Napoleon I | letter signed to Admiral Ganteaume, ordering the invasion of England, 22 August 1805

Napoleon I

Important letter signed ("Napoleon"), to Vice-Admiral Ganteaume, 22 August 1805

in French, giving orders for the invasion of England two months before the Battle of Trafalgar, Napoleon commands him to rendezvous with Admiral Villeneuve at Brest, put to sea immediately and make their way into the English Channel, emphasizing that he is relying on his talent, steadfastness and character in such an important enterprise, urging him to come to Boulogne and avenge "six centuries of insult and shame, a cause greater than any other for which his military forces have ever risked their lives":

"...je compte sur vos talens, votre fermeté et et votre Charactère, dans une circonstance si importante. Partez et viens ici, nous aurons vengé six siècles d'insultes et de honte. Jamais pour un plus grand objet, mes soldats de Mer et de terre n'auront expose leur vie..."

1 page, 4to, gilt-edged, integral blank, "de mon Camp Impérial de Boulogne", 4 fructidor an 13 [22 August 1805]

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, 17 June 1999, lot 72; Phillips, 22 March 1990, lot 104