[Prince Impérial Louis Napoléon] Lord Sydney, Grand chambellan de la Reine Victoria - Lettre autographe signée [Campagne du Zululand. Disparition du Prince Impérial Louis Napoléon] - 1879

EXTREMELY RARE and PRECIOUS TESTIMONY from the ZULULAND campaign, written 10 days BEFORE THE TRAGIC DISAPPEARANCE OF THE IMPERIAL PRINCE. Setting out on reconnaissance on June 1, 1879, the young Napoleon fell into enemy territory, his body pierced by 17 spear shots.

John Robert Townshend, 1st Earl SYDNEY (1805-1890) . Grand Chamberlain of Queen Victoria, Lord Sydney had the sad mission of announcing to the Empress the death of his son, on June 20, 1879. Autograph letter signed (L. A. S) to Baron Doctor Lucien Corvisart (former doctor to Napoleon III) , Cleveland square S. W. [London] , May 20, 1879; 4 p. on 2 f. in-8.

Correspondence to be discovered.

My dear Baron,
The best address for letters to PRINCE IMPERIAL is "Commander in Chief, Headquarter staff".
[illegible] But if HER MAJESTY [the Empress] will send them to me the day before the boat leaves. I arranged for them to be forwarded by the War Office with dispatches from LORD CHELMSFORD [General-in-Chief of the Army during the Anglo-Zulu Campaign] . Then the letters will reach HIS HIGHNESS without fail.
[illegible] to consent to our [illegible] peace. But it seems that this is not at all certain, that he himself is in a position with the war to MAKE A DEFINITIVE PEACE.
A thousand compliments.
Sydney
To Mr. Baron de Corvisart

A RARE and PRECIOUS account of the ZULULAND campaign, written 10 days BEFORE THE IMPERIAL PRINCE'S TRAGIC DEATH. Leaving in recognition on June 1, 1879, the young Napoleon fell into enemy territory, his body pierced by 17 sagain shots.

John Robert Townshend, 1st Earl SYDNEY (1805-1890) . Grand Chamberlain to Queen Victoria, Lord Sydney had the sad task of informing the Empress of the death of her son on 20 June 1879. Autograph letter signed (L. A. S) to Baron Docteur Lucien Corvisart (former doctor of Napoleon III) , Cleveland square S. W. London] , May 20, 1879; 4 p. we 2 f. in-8.

Correspondence to discover.

My dear Baron,
The best address for letters to the PRINCE IMPERIAL is "Commander in Chief, Headquarter staff".
[illegible] but if HER MAJESTY [the Empress] will kindly send them to me the day before the boat leaves. I have arranged for them to be forwarded by the Ministry of War with the depatches of LORD CHELMSFORD.
Therefore the letters will reach HIS ALTESE [the Prince Imperial] without fault.
[illegible] to consent to our [illegible] peace. But it seems that it is not at all certain, that he is in a position himself with the war to make a definitive peace.
Many compliments.
Sydney