DAVOUT (Louis-Nicolas). Autograph letter... - Lot 12 - Osenat

DAVOUT (Louis-Nicolas). Autograph letter signed to his wife Aimée Leclerc. TILSIT [now Sovietsk in Russia], July 9, 1807. The peace of Tilsit was concluded by two treaties, one signed by France and Russia on July 7, 1807, the other signed by France and Prussia on July 9. "THE PEACE IS SIGNED. THE TWO EMPERORS LEAVE TILSIT NOW, my good friend. It appears that the army corps will remain there until the end of the month to give the other corps time to evacuate the country. Consequently, I cannot tell you anything positive yet about my return to France. Believe that I will not lose a moment when the thing is possible. THE DEPARTURE OF THE EMPEROR will slow down the arrival of your news and our means of correspondence. I will do everything I can to prevent you from noticing. REMEMBER TO M[m]e MARET HOW SENSITIVE I AM TO THE PROCEDURES OF HER HUSBAND, who at the time of your childbirth sent me your letters through his secretaries and often brought them himself, inquiring about your news with the greatest interest [Marshal Davout had just given birth to their second child, Adèle, on June 21, 1807]. You know, my little Aimée, how much these marks of friendship and interest touch me, moreover they come from one of the men who deserves the most esteem and for whom I have a great esteem. [This is the minister secretary of state of Napoleon I, Hugues-Bernard Maret, and his wife Marie-Madeleine Lejéas, lady of the palace of the empress Josephine]. I have not yet done anything for Desessart [General Nicolas-Marin LECLERC DES ESSARTS, brother of Marshal Davout], only I have much more hope, the EMPEROR having just promised me in the most formal manner that he would do so as soon as he arrived in Ko[e]nigsberg. Thus, within 3 or 4 days I will receive the appointment. Tell our good mother that it will be a great pleasure for me to tell her the news. In the meantime, please assure her of my affection. I send a thousand caresses to my two daughters [Joséphine, born in 1804, and Adèle], and a thousand and one kisses to their excellent and beautiful mother. For life your faithful sposo [husband, in Italian] L. Davout.