French general (1773–1844) who was a friend and confidant of Napoleon. ALS in French, signed “Bertrand,” one page both sides, 7.25 x 9, Camp de Saint-Omer letterhead, September 3, 1804. Letter to Chief Inspector of the Engineering Corps. In part (translated): “Three days before His Majesty’s departure I transmitted to Marshal Soult a detailed plan of Wissant indicating the projected port and harbor. The Marshal presented it to His Majesty but the project seems to have been postponed…Earlier there was no question about it. I didn’t have a copy…but…I retained the plans for some details…I will have a clean copy made of the entire plan and will have the honor of sending it to you very shortly. Work on the forts is progressing well…The limits of the gunpowder vaults have been laid out and work on the vaults has begun. Since we got up early there’s been a reduction in the bi-monthly expenses. I hope we will complete work at the desired time. P.S. His Majesty wouldn’t grant me my leave, the Minister told me. I confess to you, General, that after having been flattered, I’m very sorry to lose it. When the forts are finished I expect to be happier.” In very good condition, with central vertical and horizontal folds, light scattered toning and soiling, a few tiny holes throughout the text, show-through from writing on opposing sides, and toning and show-through from wax seal remnants to the reverse. In 1804, Napoleon planned to invade England and awarded the Legion of Honor for the first time to members of the Army of England on August 16, two weeks before this letter. RRAuction COA.
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