LS in French, one page, 7 x 9, June 10, 1806. Letter to his son Prince Eugene Napoleon. In full (translated): “When I said the Treasury of Italy, my intention was not to refer to the Ministry of the Treasury of Italy, but to the special levy drawn from Venice and the Venetian provinces. I cannot conceive of how your expenditures for four months could reach 15,900,000 francs, that is to say four million per month. You don’t pay enough attention to administration, everything costs too much; yet there are measures that can reduce expenses. However, I am awaiting the record of expenditures of the first four months of the year, which the Paymaster is supposed to send me. Hurry up, so that I may receive them promptly together with the justification for each [major] sum. I doubt that the expenses for the year; if they have been done carefully and with oversight, would have exceeded two million five hundred thousand francs per month. The Paymaster always asks for more than is necessary. There is certainly not enough oversight.” Cloth-matted and framed with a color portrait of Napoleon to an overall size of 23.5 x 17.5. In fine condition, with central horizontal and vertical folds, and some scattered light foxing. Eugene was commanding the Army of Italy at the time, as Napoleon was involved in the War of the Fourth Coalition. Typically praising his son for his impressive military leadership, this is an interesting deviation, as Napoleon harshly scolds his adopted son for his lack of financial management. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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