LOWE (HUDSON). Letter signed as Governor... - Lot 189 - Osenat

Lot 189
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LOWE (HUDSON). Letter signed as Governor... - Lot 189 - Osenat
LOWE (HUDSON). Letter signed as Governor of St. Helena, in English, addressed to Charles-Tristan de Montholon. Plantation House, 17 August 1816. 3 pp. 1/2 in-folio, split at the fold and small tear without lack or damage to the text, ink a little faded. Joined 2 handwritten pieces, one of which is autographed by the grand marshal Henri-Gatien BERTRAND. "In pursuance of the conversations I have already had with you on the subject of the expenses of the establishment at Longwood, I do myself the honor to acquaint you, that having used all efforts to effect a reduction in them without diminishing in any very sensible manner from the convenience or comforts of general Bonaparte or any of the families or individuals that form his suite (in which operation I am happy to acknowledge the spirit of concert with which you have assisted), I am now enabled to transmit to you for general Bonaparte's information the two statements furnishing sufficiently precise data, whereon to found a calculation of the probable annual expense, should matters continue on the same footing as at present established. The statement n° 1 has been furnished me by Mr Ibbetson head of the Commissariat Department in this Island - the latter has been framed by any military secretary. THE INSTRUCTIONS I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, DIRECT ME TO LIMIT THE EXPENDITURE OF GENERAL BONAPARTE'S ESTABLISHMENT TO £ 8000 PER ANNUM , they give the liberty at the same time to admit of any further expense being incurred, which he may require, as to table and so forth, beyond what this sum would cover, provided he furnishes the funds whereby the surplus charges may be defrayed. I am now therefore under the necessity of requesting you would make known to him the impossibility I am under, of bringing the expenses of his household... within the limits prescribed, unless I make such a reduction... as might materially abridge from the conveniences which the persons around him now enjoy , - and HAVING BEEN ALREADY VERY FRANKLY INFORMED BY HIM AS WELL AS BY YOURSELF, THAT HE HAS AT HIS DISPOSAL IN VARIOUS PARTS OF EUROPE, MEANS WHICH THE EXTRA OR EVEN THE WHOLE EXPENSE MAY BE DEFRAIDED, I BEG LEAVE TO REQUEST BEING INFORMED, previous to attempting any further considerable reduction which might prove inconvenient to him or to the persons of his suite, if he is content such an attempt should be made, or IF HE IS WILLING TO PLACE AT MY COMMAND SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MEET THE EXTRA CHANGES which must otherwise be unavoidably incurred... "Translation: "In pursuance of the conversations I have already had with you on the subject of the expenses of the establishment at Longwood, I do myself the honor of informing you that having endeavored in every way to apply a reduction to them without diminishing in any very appreciable way the ease or comfort of General Bonaparte or any of the families or individuals who compose his suite (an operation in which I am glad to recognize the spirit of concerted action which you have shown), I am now in a position to transmit to you, for the information of General Bonaparte, the two statements providing sufficiently precise data on which to base the calculation of the probable annual expenditure, if things continue on the same footing as at present established. Statement No. 1 was furnished me by Mr. [Denzil] Ibbetson, Chief of the Military Commissariat on this island - the other was drawn up by some military secretary. THE INSTRUCTIONS I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT CONDUCT ME TO LIMIT THE EXPENDITURE OF GENERAL BONAPARTE'S ESTABLISHMENT TO 8,000 POUNDS A YEAR, they leave liberty at the same time to admit the occurrence of any new expenses which he may require, relating to the table or otherwise, beyond what that sum could cover, provided he furnishes the funds by which the surplus charges may be met. I am therefore now compelled to ask you to kindly inform him of the impossibility of my bringing the expenses of this household ... within the prescribed limits, unless I make such a reduction ... that it would materially diminish the comfort of those around him, - and HAVING BEEN VERY FREQUENTLY INFORMED BY HIM AS BY YOU, THAT HE HAS AT HIS DISPOSITION IN MANY PARTS OF EUROPE, MEANS BY WHICH THE EXTRA EXPENSES OR EVEN THE WHOLE COSTS COULD BE COVERED, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO ASK YOU TO BE INFORMED, before attempting any further considerable reduction which may prove inconvenient to him or to the persons in his suite, if he is satisfied that such an attempt can be made, or IF HE IS READY TO PLACE IN MY HANDS SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO FACILITATE THE ADDITIONAL CHANGES the occurrence of which must otherwise be unavoidable... "ATTACHED: IBBETSON (Denzil). 2 handwritten papers, in English, entitled "No. 1. Statement shewing the probable annual expenditure on a
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