LETIZIA BONAPARTE | letter signed by Napoleon's mother, to her American grandson Jerome Napoleon, 1829

LETIZIA BONAPARTE (MOTHER OF NAPOLÉON I)

LETTER SIGNED ("MADAME"), TO HER AMERICAN GRANDSON JEROME NAPOLEON "BO" BONAPARTE ("MON FILS"),

in French, revealing her straitened circumstances living in Rome, congratulating her grandson on his forthcoming marriage to the American heiress Susan-Marie Williams of Baltimore, expressing regret that her depleted finances prevent her from giving him the sum she had promised him when he first visited her in Rome and her earnest hope that he will find happiness in his marriage, 2 pages, 4to (c.24 x 18.2cm), integral address leaf ("Monsieur Jerome N. Bonaparte"), remains of black seal, Rome, 10 November 1829

"...depuis ce tems, les choses sont bien changées chez moi, j’ai éprouvé des pertes qui ont diminué mes ressources et qui ont presque dérangé mes affaires. Je n’ai jamais tant regrette ces pertes qu’à présent puisqu'elles me mettent dans l'impossibilité de vous assurer la somme que je vous avais promise..."

Letizia Buonaparte née Ramolino (1750-1836) was the mother of Napoleon and her signature reflects her title as "Madame Mère de l'Empereur". The addressee is her grandson, who was the son of Jérôme Bonaparte from his marriage to the American heiress Elizabeth Patterson in 1805. That marriage was immediately annulled by Napoléon and the young "Bo" went to Baltimore and became known as Jerome Napoleon Patterson, although Letizia evidently always regarded him as family, not least because he had visited her in Rome.

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