Manuscript DS in French, signed “Refuse, Npn,” one page both sides, 7.75 x 12.75, July 26, 1807. Document regarding a report to him concerning the honor guard by Antonio Aldini, secretary of state of the Kingdom of Italy. In part (translated): “The chief reasons why the Prince Viceroy asks that Your Imperial and Royal Majesty combine in one single Regiment the four companies of the Honor Guard of His Kingdom of Italy are: 1. The spirit of disunion which has insinuated itself into these companies because of the different uniforms and names. 2. The difficulty of getting together a full company…3. The Corps Captains lack of intelligence about military matters and their natural hostility to discipline and exact service. 4. Confusion and distortion caused by multiple accounting. 5. Finally the repugnance and sometimes the impossibility for many of the Guardsmen’s families to bear the expenses of very costly uniforms…The Viceroy thinks that it would be suitable to combine these four companies into one single Regiment whose Chief Captain would be a Colonel…to differentiate the companies by number; to adopt one single uniform for all and to establish a single Administrative Council.” Napoleon refuses the request in the left margin. In fine condition. This comes from shortly after Russia and France signed the first of the Treaties of Tilsit, which made the two nations allies after two years of war; historians traditionally regard Tilsit as the height of Napoleon's empire. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$50.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
