NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. An interesting content L.S., `Np, one page, 4to, gilt edges, Elba island, Portoferraio, 22nd August 1814, to general Bertrand, in French. The letter was written during Napoleon´s first exile in the Elba island, and bears alongside Napoleon´s signature a four holograph lines in the hand of General Bertrand, signed, related to the Emperor´s orders. Napoleon shows sufficient knowledge in architecture and bridge engineering to issue the present orders related to bridges in Corsica, stating in part `Monsieur le Comte Bertrand, tous les travaux d´art qu´a fait le Sr Lambardi sont mal faits; chargez l´officier de genie de les faire; le Sr. Lambardi ne fera que les mouvements de terre, il paye ses journées trop cher… Ordonnez à l´officier de genie d´achever le 4º pont, non en bois, mais en pierre et d´une seule arche de 18 pieds de large, ce qui est plus que suffisant pour l´écoulement des eaux´ (“Monsieur Count Bertrand, all the works made by Sr. Lambardi are badly done; instruct the engineer officer to do them; Sr. Lambardi will only make the works of removing the earth, he pays too much for his days… Order the engineer officer to complete the 4th bridge, not in wood, but in stone and with a single arch of 18 feet wide, which is more than enough for the flow of water”) Napoleon further comes back to the cost of the works done by Lambardi, stating in part `Faites l´état des travaux qu´il a fait et les fonds qui ont été mis à sa disposition; comparez-les avec les dépenses, qui me semblent les dépasser de bveaucoup´ (“Make a statement of the works he has done and the funds that have been made available to him; compare them with the expenses, which seem to me that they exceed by a lot the quotations”) Before concluding Napoleon explains that there is one more bridge to build on the road to Campo, on the south of Corsica, and this one has also to be done by the army engineers. Bertrand annotates and signs in his hand in bold black ink `Ecrire au command. de genie. Prévenir M. Lambardi que Mr. … doit diriger les travaux d´art. Lui demander le devis qu´il avait fait pour les travaux. Brt´ (“Write to command. of engineers. Notify Mr. Lambardi that Mr. … must direct the works. Ask him for the estimate he had made for the works. Brt”) In very fine condition. VG       &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                    &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;             

 

Henri Gatien Bertrand (1773-1844) French General. Count Bertrand and Grand Marshal of the Palace. Bertrand was aide-de-camp to Napoleon I and the closest officer to the Emperor who had full confidence in him. He served during the expedition to Egypt and the Battles of Austerlitz, Wagram, Leipzig and Waterloo and accompanied Napoleon to Elba in 1814 and to St. Helena in 1815. Bertrand was condemned to death in 1816 but did not return to France until Napoleon´s death when King Louis XVIII granted his amnesty. In 1840 Bertrand went to St. Helena to bring Napoleon´s remains back to France.