped to take possession of the estate that the Emperor had built on the Island of Elba.
She had also received good news regarding the Emperor’s health and noted that ‘Madame is in good health; She spent some time in Albano, then returned to Rome via Frascati, where she stayed with me for a few days. […] I often receive news from Queen Caroline, who has bought a country estate near Vienna; she and her children are in good health there.”
From Vienna she has just received ‘news of the Emperor’s son, who is in perfect health; he is growing rapidly and becoming ever more charming. All the other members of the family are doing wonderfully well. ”
She herself is well and is spending time at the country residence she has just acquired near Rome. Pauline Borghese reaffirms her affection for her brother and asks her correspondent “to convey my warmest regards to the Emperor and to mention me to him from time to time. No one in the world is more devoted to him than I am, and please tell him that I would be happy if I could join him.”
A handwritten note indicates that the letter was received on 27 March 1818, six months after it was posted. This shows just how complicated, if not tenuous, the link was between the exiles on St Helena and their loved ones who had remained in France or elsewhere in Europe. This delay can be partly explained by the fact that all correspondence addressed to the residents of Longwood was systematically read by the Colonial Secretary, Bathurst, in London, as well as by the Governor of St Helena.
Provenance
The Aristophil collections, auction in Paris, Ader, 4 April 2019, lot 832.
Bibliography
Bondeson (Lars), *Napoleon’s Last Battle: The Captivity on St Helena*. BoD, 2022.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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