NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Lot n° 1529

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. An unusual content report signed by Napoleon, L.S., ` N´, a large and bold capital letter, three pages, folio, St. Cloud, 30th March 1808, in French. The document being a report sent and signed `Clarke´, by the Minister of war Clarke to the Emperor, reporting on an officer who stabbed himself because he was not accepting his retreat and wished to continue serving the Emperor. Clarke states in part ` ...lorsque le conseil d´administration a fait les dispositions nécessaires pour renvoyer ces officiers dans leurs foyers, en exécution des ordres que je lui ai adressé à ce sujet, trois d´entre eux ont réclamé tant en leur nom qu´en celui des autres dont l´un d´entre eux s´est poignardé de désespoir, contre leur admission à la retraite, en alléguant que c´était à leur insu qu´ils avaient été proposés pour cette récompense par le colonel, et qu´ils n´avaient aucune infirmité qui pût les empêcher de continuer leur service...´ (Translation: "... when the board made the necessary arrangements to send these officers home, in execution of the orders that I sent to them on this subject, three of them demanded both in their name and in that of the others, one of them stabbed himself in despair, against their admission to retirement, alleging that it was without their knowledge that they had been proposed for this by the Colonel, and that they had not no infirmity which could prevent them from continuing their service...") Further Clarke tries in some way to explain to Napoleon what he considers is an unfair situation, and asks for the Emperor´s decision, stating `.. cet officier a élevé les plus vives réclamations contre le despotisme dont il a accusé son chef à son égard, en voulant le forcer de se retirer, quoiqu´il se trouve parfaitement en état de continuer ses services: il m´a remis la déclaration ci-jointe par laquelle il demande à rester au corps. Je trouve que sa demande est fondée et que la justice qu´il réclame a éte´reconnue par le régiment. J´ignore ce que Sa Majesté a pourvu... En attendant j´ai cru devoir suspendre toute décision sur cette affaire pour en soumettre les détails à Sa Majesté´ (Translation: ".. this officer raised the strongest complaints against the despotism of which he accused his leader towards him, by wanting to force him to retreat, although he found himself perfectly able to continue his services: he handed over to me the attached declaration by which he requests to remain with the corps. I find that his request is well-founded and that the justice he demands has been recognized by the regiment. I do not know what His Majesty has provided... In the meantime I thought it necessary to suspend any decision on this matter to submit the details to His Majesty...") Napoleon signs to the left border, beneath an annotation dictated by him, stating ` Renvoyé au Viceroi pour connaitre ce que cela veut dire´ (Translation: " Forwarded to the Viceroy to learn what all this means"). Accompanied by a letter of the Chief of the 4th military Division, being an extract of a letter written by General Pille reporting on the same matter. Henri-Jacques-Guillaume Clarke (1765-1818) 1st Duc de Feltre. Franco-Irish General in the French Revolutionary Wars. Minister of War under Napoleon, 1807-14, 1815 & 1815-17. Marshal of France.