JOSEPHINE DE BEAUHARNAIS: (1763-1814) Empress of the French 1804-14, as first wife of Napoleon I. Rare A.L.S., `Lapagerie Bonaparte´, one page, 4to, n.p. [Paris], n.d. [1796-97], to `Citizen Botot, secretary of the Director Barras, at Luxembourg´, referring to the Palace of Luxembourg, in French. Josephine addresses his request directly to Botot, the close secretary to Barras, kindly asking him to get a post for a protégé, and stating `Je vous recommande mon cher Botot le citoyen…, je m´intéresse beaucoup a lui et vous m´obligeriez en lui procurant une place, il a besoin d´être employé pour pouvoir exister. Recevez mon cher Botot l´assurance de mon amitié´ (“I recommend to you, my dear Botot, the citizen…, I am very interested in this person and I would feel obliged if you get him a working post, he needs to be employed to be able to exist. Receive my dear Botot the assurance of my friendship”) With address leaf, in Josephine´s hand. Paper with Honic & Zoonen watermark.       &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;   Small overall age wear and creasing, otherwise G

 

Paul Barras (1755-1829) French Politician during revolution, President of the National Convention and the main executive Leader of the Directory regime of 1795-99. Barras voted in favour of King Louis XVI´s sentence to death.

François Marie Botot (1758-1838) was Barras´s secretary and was considered a powerful and influential person of the Directory.