Description:

Bonaparte Napoleon



Napoleon Bonaparte Signed Letter Regarding Book-keeping: "This work is not only interesting, but also important."

 

1p LS in French inscribed in a clerical hand and signed by Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) as "Napole" towards bottom.  Written in St. Cloud, France on August 14, 1811. The cream paper is in near fine condition, with expected light paper folds, measuring 7.25" x 9". From the Marc-Arthur Kohn sale, "The Empire in Paris," December 2, 2013 (Paris, France), part of Lot 129.

 

Napoleon Bonaparte--emperor, military commander, and imperial administrator--addressed this letter to his Minister of Public Treasury, Nicolas Francois, Count Mollien (1758-1850), in the late summer of 1811.

 

Translation from the French:

 

“Monsieur Count Mollien, I would like to have accounts from exercises [conducted in 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809 and 1810 from two ministers, the war minister and the minister of the administration of war, by chapter and by article, of those that have taken place. We will see what is left of spending money after reviewing a history of these two ministers’ administrations during the last five years. You must specify if money was spent from funds other than those of the Treasury, like those from Rome, Illyria, Holland, and the Domaine Extraordinaire, all of that equally organized by article. This work is not only interesting, but also important. On this, I pray that God keeps you in his holy care. S. Cloud August 14, 1811. Napole.”

This letter illustrates that, in addition to having a solid grasp of military campaigning and imperial administration, Napoleon also had a strong understanding of finance. Napoleon demanded detailed intelligence from all subordinates, particularly his cabinet ministers. His exacting instructions, viz., accounts organized "by chapter and by article," also demonstrates his micro managerial leadership style.

 

The "two ministers" mentioned above were Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke (1765-1818) and Jean-Girard Lacuee, Count de Cessac (1752-1841). Clarke served as Napoleon's Minister of War between August 1807-November 1813. In this capacity, he supervised military matters ranging from inspection and provisioning, to conscription and internal discipline. General Clarke was recognized for his great service when he was granted the honorary title of Duc of Feltre in August 1809. The Count de Cessac served as Napoleon's Minister of War Administration between January 1810-November 1813.

 

Napoleon referred to the "Domaine Extraordinaire." This treasury, implemented around 1805, enabled Napoleon to collect funds from newly acquired territories in the French Empire. In this way, Napoleon's empire-building was self-sustaining in that conquered countries often paid for their own conquest. The Domaine Extraordinaire generated a significant source of income, with enough to spare after military expenses to funnel back to France for public works and arts projects. One early 20th century historian, August Fournier, estimated that Napoleon collected 2 million francs between 1805-1810. The emperor privately controlled the Domaine Extraordinaire after 1810.

 

Other funds that Napoleon identified in the letter include Rome, Holland, and Illyria, or the modern day Balkans. France had annexed Rome in February 1810. When Napoleon's son Napoleon II (1811-1832) was born the following month, he was styled the King of Rome. Holland was annexed in July 1810. Illyria had been acquired in 1809 during Napoleon's Adriatic Campaign.

 

Nicolas Francois, Count Mollien was an astute financier who had been active since before the French Revolution and had observed firsthand wartime financial practices in England. He served as Napoleon's Minister of the Public Treasury between January 1806-April 1814. Although Napoleon greatly respected Count Mollien's acumen, he sometimes reproached him for his abstract approach.

 



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