Egypt--Napoleon I, Emperor of France (1769-1821)

written in French and Arabic, Napoleon's signature confirming the remittance of the letter to Citoyen Poussielgue, the paymaster general in the Mediterranean, the complaint from the Divan reporting faulty salary accounts of Sheikh el Belheri (?) and Muslim sheikhs el Azar and urging Napoléon to make the General Administrator of Finances (i.e. Poussielgue) arrange for them to receive their former salaries

"...Cy devant nous vous avons informé que le cheik el Belheri [?] & les cheiks des musulmans de el Azar ont une paye, de laquelle ils vivoient eux & leurs familles, les mamelouks leur en tenoient compte dans les [mises?] qu' ils devoient & payoient le restant, vous pouvez vous en assurer par les effendis & les écrivains. Vous n'aimez pas à détruire les usages des Belheri & des Ulemas qui esperent en vos bontés & sont surs d' être plus honorés par vous que pour les mamelouks, nous vous prions de donner ordre à l'administrateur general des finances de leur continuer leurs anciens usages & de leur compter leurs payes sur le miré qu' ils doivent comme cela se faisait autrefois. Dieu ne détruise pour les usages des gens de bien dans notre gouvernement, & vous conserve [...]".



1 page, folio (c.33 x 23cm), watermark of 3 crescent moons, countersigned by J.J Fourier, seal-stamps below the Arabic text, Cairo, 29 an 7 [August 16, 1799], remains of mount on verso, some creasing along folds

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

RARE: This is an exceptional document of Napoleon's government of Egypt, written in Arabic with a French translation, whose remittance Napoleon has signed. Such documents are rarely offered for sale at auction. Napoleon had set up the Divan in Cairo (consisting of five prominent Muslims and one Copt) in order "to accustom the notables of Egypt to the idea of assembly and government". This complaint by the Divan is also signed by the French mathematician and physicist Jean-Joseph Fourier (1768-1830) who had accompanied Napoleon as scientific adviser on the Egyptian expedition in 1798 and was appointed secretary of the Institut d'Égypte.