MÉNEVAL (CLAUDE-FRANÇOIS). "IN MOSCOW. AS I WRITE, THE CITY - Lot 220

Lot n° 220
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MÉNEVAL (CLAUDE-FRANÇOIS). "IN MOSCOW. AS I WRITE, THE CITY - Lot 220
MÉNEVAL (CLAUDE-FRANÇOIS). "IN MOSCOW. AS I WRITE, THE CITY IS BURNING IN SEVERAL PLACES... IT IS A HORRIBLE AND IMPOSING SIGHT...". 31 autograph letters signed TO IMPERATRESS MARIE-LOUISE. Poland then Russia, June 1-December 5, 1812. All preserved in a paper folder with autograph title. PRECIOUS INTIMATE CORRESPONDENCE, IN PERSONAL COPIES ESTABLISHED DURING THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN, from Posen (Poznań) in Poland to Moscow, then from Moscow to Smorgoni, while at Napoleon I's side - he was only separated from him for a few days, mainly for health reasons, in June and December. Claude-François Méneval expresses himself as a confidant, giving news of Napoleon I's state of health (and his own), giving details of the places where he stayed (a farm, a modest house, a small wooden castle, a castle belonging to Prince Galitzine, the Kremlin, the Petrovsky Palace, etc.), talking about the weather. He also talks about military operations and refers to the bulletins of the Grand Army, which he says he encloses with his letters. He speaks more readily of the optimism and victories of the early part of the campaign than of the "annoyances" at the end. LE BARON MENEVAL, SECRETAIRE PARTICULIER DE NAPOLEON IER DE 1802 A 1812. A keen writer, Claude-François Méneval (1778-1850) spent his youth in literary circles, meeting Roederer who recruited him as an editor at the Journal de Paris. Having served a few months in the army under Louis Bonaparte, and speaking English, he was then recommended by Roederer to Joseph Bonaparte who, having to conduct peace negotiations with the English at the beginning of the Consulate, was looking for a secretary. In 1802, Joseph Bonaparte in turn proposed him as secretary to Napoleon, who had decided to part company with Bourrienne. Claude-François Méneval was 24 years old at the time, and remained Napoleon I's closest collaborator until 1812, carrying out the exhausting task of drafting his correspondence, called upon at all times of the day and night, striving to follow the voice and sometimes the thoughts only of the emperor, who dictated at great speed. In delicate health, he was replaced for a few days after Austerlitz by other secretaries who did not give satisfaction - when the cabinet was reorganized in 1806, Méneval retained the prerogatives of first secretary, with the key to Napoleon I's portfolios. Claude-François Méneval was present wherever he went, in Austria, Prussia, Poland, Spain, Russia... But this last campaign took its toll on his strength, and he was forced to resign his position, which was officially entrusted to Agathon-Jean-François Fain in February 1813. He then became secretary to the Empress Marie-Louise, in whose confidence he was, and was appointed auditor to the Conseil d'État. In 1814, he accompanied the Empress out of Paris, then to Vienna, from where he passed on diplomatic information to Napoleon I. Returning from Vienna during the Hundred Days, he was warmly welcomed by the Emperor, who, after making him a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1806 and a Baron in 1810, considered making him Minister and Duke, but the defeat at Waterloo prevented this. Claude-François Méneval took over the guardianship of Count Léon, Napoleon I's natural child. On St. Helena, the emperor declared: "He has never given me anything but satisfaction and pleasure, and I have loved him dearly", and included him in his will for 100,000 francs. Baron Méneval published his Memoirs in 1827, kept in touch with such Empire figures as Lavalette, Marbot, Gourgaud and Bertrand, and was still able to attend the Return of the Ashes ceremony in 1840. - Vilna, July 5, 1812: "Allow me to thank Your Majesty for the kind letter she has written me, and for the flattering things it contains. My whole ambition is to be agreeable to Your Majesty, and to respond to the confidence with which the Emperor wishes to honor me. I have no news to give Your Majesty. The Emperor is still in Vilna, but he is not idle..., everything is organized here..." - Gloubokoïé, July 20, 1812: "The Emperor's affairs go according to his wishes. The Russians are fleeing on all sides, abandoning their stores and artillery to us...". - Vitebsk, August 4, 1812: "I have the honor of sending Your Majesty the 11th Bulletin. She will see in it a very fine affair in which the regiment commanded by the brother of Madame [am]e the Duchess of Montebello [ATTENTION truncated card - full description in catalog (photo 3-7)]
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