MANUSCRIPT - NAPOLEON. LETTERS FROM FRANCOIS BERNOYER,... Lot 2

[MANUSCRIPT - NAPOLEON]. LETTERS FROM FRANCOIS BERNOYER, Head of the clothing workshop of the Army of the East. (1798-1799) 3 notebooks in-4° of 90; 82; 92 pages, sewn, red mute covers of the time. "Old manuscripts, covered with dust and cobwebs, were sleeping at the bottom of a trunk. They were written by François Bernoyer, head of the clothing workshop for French troops in the East. In the form of 19 letters, which he wrote to his wife and his cousin, he brings us a completely unpublished testimony on Bonaparte's expedition to Egypt and Syria. Born in Avignon, François-Martin-Noël Bernoyer appears on the baptismal register of the parish of Saint-Pierre, on December 24, 1760. When he embarked, he was in his thirty-ninth year. The book, in a lively and direct style, gives a new dimension to the expedition: a thousand details are brought out of oblivion, and a thousand aspects ignored by historians come to light. Moreover, it shows us how Bonaparte acted, commanded and organized; how he governed, rewarded or punished; already, he embodied France in Egypt and Syria. Moreover, Bernoyer tells us in detail about his romantic adventures, or the love affairs of the generals and Bonaparte, but he also makes us relive the fatigue of the soldiers, their grumbling, their drunkenness after the victories, and their discouragement after the defeat at Saint-Jean d'Acre. A convinced Republican, Bernoyer passes a severe judgment on the young and ambitious general-in-chief and, in the light of this book, Bonaparte becomes more familiar to us. We witness the first steps of the march that will lead him to the 19 Brumaire, to the supreme power and to the imperial glory". (Christian Tortel). I - Toulon, the 23 Floréal, year 6. (May 18, 1798) II - On board the Patriote, June 9, 1798. III - Malta, the 30 Prairial, year 6. (June 18, 1798) IV - Malta, on Prairial 30, year 6. (June 18, 1798) V - On board of the Patriote, the 12 Messidor, year 6. (June 30, 1798) VI - From Alexandria, the 19 Messidor, year 6. (July 7, 1798) VII - Giza, the 4 Thermidor, year 6. (July 22, 1798) VIII - From Great Cairo, the 12 Thermidor, year 6. (July 30, 1798) IX - (Undated letter, relative to the battle of Aboukir) X - (Undated letter, relative to the creation of the uniform of the Company of Dromedaries). XI - (Undated letter, relative to the Republic Day) XII - (Undated letter, relative to the Revolt of Cairo) XIII - From the Island of Roudah, the 23 Brumaire, year 7. (November 13, 1798) XIV - From the island of Roudah, the 15 Frimaire, year 7. (December 5, 1798) XV - Of the island of Roudah, on 30 Nivôse, year 7. (January 9, 1799) XVI - Of Large Cairo, the 30 Pluviôse, year 7. (March 20, 1799) XVII - From Jaffa, the 30 Germinal, year 7. (April 19, 1799) XVIII - From the camp under St-Jean d'Acre, on 13 Messidor, year 7. (July 1, 1799) XIX - From Great Cairo, on 7 Fructidor, year 7. (August 24, 1799) EXCEPTIONAL SET detailing the progress of Napoleon's great army of Egypt, written day by day, in the form of letters, like a campaign diary. Some light wetness, the writing is perfectly legible. A handwritten letter (3 pages in-8) dated 1809 from Utrecht, written by Bernoyer and addressed to his wife "My dearest and most loving friend" is attached.