Bidspirit auction | NAPOLEON III: (1808-1873)

NAPOLEON III: (1808-1873) - NAPOLEON III: (1808-1873) Emperor of the French 1852-70 who also served as the first President of France 1848-52. L.S., Napoleon , one page, folio, Paris, 25 th January 1855, to Cardinal Patrizi ( 'Mon Cousin' ), in French. The Emperor states that he had received his correspondent's letter 'au renouvellement des bonnes fetes de la Nativite de notre Seigneur' (Translation: 'at the renewal of the good feasts of the Nativity of Our Lord' ) and continues 'j'yai reconnu avec plaisir la sincerite de vos sentiments. Les voeux que vous adressez au ciel pour la gloire et la prosperite de la France m´ont vivement touché. Soyez persuadé que je saisirai, en retour, toutes les occasions de vous donner des marques de mon estime et de ma parfaite affection' (Translation: 'I recognised with pleasure the sincerity of your sentiments. Your wishes to heaven for the glory and prosperity of France deeply touch me. Be persuaded that I will seize, in return, every opportunity to give you marks of my esteem and my perfect affection' ). Countersigned at the foot by Edouard Drouyn de Lhuys (1805-1881) French diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs 1848-49, 1851, 1852-55 and 1862-66. With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by the original envelope (large area of paper loss to the verso as a result of the seal having been excised). Some very light, extremely minor age wear, and a thin band of staining to the upper edge, about VG Constantino Patrizi Naro (1798-1876) Italian Cardinal who served as Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals 1870-76.