Napoleon I--Gaspard Gourgaud | Manuscript account of events leading to 18 Brumaire, probably dictated by Napoleon

Napoleon I--Gaspard Gourgaud

Autograph manuscript draft by General Gourgaud, probably dictated by Napoleon,

describing the events leading up to the coup d'état of 18 Brumaire, which marked a turning point in Napoleon’s career: the present extract begins with the arrival of the fleet from Egypt off Fréjus, the rapturous welcome accorded to Napoleon, his journey to Paris, and concludes with his subsequent negotiations with the Directors, in particular with Barras, which led him finally to the decision to remove the Directors and Council of 500, nine pages, folio, St Helena, [c. 1815-1818], all but the first page written on rectos only, hastily written and heavily abbreviated, on paper with Britannia watermark and “C Cripps 1811”, in fitted modern blue case, slight fraying at margins

The coup d'etat of 18 brumaire [9 November 1799] marked Napoleon's transition from military commander to ruler. On his return from Egypt, finding France sloppily governed by the Directors, he overthrew the Directory and set up a government by three consuls, he himself becoming First Consul in December.

The present manuscript corresponds roughly to the text of pages 51 to 65 in the Mémoirs pour servir à l'histoire de France sous Napoléon, écrits par les généraux qui ont partagé sa captivité..., the first two volumes edited by Gourgaud and published by Firmin Didot in 1823. After a brief introductory section the first part of the chapter, which is divided into numbered sections, begins with the arrival of the flotilla off Fréjus. The printed text is more polished and elegantly expanded than the manuscript, which gives every indication of being written at great speed. The spelling of Gohier as “Goyer” in the manuscript may suggest that it was taken down from dictation.

Baron Gourgaud accompanied Napoleon to St Helena, where he remained until 1818. He was by all accounts a prickly character, quick to take offence and prone to petty jealousies. His journal, however, is considered one of the most reliable accounts of the captivity. He died in 1852.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, London, 15 May 1996, Lot 206