BESSON (VICTOR) AND SURROUNDINGS. File containing... - Lot 187 - Osenat

Lot 187
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2000 - 3000 EUR
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Result : 2 500EUR
BESSON (VICTOR) AND SURROUNDINGS. File containing... - Lot 187 - Osenat
BESSON (VICTOR) AND SURROUNDINGS. File containing 22 manuscript items, including 4 items signed jointly by Grand Marshal Henri-Gatien BERTRAND, Louis MARCHAND and Charles-Tristan de MONTHOLON as executors of Napoleon I's will (including 3 entirely in Bertrand's hand), an autograph signed item and 7 autograph items from Grand Marshal Henri-Gatien BERTRAND, an autograph letter signed by Captain BESSON, 5 autograph letters signed by his wife, Dora . 1823-1827 and n.d. AN OFFICER OF EMPIRE, FUTURE AMIRAL OF THE EGYPTIAN FLEET. Ensign in 1815, Victor BESSON (1781-1837) was then part of the staff of the port of Rochefort. Dismissed at the Restoration, he served for a time in the merchant navy before entering the service of Mehmet-Ali, ending his career as vice-admiral and major-general of the Egyptian fleet. ESCAPE PLAN. After his defeat at Waterloo on 18 June 1815 and his abdication on 22 June, the emperor reached Rochefort with the intention of embarking for America, but an English fleet controlled the exit. Several projects were then considered, including that of Captain Besson: he offered to hide the emperor on a Danish merchant brig, the Magdalena, belonging to his father-in-law, and bound for America. The ship was carrying brandy, and barrels could be fitted and padded to hide the emperor and some men. Napoleon I first accepted the offer, had some effects transferred on board and had a deed signed on July 6 between Captain Besson and Count de Las Cases, who gave 25,000 francs for the expenses to be incurred. He then changed his mind, so as not to flee, so as not to leave almost alone, and so as not to take the risk of being shipwrecked on board a small ship - he was still unaware that in surrendering to the English he would be taken to St Helena. On July 14, he received Captain Besson and, to thank him for his efforts, gave him one of his personal shotguns. The Magadalena sailed without him... passed the English cruise without a hitch and arrived in America. On August 7, 1815, on board the Northumberland, Las Cases referred the question of financial commitment to General François-Antoine Lallemand, who approved it on December 1, 1816. Subsequently, Lallemand's widow demanded reimbursement of the sum given by Las Cases, while Captain Besson's wife claimed that her husband was owed money because the affair had cost him much more than the sum received. Arbitration was held in favour of Captain Besson. The present set gives an account of the financial problems that arose during the preparation of this audacious project: reports from the executors, including a copy of the contract signed by Las Cases, copies of various documents (including a letter from Las Cases, one from Prince Eugène, minutes of letters from General Bertrand to Captain Besson, to the latter's wife, to Count Daru), etc. In one of the reports of March 7, 1823, Grand Marshal Bertrand writes: "HAVING BEEN IN A POSITION TO JUDGE AT ROCHEFORT the noble and quite disinterested devotion of cape Besson, HIS OFFERS OF SERVICE, HIS ZEAL AND THE SACRIFICES WHICH HE DID AND WAS READY TO DO IN ORDER TO SUBSTITUTE THE EMPEROR FROM THE ENEMIES WHO BLOCKED THE PORT, I consider it an act of duty and justice 1° to guarantee Cape Besson from any proceedings which might result against him from the document which he signed at that time, 2° to compensate him for the 30,000 francs which he spent in this circumstance, a debt which seems to me to be sacred and obligatory for the estate [of Napoleon I]... »
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