Sales catalogue 634: Maggs Bros

Date:
1936
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/13/170
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 634: Maggs Bros. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    85/136 page 83
    THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE FRENCH FLEET AT BREST, 1803-4. 762 NAPOLEON I (Emperor of the French) and TRUGUET (LAURENT J. P CONTE 0752-1630), French Admiral, A COLLECTION-OF 76 LETTERS, DOCUMENTS, EI¢., DEAL- ING With PRUGUET’S RECONSTRUCTION ‘OF -THE “FRENCH FLEET AT BREST, 1803-1804, INCLUDING 3 LETTERS OF NAPO- LEON, WHILE FIRST CONSUL, SIGNED “* BONAPARTE:” £63 A very fine collection of letters, documents, etc., dealing with Truguet’s reconstruction of the French fleet at Brest, 1803-4. In- cluded in the collection are three letters of Napoleon as First Consul, signed ‘‘ Bonaparte,’’ stating that a fleet of more than 100 war vessels is in the Boulogne Roads, and that the English under Lord Keith, have not dared to come nearer than just within firing range. He later orders Truguet to Brest to enforce discipline in the navy, and urges him to expend all his efforts in forming the fleet at Brest. There are 37 letters or copies of letters from Truguet to Napoleon, Lucien Bonaparte, Décrés, Berthier, on naval matters. In his letters to Napoleon dealing with the reconstruction of the fleet at Brest, he begs for more authority, and asks for the rank of Admiral; a letter book containing 43 letters to the Prefects maritime of different ports, etc.; an autograph draft of an address presented by the navy to Napoleon, expressing joy at his escape from an attempted assassina- tion, and assuring him of their loyalty; a signed pamphlet and A.L.S. from De Gay, commander in chief of naval artillery at Brest, dealing with the reparation of ships; printed table of wages of naval ofhcers and men, and civil servants attached to the marine at Brest; a list and condition of ships destined for the fleet; a list.of the ships composing Truguet’s fleet, with an account of their general condition; a collec- tion of notes on the navy, containing articles on methods for the pro- tection of Brest, on discipline, on the different means of employing naval forces and light-houses, etc. In May, 1803, England formally declared war against France and Cornwallis left to cruise off Ushant and to watch Brest, which he did without experiencing much relief from the monotony of the service until 25th Dec. when a violent gale obliged him to return to port. The year 1804 witnessed great increase in the preparations which were being made in France for the invasion of Great Britain. Numerous ships were laid down in the larger ports and the construction of gun- vessels and boats was actively pressed forward. Cornwallis regained his position off Brest on 12th Jan., 1804, and the blockade was steadily maintained. Napoleon was greatly dissatisfied with the passive attitude of his increased force and issued directions which were in-
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