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Auction: 13050 - Postal History and Historical documents
Lot: 2078

Historical Documents
Napoleon Bonapart's Exile on St. Helena
1815-41
A fascinating and highly important research collection with much additional material relating to Napoleon's exile.

The collection commences with Napoleon's surrender to the British with a long and details memorandum by Sir Henry Bunbury of the events of the discussions between Lord Keith, himself and Napoleon Bonapart on 31st July 1815 on board H.M.S. Bellerophon. After the reading of Lord Melville's letter containing the orders of the British government, there is a virtual verbatim report of Napoleon's response and protestations which includes, "...In St. Helena I should not live 3 months - With my habits and constitution it would be immediate death. I am used to ride 20 leagues a day; what am I to do on this little rock at the end of the world. The climate is too hot for me. No, I will not go to St. Helena. Botany Bay is better than St. Helena...". After this comprehensive account there is also a double page of notes, describing Napoleon's appearance and dress, and with reference to his character, "... in the course of his long talking, I observed changes both in his tone & look, which made me suspect that there was a good deal of the fox, as well as the lion, in the composition of the great conqueror." A wonderful report of which very few copies would have been written.

There is an original pen and ink drawing by Major R.P. Boy of the Royal Marines, H.M.S. Newcastle, St. Helena. A pen and wash picture of Napoleon leaning against a cannon, possibly by the same artist, and a pencil sketch on tracing paper (of unknown provenance).

When Napoleon arrived on St. Helena, he was put up at The Briars, the house of William Balcolmbe, purveyor to Longwood. There is a long letter from Mrs Balcolmbe dated 1815 (10 Nov.) which contains good insight into the mood of Napoleon on his arrival, "...I was much disappointed in the appearance of the man, there is nothing in his manner or appearance that would make you fancy him as an Emperor or a great hero - he is about five feet seven, very broad across the shoulders and is inclined to get very fat and when he walks he appears quite clumsy and his gait is betwixt that of a strut and a waddle ... My opinion of him is that he is a vulgar looking one, but his gracious manners, particularly to me and my family has made me feel a great desire to please and amuse him."

A series of letter from General Sir Hudson Lowe, most with Bertrand's filing numbers in upper left corner, with four documents signed by Hudson Lowe (41, 44, unnumbered and 96) plus copies and/or translations of letters written by Les Cases (5), most are reminders of the regulations with regard to letters to and from Longwood.

Some Government letters including a letter from the War and Colonial Department, dictated by Earl Bathurst to the Governor with regard to twenty packets of books being despatched and with the accompanying letter (15) from Hudson Lowe, addressed to Count Bertrand. 1818 (1 Jan.) letter from Earl Bathurst to Hudson Lowe about acts of trickery by Count Bertrand, forwarded on with "Extract, H Lowe" also with Bertrand's signature and numbered (143); 1818 (14 Feb.) letter from Downing Street to Hudson Lowe raising no objection to Count Las Cases helping the publication of Napoleon's book, "Campaigns of Italy", again with the covering letter from Plantation House (155).

Other mail into Longwood includes a significant series of letters from Count Las Cases to Count Bertrand, January 1818 to April 1819 and numbered by Bertrand, (1), 2, 3, 4 then apparently 5-15. Las Cases was deported from St. Helena by Hudson Lowe and travelled through Germany and Belgium before being allowed to return to France. These letters are sent from Frankfurt, Baden-Baden, Mannheim and Offenbach, nine are with address panels, the earlier ones to Monsieur General Comte Bertrand, St Helena, one to Longwood, St. Helene and finally just to Longwood, one letter damaged on opening with the notation, "This letter was accidentally torn at the office on opening the envelope, Colonial officer Henry Gouldburn, Feby 25th 1819" (this shows that there was censorship in London). Some of the earlier letter are tatty at top (mouse nibbled?). 1819 (24 Jan.) A.L.S. from Hudson Lowe to Dr. Verling, Longwood.

The star item of mail from Longwood is dated 1816 (30 Dec.) written in French by Las Cases and signed by Napoleon. "For Bertrand, Montholon has had some silverware melted down for twelve thousand and some hundred francs. You are to give and order to Cyprien to take four thousand francs to be distributed according to state A. On January 1st the servants will still be owed 16,371 francs. It would be good to send a copy of this account so that this Commander knows that I have to pay my servants. You are to give an order of 2,000 francs to Mr. Marchand as payment for his clothing. You are to give authorization that Mr. Cyprien receives 150 francs daily from January 1st to February 15th which will be 6,000 francs. He is to use these 150 francs in accordance which Montholon will give to him. In this way, with one letter this will be concluded without any further difficulty. You can settle the remaining account of 4,000 Louis, but I do not want to pay for anything concerning my servants of Northumberland because they have been dismissed in violation of their commitments, excepting always, those who had been paid because of the orders of Montholon on May 23rd. I absolutely do not want to pay for what is not in this letter. Nap" (with certificate of authenticity).
Also 1819 smuggled message being two letters dated (16 Aug. ) and (9 Sept.). written in a very small hand and with Bertrand's number (35); this is thought to be the only surviving example of such a message. Two items concerning newspapers and an unusual cypher devised by Bertrand (this could be a form of game)

Other related items include 1818 letter from Hudson Lowe to Sir Thomas Reade. 1816 (31 Dec.) Dunlop entire to Ayr bearing a fine example of the rare "st.helena/packet letter" oval, with rate changed from "3/6" to "4/8" with indistinct transit mark dated (20 Feb.) with some interesting contents about the activities at Longwood. Also 1817 (10 Oct.) letter from St. Helena (no postal markings) plus a large archive of Dunlop family letters and papers, 1785-1827.
A most valuable correspondence, 1815-16, to Amy Whinyates, Cheltenham from her sister, Mrs Younghusband, which includes a hitherto unrecorded "st. helena/packet letter" oval dated 1817 (4 July), rated "4/3" and includes five other entire letters with full postal markings. including crutched cross in red, from several different locations on St. Helena including Devil's Punch Bowl House, Plantation House and Camp at St. Helena; very interesting contents with several references to Napoleon including the problems he caused leaving The Briars for Longwood and one meeting with him.
1821 (8 May) memorandum from Robert Lambert, Rear Admiral and Commander in Chief about the order for the funeral of Napoleon including, "His Majesty's ship Vigo with fire twenty five Minute Guns, commencing when the Signal for that purpose is made from the Alarm Post."

The final section is a group of letters written to General Bertrand on his return to St. Helena in 1840-41 to repatriate Napoleon's body to France, each with Bertrand's notation at top, two with address panels (one an envelope) to "La Belle Poule" with letter from Henri Durand-Brager (artist), plus six others. Also two other St. Helena documents, not related to Napoleon.

A great wealth of material, ideal for further study of this important and influential historical figure. Photo



Sir Henry Bunbury served as Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies from 1809-16. He was promoted to the rank of Major-General and awarded the KCB in 1815, shortly before his meeting with Napoleon.
The British authorities finally came to the decision about what to do with Napoleon on 31 July and it was Lord Keith's duty to inform Napoleon that he was to be exiled on the island of St. Helena. He would be allowed to take three officers, his surgeon amd twelve servents. The three officers were the Comte de Las Cases, General Henri Bertrand and General Charles Montholon.

General Henri Gratien Bertrand had served at Waterloo as Napoleon's aide and he chose to accompany Napoleon into exile, along with his wife and family.

Emmanuel de Las Cases, nearly 50 years old upon his arrival at St. Helena as Napoleon’s secretary. Las Cases, a former naval officer and a count, spoke English -- an important asset to Bonaparte and successfully taught him English. Later Napoleon would read the English newspapers to keep abreast of the news.

The duties of running the imperial household fell to General Charles Tristan Montholon, 32 years old. The Montholon family occupied three rooms at Longwood.

Hudson Lowe was the son of an Army surgeon and not part of the British aristocracy. Lowe was born in 1769 two weeks before Napoleon making them exactly the same age. Up until the time Lowe assumed the care and custody of Napoleon at St. Helena in April, 1816, he rose through the ranks based upon his merit: General Sir Hudson Lowe was not only dealing with Napoleon and his entourage, but with his new wife as well; the latter, regularly improprietous.




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Estimate
£70,000 to £75,000