THE NAPOLEONIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

November-December 2013 Newsletter A well dressed man 1 Waterloo family 2 Manga Josephine 3 Ireland remembers Ross of Bladensburg 4 In Memoriam: Eugène Leliepvre 6 Cooking Column: Borodino Bread 9 Jérôme’s Chest 11 How to store your medals collection 12 And now for the rest of the story 14 The flag of the San Idlefonso 16 The Villa Mulini 18 The latest Battle of Leipzig 19 A medal for Leipzig 18 Nothing much happened in 1813 24 More Jane Austen 32 Calendar of Events 32

Breaking news! February 1st. The NHS will have a special one day conference in Louis- A WELL DRESSED MAN ville, KY. We’ll all go see the Eye of Napoleon exhibi- Above is the Général de Division’s It was on display at this summer’s tion, and much more. Keep coat worn by Napoleon at the Battle exhibition, called Napoleon and checking napoleonichistori- of Marengo, 14 June 1800. Photo Europe, at the Invalides. calsociety.com for updates. Musée de l’Armée, Paris.

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WATERLOO FAMILY

A man in the English Midlands has traced his ancestors After Waterloo, the wounded Samuel was treated in at Waterloo. David Woolerton had been trying for ten hospital and discharged 14 months later. Nathaniel and years to find if two of his ancestors from a small Leices- George continued on the march to Paris and remained tershire village had fought at the battle. in France until 1818. Nathaniel was promoted to One of his ancestors was the source of the story. He corporal and discharged to pension in January 1819. had written, ‘I have often heard my grandfather, Joseph, George moved to Ireland in 1819 where he died in say he had two uncles at the Battle of Waterloo. One service at Athlone in 1826. As customary, his personal had waded up to his knees in blood and found the other effects were sold to his fellow soldiers to pay his funeral had been shot and lay among the dead.’ expenses of £2. But such family tales are often wishful thinking. Mercer knew four Almeys. John, one of the twins, was There was evidence of an uncle, Samuel Almey, who, the first to join the Royal Horse Artillery and wasin when buried in the village of Earl Shilton in 1824, was Ireland with Samuel at the time of the 1798 Rebellion. recorded by the vicar as having been ‘severely wounded John was discharged in 1800. Samuel and Nathaniel at the Battle of Waterloo.’ sailed with Mercer to Montevideo in 1807 to reinforce Samuel Almey (born 1777) had three brothers: twins Whitelock’s disastrous expedition to South America Thomas and John (born 1775), and George (born 1791). and covered the retreat from Buenos Aires. He also had a sister, Jemima, (born 1794), who was Two more brothers, the Chapmans, from the same David Woolerton’s great, great, great grandmother. village, also served in Mercer’s battery at Waterloo. So But a researcher told him there was no record of a whenever we think of Mercer’s battery making its stand, Samuel Almey being at the battle, though a George we should remember it really was a family unit. David Almey had been a mounted gunner in the Royal Horse Woolerton ended up with not one, but three ancestors Artillery ‘G’ Troop, commanded by Captain Alexander at Waterloo. Cavalié Mercer. A distant relative, also researching the family history, came up with a newspaper obituary from the Leicester Chronicle of September 1863, concerning Nathaniel Almey, ‘the last old Waterloo veteran left in the parish of Earl Shilton.’ So now there were three Almeys said to have been at Waterloo. Family records showed that Samuel and George were brothers, and Nathaniel (born 1784) was their first cousin. To confirm this, they made frequent visits to the National Archives at Kew. They found the evidence in the muster rolls and pay lists. The two cousins, Samuel and Nathaniel, were both bombadiers with George in ‘G’ Troop RHA. All three had enlisted aged 16. “The simple reason they were not recorded was neither cousin could read or write, so when asked their names on enlisting, they replied in their local dialect, Ormby, and that is how they are recorded.” Mercer described his ‘G’ Troop as ‘the completest thing in the army.’ At Waterloo, the rapid fire of ‘G’ Troop beat off repeated charges from thousands of French cavalry. The Troop had five killed, 15 wounded and lost 69 horses. It became one of the most famous units in the battle, partly due to Mercer’s superb memoir, which is Keith Rocco’s painting often quoted in histories of the battle. of Mercer’s battery at Waterloo.

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MANGA JOSEPHINE

in the eighteenth century on the island of Martinique. The young Rose Tascher Pagerie grows up surrounded by a loving family. She’s a noblewoman, but lives a free and simple life far away from the glitz and the conventions of Paris. In 1779, at the age of sixteen, she marries the Vicomte de Beau- harnais. She begins a new life with a husband who neglects her and isolated in a country that she does not know. The young woman inevi- tably becomes harder, even if she retains the generosity and kindness that have always distinguished her. Rose is able to regain her freedom and independence, only to be engulfed by the Revolution in Paris. Admirers of Josephine Beauharnais One critic says it has been some- will be pleased to find she has been what fictionalized, but the author like you’re listening to a story, but immortalized in the Japanese art of also produced the Madame Bovary it’s too bad that this character is the Manga, the very popular art form series so he must be reliable. subject of a love sub-plot. The critic sometimes dismissed as comics. Another critic is much harsher. He insists a childish humor pervades Bara no shojo Josephine is written laments this manga says nothing the story even when a more serious by Kaoru Ochiai and designed by new about the character of Josephine treatment would have been nice. Yumiko Igurashi. The series is also despite the presence of obvious So the series falls short of cutting known as The Rose of Empress research work. He goes on to claim edge manga. There’s no monsters Josephine. The fourth and final the characters are stereotyped, or robots. volume should be out in the spring. with the heroine no exception. The Unfortunately I cannot tell you From the publicity, I gather the narration, from a secondary char- how it ends until the last episode is plot of Bara no Josephine begins acter, Antoine, makes it really feel published.

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IRELAND REMEMBERS ROSS OF BLADENSBURG

The small town of Rostrevor in all government property, including Northern Ireland still remembers the White House and the Capitol, the Irish-born general who burned although most private property was down the White House. There was a spared. conference about him over October On September 27, 1814, news 18 to 20. of Washington’s capture reached The capture of Washington is “one London. Ross became a national of the most extraordinary stories hero, but he was dead by then. On in British or American history,” September 12, he had been killed British media celebrity Peter Snow by a shot from American militia told attendees. outside Baltimore. He was buried Snow has written a new history in Halifax, Nova Scotia. on the War of 1812. It seems to be Ross His family received no peerage or the rule now in Britain that popular “There is an ingrained antipathy knighthood in compensation. They historians must have a successful among many Irish Catholics toward were probably thought without the television background. Snow said Redcoats,” said McCavitt. means to support a title. But they that when he speaks to British audi- The resurrection of the Protestant, were given an augmentation of ences, generally only one in 20 is Anglo-Irish Ross is an example of honour to the Ross coat of arms. It aware the British burned the home the ongoing peace efforts stemming was a second crest in which an arm of the American president. That’s from the 1998 Good Friday accord. is seen grasping the 15 stars and 15 disgraceful. The conference, entitled “Person- stripes on a broken staff. The family The war’s obscurity in British alities and Pivotal Moments in name was changed to the victory memory isn’t the only problem in the Napoleonic Wars and War of title “Ross-of-Bladensburg,” which resurrecting Ross’s memory. Bitter 1812,” was supported by Peace was granted to his widow. I think religious divisions and decades III Southern Partnership under such an award is unique amongst of sectarian violence in Northern the “Future Foundations” priority British titles. Ireland left Ross a forgotten figure funded through the European even in his own home town. The Union’s PEACE III Programme, monument to his memory became managed by the Special EU overgrown by brush and defaced Programmes Body, Newry and with graffiti. Mourne District Council and the “Growing up in the Troubles, Ulster Scots Agency. So there was anything that celebrated the British no lack of quasi-governmental Army wouldn’t have been too authorities at the conference. acceptable,” said Aisling Brown, Ross earned an excellent repu- a resident of County Down, in the tation serving under the Duke of Washington Post. “Now that we Wellington in the Peninsular War. have peace, it’s possible to give the He was sent to North America with history here a wee bit more atten- 4,000 troops to reinforce the British tion.” forces on the Atlantic coast. “Generations of children grew up On August 1814, outside Wash- knowing nothing about General ington, Ross led his troops to Ross,” said John McCavitt, a local victory over a larger American historian writing a biography of force at Bladensburg. His troops The coat of arms of Ross-of- Ross. entered the capital that night. Over Bladensburg. The American flag Ross remains a sensitive topic. the next 24 hours, they tried to burn appears twice as a trophy.

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In his hometown, a 100-foot ment was the work of local Newry more with a “Star-Spangled Banner granite obelisk monument to Ross and Mourne District Council, even celebration” next summer. was built overlooking the Carling- though the Council is dominated by He may have been one of the Prot- ford Lough. Obelisks were the Irish nationalists. estant Ascendancy, but there seems fashion then. It was recently saved Plans are now in the works to mark to be a bi-partisan will to celebrate from neglect, refurbished and the 200th anniversary of the capture the man who burned down the reopened in 2008. The refurbish- of Washington and battle for Balti- White House.

The Ross Memorial

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IN MEMORIAM: EUGÈNE LELIEPVRE 1908-2013

We have received the sad news of cial painter of racehorses, taught cial Painter of the French Army in the death of Eugène Leliepvre. He him color, and encouraged him to 1951. He became a collaborator of was a superb painter of uniforms, become a rider. “If you want to Commander Bucquoy in his great cavalrymen and pretty women. paint horses you must ride a horse!” series of books on French uniforms. He was born in 1908 in Montreuil- He spent three years of military From 1960 to 1990, he created sur-Mer. He remembered as a child training for the French cavalry. He artwork, research, and prototype seeing the French cavalry parading was mobilized in 1939 to serve in molds for Historex, a pioneering through the cobbled streets of Lille. the artillery. The result was deaf- brand of plastic figurines with a That sight probably persuaded ness, the curse of all gunners. quality of detail superior to that of him to become a military artist. A few difficult years followed lead figures. At the same time he He claimed to have drawn horses before he got his sense of balance was making his own military prints, before he could read. back. During that time, he and his dioramas, and figurines made of He served his apprenticeship in wife made little mannequins with wood, leather and fabrics. Some the artists’ workshops in Paris. St. faithful recreations of uniforms and of us remember him for the series George Gaston, a painter of horses, equipment. They learned a lot about of prints published under the name taught him the mechanism of the cut and folds of costumes. of Le Cimier, of the soldiers of the movement. Georges Busson, offi- Leliepvre was appointed an Offi- Ancien Regime and Napoleon.

The artist and his work.

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In 1993 he was one of the first recipients of the President’s Award of the World Model Soldier Expo- sition in Washington DC, followed three years later by a Medal of Honor at the World Model Soldier Exposition in Paris. For fifteen years, Leliepvre also worked for the Musée de la Marine in Paris, creating numerous dioramas about France’s Empire. This interest in the Ancien Regime and France Overseas naturally led to Canada, where he made many friends. It began in 1959, when Leliepvre became a member of America’s premier military historical organi- zation, the Company of Military Historians. That introduced him to American collectors, like James Tily and Peter Blum, who commis- sioned him to make a series of drawings for the Company of the troops of New France. The late Colonel John Elting (familiar to our readers as a long-standing member of the NHS) helped him in translating the text. His sense of pageantry had appeal across nation- alities and generations, inspiring friendships with remarkable diora- mists like Bill Horan and Sheperd Paine. Another friend was René Char- trand, Senior Curator for the National Historic Sites of Canada. Elite Company, 1st Hussars, by Eugene Leliepvre. For him, Leliepvre made 37 mili- tary models, each accompanied by plates illustrating life in the forts of its Distinguished Service Award for In 1998 he was made Knight of New France. a second time. the Legion of Honor. He continued In recognition of the work, in 1974 He was an equestrian painter to paint in his studio in Montrouge Colonel Elting presented Leliepvre too, and many will remember him almost to the end. He made it to his with the Company of Military for his hunting and animal paint- 106th birthday. All in all, he was a Historians’ Distinguished Service ings. A large part of his production fine man, who will be much missed. Award. In 2008, on the occasion of from 1940 to 1970 was paintings of More about Eugène Leliepvre can its sesquicentennial, the Company women so elegant as to be fantasy. be found on his website, EugeneL- gave Leliepvre the Star for getting He rivalled Vargas in this genre. eliepvre.com.

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“Canadians.”

The Dutch Fleet taken in the Texel by French Hussars, 1795.

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COOKING COLUMN: BORODINO BREAD

The media sometimes seems to be leon asked to sample some Russian In Northern and Central Europe, full of cooking shows, so I thought black bread. After one mouthful, he if the bread is to be spicy, anise or we should have one too. Borodino tossed it away, saying “Bon pour caraway is used. bread is one of the most famous Nickel!” Nickel was his horse.) There’s several versions of how varieties of Russian rye bread. Most Borodino bread has only a family the bread got its name. The most Russians know its dark chocolate resemblance to pumpernickel. It is romantic claims that the corian- tint, characteristic sweet-and-sour made using a sophisticated tech- der’s round seeds are supposed to taste and spicy aroma. nique: the bread is boiled. Rye resemble artillery caseshot, which Black bread baked from almost flour with the addition of a small lacerated the body of the brave pure rye flour is not common in proportion of wheat is brewed General Tuchkov as he led his Europe. Once, Russian chauvinists with boiling water and allowed to musketeer regiment into the attack argued that they did not know how stand for several hours at a certain at the Battle of Borodino. The to bake it in the West. The Germans, temperature. Ingredients include general’s widow, unable to find her with their famous pumpernickel, golden syrup, which is not popular husband’s body on the battlefield, can laugh at this claim. in other Russian dishes, and red rye built a monastery on the supposed (Someone insisted that at this malt. In the last stage, the bread site of his death and later became the point I add the apocryphal story of is flavored with coriander seeds, monastery’s abbess. Subsequently, Pumpernickel. Supposedly, Napo- and this is definitely a local taste. the famous bread was baked at the

Borodino bread is good when served with vodka or borscht.

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monastery’s bakery, which quickly found its way from Mozhaisk to Moscow, conquering the capital. So Boro- dino bread’s round seeds, which carry both a warm and slightly cool taste, are a tribute to the brave general. But other people say that Borodinsky bread was baked by the wife of Kutuzov before the battle of Borodino. Not all explanations are Napoleonic. One theory has this bread invented by a Professor Borodin during a trip to Italy, where he found a local secret recipe. Some even claim the professor was also the great composer, who wrote the opera “Prince Igor.” But rye doesn’t seem very Italian. Another claim is that Borodino bread was invented in Moscow by two Latvians bakers in the 1920s. This is Stage 1: The sourdough. when Borodino bread became famous. So it’s a Soviet 1 cup rye flour triumph. 1¼ cups water Russian folklore says Borodinsky bread can remain 1 tsp. ground coriander fresh for weeks. This might be because of the high ¼ cup sourdough culture (you’ll have to find a good acidity factor from the sourdough that also acts a preser- baking supplies store for this one.) vative. The bread may not go moldy over time, but after Mix the ingredients until fully incorporated with no a week or so it will be stale. lumps. Leave covered overnight for 12 hours. Russian tradition has soup served for lunch. Borodino bread suits the taste of the most common soup, borscht, Stage 2: The bread. which is also sweet and sour. Also Borodino bread is ½ cup white flour not bad when served as a snack with vodka, especially 1 cup rye flour with the addition of Russian herring fillets in a mari- ½ cup finely ground whole wheat flour nade that also includes coriander seeds. It can be served ¼ cup water at breakfast too, in combination with the cup of strong 2 tsp. salt black tea that is normal in the morning in Russia, 1 tbsp. honey ½ tsp cocoa powder If you want to try it, here’s one recipe. 1½ tsp. instant powdered yeast Sourdough mixture (from previous night).

Mix ingredients until fully incorporated. Knead for 15 minutes by hand or 10 minutes in an electric mixer. The dough is sticky. Shape into an oval loaf and place in a loaf pan. Leave to rise for 1½ to 2 hours. Bake for 50 minutes at 190º. Cool completely before slicing.

Alternatively, just find a good Russian baker and ask for Borodino bread with your most sophisticated air. Claim that you’re a devotee of General Tuchkov.

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JÉRÔME’S CHEST

On December 3rd, Sotheby’s will auction a brass-mounted thuya wood travelling writing box made by Guillaume Biennais, allegedly for Jérôme Bonaparte, King of Westphalia. The top has a rectangular plaque. It opens to reveal a recessed tooled leather panel above a tooled leather writing slide, with a brass handle on each side and a brass shield-shaped escutcheon. The lockplate is signed Biennais Orf. re LL MM Imperiales et Royales a Paris, together with the trade card of Biennais and an ink inscribed list of Etat des pièces composant le nécessaire de S.M. Le Roi de Westphalia. It’s 5 inches tall, 17¼ wide, and 10 ½ deep. The estimate was $13,000 -$19,600, but it didn’t sell. The list in ink of travelling supplies needed for Jérôme’s use is a nice touch. J. Biennais is known to have produced such luxury items for Elise and Pauline Bonaparte and Prince Eugène. The brass plaque on the top of the offered writing box most probably had a cipher or coat-of-arms which has now been removed. Perhaps this was done by a later owner in the years when the Bonaparte name was a bit embarrassing to display. Martin Guillaume Biennais (1764- 1853) is said to have supplied Napoleon with large amounts of furniture, tabletterie, and néces- saires, not only for himself but for all of his relatives. In 1800 Jérôme Bonaparte purchased from Bien- nais a nécessaire de voyage when Exposition Industrielle of 1806, After Biennais’s death in 1843, he was based at the Singe violet, Biennais won a Gold Medal for it was written, “When Bonaparte 238 rue Saint-Honoré. The impe- the objects he exhibited. In 1806, came back from Egypt he didn’t rial insignia used by Napoleon he was appointed goldsmith to the have any other fortune except were made by Biennais and at the Emperor. glory and traders did not want to

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sell to him on credit. Biennais was the only one to accept this and he became Napoleon’s official gold- smith when he became Emperor.” Napoleon’s appreciation for the credit given, was demonstrated in an increasing number of commis- sions for Biennais, making silver, furniture and jewelry as well as chessboards and travelling cases, much of it ordered by Napoleon for his own use or for gift. Bien- nais’s trade card read Orfévre de S.M.l’Empereur et Roi and another trade card lists the objects he made, and interestingly it includes ébénis- terie (cabinet-work), like this trav- elling box.

The list of what Jérôme wanted included in his case.

HOW TO STORE YOUR MEDALS COLLECTION

On June 3rd Sotheby’s sold an unusual cabinet in London, during an auction rightly called Treasures in Princely Taste. It was a silver-mounted and inlaid amboyna and mahogany medal cabinet, by François Jacob-Desmalter (1770-1841), after a design by Charles Percier (1764-1838). The silver mounts came from the firm of Martin Biennais (1764-1843), probably following instructions from Baron Dominique Vivant Denon (1747-1825), the leading savant of the Egyp- tian expedition. So one piece of furniture manages to include much of the Empire’s scientific and arts establishment. The precise date was thought to be 1810. It sold for $535,000 (Hammer Price with Buyer’s Premium). It is 3 foot, 8 inches high, just over 2 foot wide at its widest, and 16 inches deep. Who wanted this specialized piece of furniture for their collection? The provenance says it was probably commis- sioned by Napoleon or Baron Denon. It was likely acquired by Frederick John Monson, 5th Lord Monson (1809-1841), around 1830, for his house in Gatton Park, Surrey, where it probably stood in the library. It descended through the Monson family thereafter. The pylon form is an obvious allusion to Egypt. The winged

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Above left, the eye of one uraeus, Above right, the graduated when pressed, flips open to reveal drawers, each mounted with a a keyhole. silver bee or scarab, the wing of which lifts to open the drawer. disc and two uraei, the sacred cobra symbol of ancient Egyptian kings emphasize the theme. The front and back panels are inlaid with a scarab between uraei on lotus stalks. The eye of one uraeus, when pressed flips open to reveal a keyhole. The Right, the pylon shape seems cabinet has forty one graduated impractical, but it looks good. drawers each mounted with a silver scarab-like insect, probably a bee, the wing of which lifts to open the drawer. Each drawer has a silver numbered plaque from No 1-41. So the link to Napoleon is left a little vague. But whoever it was had a medal collection deserving of such an impressive piece of furni- ture.

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AND NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

There has been some further news Glasgow and the Iron Duke on some of the stories in our recent In the September-November issue newsletters. we mentioned how Glaswegians celebrate by placing a traffic cone Napoleon’s Will on Auction over the head of their statue of the In the September-October news- Duke of Wellington. letter we mentioned that codi- Unknown to us, at that time the city cils to Napoleon’s will were to be authorities were planning to deter auctioned. people from keeping up the tradi- The original will, penned in Napo- tion of desecrating the monument. leon’s own illegible hand, is in They had been considering placing France’s national archives. This a plinth underneath the monument was a copy written by an adviser as part of a $106,000 refurbishment and was estimated at $165,000. proposal, as they thought the prac- It actually sold for $483,000. tice projects a “depressing” image Druout auction house said the price of the city. The move would have included taxes and fees. This was heightened the statue, placing it out almost triple the expected price. The mask while still on display at of reach of revellers. The French buyer said he wished the auction house. But the statue, outside the city’s to remain anonymous, and that he Gallery of Modern Art, has planned to keep the will in a private versial figure, but this deathbed attracted traffic cones for decades. collection. image speaks far more directly to The plan was leaked to the media, us. Here we see the man himself, and an online petition against any The Boy’s Deathmask and sense his charisma, even in change rapidly gained signatories. In the May-June newsletter we death.” Organizers of the petition say it is a covered the story of the death mask There are other death masks of part of the city’s heritage. of Napoleon known as the Boy’s Napoleon, but most are believed to While there is agreement that the death mask. be later copies. All but one of the duke’s statue is being damaged, the It was sold for $286,500 earlier other masks are in national collec- Glasgow tradition has too many this year to a buyer outside Britain. tions in France or in Corsica. supporters. It seems much of the Unexpectedly the British govern- The culture minister noted that ire was caused by the language ment has decreed an export ban on with the 200th anniversary of used in the plan, mainly the words the mask in the hope that a British Waterloo approaching there is still ‘depressing sight.’ Many Glaswe- buyer can be found for the what has a “huge fascination” with Napoleon gians insist there’s a lot of affection been called a macabre object. in the UK. “This is perhaps one of for this coning tradition. A member of the government the most unusual objects I’ve ever So the city authorities have backed committee which advised the come across, both fascinating and down. All they can do is quietly British culture minister about the somewhat macabre, but I believe it remove the image of the coned mask, said it has “a power and should remain here, and hope a UK statue from promotional mate- immediacy that raises the hairs on buyer steps forward to help ensure rials. The statue by the Italian artist the back of the neck.” He added, that happens,” he said. Baron Carlo Marochetti will stay “the sense that you are in the pres- A British buyer has until 14 unprotected and the city trembles at ence of Napoleon is very strong. January next year to match the sale the liability issues if a reveler falls There are many grandiose portraits, price or the export will be allowed. off. There’s been no suggestion as well as contemporary British This period could be extended. that Bonapartists are in any way caricatures of this great and contro- Britain won’t let Napoleon go. involved.

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Napoleon biopic In the September-October news- letter we mentioned a miniseries that may star Al Pacino. In the March-April newsletter we covered Steven Spielberg’s plans to resur- rect Stanley Kubrick’s project on Napoleon. Now there is a film project that is somewhat scary. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Rupert Sanders is to direct a big budget epic biopic of Napoleon. Sanders’s last big movie was Snow White and the Huntsman. He is a former commercials director who made his big screen debut with the Kristen Stewart fantasy blockbuster. He will work from a Glasgow’s statue unadorned for a time. screenplay by Jeremy Doner of the US version of TV crime drama The Killing. The film will be produced TRAFALGAR NONSENSE by Gianni Nunnari, who previously did the film 300. Whatever your Newspapers often produce histor- producing huge splinters that sliced opinion of their previous work, ical errors in their search for simple into the crew like spears. The poor there’s always hope they will excel or new answers. men on the gun decks didn’t stand this time. Except… Under the title of “How the Battle a chance. While little is known about the of Trafalgar was won by a splin- This is simply wrong, though I’ve storyline, the film will reportedly ter’s breadth,” a British paper seen the same asserted elsewhere. take a Scarface approach. The published an account about the It was pleasing that so many wrote words “Gangster chic” have been importance of ship-building mate- in so quickly that the assertion is used. rials in deciding the outcome of the nonsense. The French did not build famous battle. their ships from Corsican Pine SIR – You report that Lord Nelson’s (Pinus nigra), or any other species fleet “wasn’t as highly skilled as of pine. The French , like the British, perceived.” used oak. The French government A friend of mine, whose ancestor first wrote laws governing their was admiral of the fleet, always forests for the provision of oak for said that Nelson was a great sailor, the navy in 1669. although not immensely superior If the French made such an error, to the French. He put Nelson’s why was it generally thought the triumphs down to Napoleon’s insis- French built better ships? After all tence on supporting home industry the Royal Navy was very keen to by using Corsican pine for building use French ships they captured. his ships. French cannonballs Pine was used for spars and masts. thudded into the flanks and decks Pine was also important as a source of the British oak vessels and stuck of rosin, turpentine pitch and tar. like raisins in pudding. English But decks? No naval man wanted Rupert Sanders. cannonballs smashed the pine that. It’s back to the old explana- If you see this man… decks and walls of the French ships tions for Trafalgar.

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THE ENSIGN OF THE SAN IDLEFONSO

This is the Spanish Ensign that flew couldn’t get away with that now. souvenir hunters and not battle from the stern of the San Idlefonso More recently they took it out of damage. at the battle of Trafalgar. It was the box for a day to photograph it. I had no luck finding the French brought back with Nelson’s body You can see the event below. It does ensign that once accompanied after the battle, and it was hung at show the great size of these naval it. Undoubtedly it was a simple his funeral at St. Paul’s Cathedral, ensigns. This one is 32 feet long. tricolor, but I was interested in its alongside a captured French flag, to This design was in use from 1785 size. symbolize the great victory won at to 1931. The field is divided into Not only the flag was captured, the cost of his own life. three horizontal stripes; red, yellow, but also the ship that bore it. The Today the flag is kept inside a card- red. On an applied patch in the San Idlefonso was twenty years old board box, wrapped in tissue, in the central stripe is an oval bearing the at Trafalgar, a veteran of several archives of the National Maritime arms of Castile, a yellow/gold castle trips to the Americas. Though it Museum in Greenwich, London, on a red field, and Leon, a white was rated as a 74 gun ship, it actu- one of its hidden treasures. field with a red lion rampant, with ally carried 80 guns. The British Due to its size, there isn’t a big a crown above. The arms appear to managed to save it from the great enough space to hang it. The have been printed or stencilled. storm that followed the battle, and museum hung it once in the 1960s There are rectangular holes at it entered British service as HMS and it trailed all over the floor. They the hoist end, apparently made by San Idlefonso.

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Another view of the San Idlefonso ensign.

So much for a trophy from Museum has a booklet containing up afterwards. The largest fragment Trafalgar used at Nelson’s funeral. two small fragments of the White is 4 inches by 3½, not much really. What happened to his own ensign? Ensign flown from HMS Victory at So the Spanish ensign is too large Sadly it fell victim to souvenir Trafalgar. The flag was carried at to display and the British one too hunters. The National Maritime Lord Nelson’s funeral and divided small.

The fragments of HMS Victory’s battle flag bound into a booklet.

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THE VILLA MULINI

Peter Hicks at the Fondation tions. All this notwithstanding, decade resurrecting the palace Napoléon in Paris has reminded us before this year, the Napoleonic that Napoleon knew. They are that there’s always something new ‘state’ of the imperial residence of I still working to rescue the formal to discover regarding Napoleon. Mulini in Portoferraio on Elba was gardens, which have all but disap- In Elba, he points out, “the palace completely unknown, buried under peared. The theatre and ballroom of I Mulini is the only Napoleonic two centuries of military misuse, are still in a terrible state. But they residence in which the Emperor neglect and poor curatorship.” are hoping to unveil more for the lived ten months consecutively. It is No more. A heroine called Roberta upcoming bicentennial in May furthermore one of the only houses Martinelli, supported by Velia Gini 2014. The palace must be prepared in which he personally oversaw Bartoli, have spent more than a for the arrival of the Emperor. the refurbishment and modifica-

The Villa Mulini today.

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THE LATEST BATTLE OF LEIPZIG

Six thousand or so re-enactors turned up for the two hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig. Their variety made it a Battle of Nations once again. Tens of thousands of spectators watched the re-enactment, tact- fully dubbed a “reconciliation.” Church leaders had objected to the battle being turned into a game. They saw the event as tantamount to glorifying the carnage of war. The night before, European Parliament President Martin Schulz gave a speech at a memorial to the battle warning of a resurgence of nationalism. Fortunately these concerns didn’t spoil a spectacular party. The re-enactors came from far and wide. Below, Prussian landwehr.

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A line of the French and their allies.

The guns in action.

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Above, battle is joined. (What are the Scots doing there? Of course they’re always fun to have around.) Below, the Saxon Guard moves forward.

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Above, the Austrian army opposite the French. Below, Prussian hussars attack a French square. For safety reasons, bureaucrats forbade horses near anyone on foot. As a result the cavalry mounted themselves on hobby-horses. So here’s the devastating charge of the hobby-horse hussars.

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Here, a NCO tries to marshal the Saxon light infantry.

A MEDAL FOR LEIPZIG

The Allies had a Commemora- 1½ inches high including the loop tive Silver Medal to celebrate their The estimate was $2,250 - $2,570. victory in 1813. There was no information who Christies had one for auction in issued the medal and who were the London this November. It is oval, recipients. The manufacture might with a loop to suspend it. One side have been simply private enterprise is struck with the four coat-of-arms and any enthusiast could buy one. for the major powers in the winning Perhaps the major re-enactments coalition at Leipzig, that is Russia, should do something similar, Austria, Prussia and Sweden. It’s though silver might be overdoing it.

November-December 2013 Page 23 THE NAPOLEONIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER NOT MUCH HAPPENED IN LATE 1813

This is a continuing series about the radical. the poem is unreadable. To replace him the government events that happened two hundred In September it was Robert appointed Nash, Robert Smirke and years ago that receive little atten- Southey who was appointed Poet Sir John Soane as official architects tion because they occurred far from Laureate. Southey (1774–1843) to the Office of Works at a salary Napoleon or the Duke of Wellington was one of the “Lake Poets,” but of £500 per annum, This honour or well-covered events like the War his fame has been eclipsed by his may have the high point in Nash’s of 1812. contemporaries and friends Word- professional life. sworth and Coleridge, Today he’s Of the others, Soane talked well Britain better known for his Life of Nelson, but never seemed to get much in In July, Jane Austen finishedMans - which was published in 1813 and the way of commissions. He did, field Park. She had much incentive. rarely been out of print since. But however, leave his house to be a In November the second editions his greatest triumph was probably splendid small museum in London of Pride and Prejudice and Sense the children’s classic, The Story of that you should visit. Smirke was and Sensibility were released. Now the Three Bears, the original Goldi- one of the leaders of Greek Revival she was an undoubted success, the locks story. So much for poetry. architecture, and his most reme- publisher happily accepted the new In architecture it was the time bered work is the facade of the novel for publication. of John Nash, who was changing British Museum, The real literary celebrities were the appearance of London with The Industrial Revolution was the poets. Lord Byron’s epic, The his terraces and squares and even going strong. Puffing Billy was Giaour, was published to rapturous Regent’s Park. In 1813 he started to an early railway steam locomo- applause, consolidating Byron’s discuss the rebuilding of the Royal tive, constructed in 1813 for the reputation critically and commer- Pavilion in Brighton with the Prince Wylam Colliery, near Newcastle cially. Giaour is the Turkish word Regent. Britain’s leading archi- upon Tyne. It is the world’s oldest for infidel or non-believer, and is tect, James Wyatt, died in 1813. surviving steam locomotive. It similar to the Arabic word kafir. A woman who loves the giaour is found guilty of adultery and thrown into the sea wrapped in a sack. In revenge, the giaour kills him and then enters a monastery in remorse. Love, sex, Turks, death and the after- life: Byron certainly knew what the public wanted. The edition quickly sold out, only for a longer version to be released, which sold out too. Some say the gloom, remorse and lust in the story reflected Byron’s two illicit love affairs, one with his half-sister Augusta Leigh and the other with Lady Frances Webster. More important is his introduction of vampires into literature, starting a theme that thrives today. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Queen Mab: A Philosophical Poem. Many tried to ignore this strident young Puffing Billy

November-December 2013 Page 24 THE NAPOLEONIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER was the first commercial adhesion enclosed by it, and drove a single France steam locomotive, used to haul coal crankshaft beneath the frames, On November 12, the author Michel wagons from the mine to the docks. from which gears drove and also Guillaume Jean de Crèvecœur died. The engine had some novel coupled the wheels allowing better He was an aristocrat by birth, but features which were important for traction. It was an important influ- naturalized in New York as John the development of locomotives. ence on George Stephenson, who Hector St. John. It had two vertical cylinders on lived locally. It all began when he served in New either side of the boiler, and partly France during the French and Indian

The artistic event of the year in London was Morse’s Dying Hercules. Samuel F. B. Morse (1791-1872) was from Massachu- setts and was a Yale boy, His father, Pastor Jedidiah Morse was a preacher of both the Calvinist faith and the American Feder- alist party. He wanted to preserve Puritan traditions and the Federalist support of an alliance with Britain. The younger Morse tried to not only support himself by his painting, but also to express his Calvinist and Federalist beliefs. A friend perduaded both Morses that Samuel should go on a three year stay to study painting in England where he would learn from fellow American Benjamin West. Morse arrived in London in 1811, and by the end of the year he was a member of the Royal Academy. What the British thought of the arrival of all these American artists isn’t clear, but West in particular had no lack of customers. As a Feder- alist, Morse was probably pleased to avoid some of the dilemmas posed by the War of 1812. At the Academy, Morse was drawn to the art of the Renais- The Dying Hercules, by Samuel Morse. sance and paid close attention to the works of Michelangelo and against the British and also the Morse continued as a portrait Raphael. Inspired, the young artist American Federalists. The muscles painter, but he’s not remembered for produced his masterpiece, the symbolized the strength of the that. He later worked in developing Dying Hercules. young and vibrant United States a single-wire telegraph system To some, the Dying Hercules versus the British and British- based on European telegraphs. He seemed to be a political statement American supporters. is the Morse in Morse code.

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War. When the British conquered neighbors. Recovering his children, New France, he moved into enemy he lived in New York City where territory, to Orange County, New he enjoyed his fame and acted York. He became an American as French consul. He published citizen and in 1770 married a local expanded editions of his book, but girl. He was a prosperous farmer, slowly his fame faded. but he wanted to write. America In 1789, he was back in France, and his farm provided the inspi- when a new Revolution caught ration. But he didn’t stay for the hin out. It wasn’t a healthy time American Revolution. In 1779, he to be an aristocrat and he couldn’t and his son went to New York City, leave. James Monroe, the Amer- but the British suspected he was a ican ambassador, for some reason, spy and held him for some months. refused him citizenship papers. He In the end they decided he was no ended up living on the old family threat and he travelled to London. estate which he inherited from his There, in 1782, he published a father. At least the rise of Napo- volume of essays, titled Letters leon meant he was safe. He died a Beethoven in 1814, from an American Farmer. It was forgotten figure, but once he repre- after Louis René Letronne. a great success. He told Europeans sented America to Europe’s intel- about the American frontier and the ligentsia. It doesn’t seem he was American Dream. American society mcuh of an American patriot. for Austrian and Bavarian soldiers was described as rich in equal wounded at the Battle of Hanau. opportunity and self-determina- Austria The orchestra was conducted by tion, fueled by American ingenuity Times had been hard, but with Beethoven himself. and an uncomplicated lifestyle. It victory in 1813, Austria got down In early 1813 Beethoven had gone described the acceptance of reli- to the serious business of music. through a very bad period. But in gious diversity in a society being Franz Krommer succeeded June 1813, when news arrived of created from a variety of ethnic and Leopold Kozeluch as court the defeat of the French at Vitoria, cultural backgrounds. composer to the Imperial Court. he became motivated. He wrote the With the end of the war in 1783, Kozeluch was a hard-working battle symphony known as Welling- Crèvecœur returned to New York. Czech, with around 400 compo- ton’s Victory. He found that his wife had died, sitions to his name, including Actually Johann Maelzel had his farm had been destroyed, and perhaps thirty symphonies. He was talked Beethoven into writ­ing a his children had been taken in by the butt of critics like Mozart and piece to celebrate the battle­ so that Beethoven. he could play it on his mechan­i­cal Krommer was another Czech orches­tra, the panharmonicon, a composer with an equally prolific contraption that was able to play output, with at least three hundred many military band instruments published compositions, including simultaeously. The Panharmo- five symphonies, seventy string nicon could not only imitate such quartets, and much more. Some instruments, but also sound effects music critics say at times it’s like musket fire and cannon. But powerful stuff for a wind ensemble, Beethoven wrote a compo­ ­si­tion so which is what he’s best known large that Maelzel could not build today. a machine elaborate enough to play The Czech stranglehold on music it. Beethoven then rewrote the piece was passing. On December 8, for orches­tra, added a first part, and Ludwig van Beethoven released renamed the work Wellington’s Crèvecœur the American farmer. two new works at a benefit concert Vic­tory.

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It was a minor 15-minute long with many women and children they were displaced when Boer or orchestral work, dedicated to the being enslaved. By October Hurşit British settlers wanted their land. Britain’s Prince Regent. It proved Pasha had retaken Belgrade. Kara- They were mostly cattle ranchers. to be a substantial moneymaker for george and other Serbian leaders Today a large population of them Beethoven. were forced to take refuge over the exists in southern Namibia, though Meanwhile a sixteen year old Austrian frontier. they are suffering because the prodigy was beginning his career. Hurşit Pasha knew he couldn’t tables have turned. Neither African Coached by the veteran Salieri, massacre everybody. In many areas or European, they are discriminated Franz Schubert had already he found Serbian leaders ready to against by the government. produced quite a few pieces. In act as Turkish deputies. Karageorge 1813 came his Symphony No. 1. had many rivals ready to take Mexico But it was a false start, as at the control in his absence, even if they The Congress of Chilpancingo, end of the year he left Vienna and had to serve the Turks. convened by the rebel leader returned home for teacher training. Morelos, was held in the modern- Persia day Mexican state of Guerrero from Serbia After military defeat in 1812, Persia September to November 1813. It One of the terms of the Treaty of succumbed and on November 5 declared that Mexico was formally Bucharest in 1812, when Russia signed the Treaty of Gulistan with independent of Spain, no more made peace with the Turks, was that Russia. The end of the Russo- temporizing with half measures like the Turks had to sign a truce with Persian War meant Persia ceded mere self-rule under the Spanish the Serbs who had been in revolt most of Azerbaijan to Russia. crown. The first national constitu- since 1804. Limited autonomy was tion was ratified. The convention granted to Serbia. South Africa was composed of representatives of But in 1813 there was dissent On 13 October the Cape of Good those provinces the insurgents sort between Karageorge, the Serbian Hope was proclaimed a British of controlled. leader, and his lieutenants. Kara- colony. The British had decided to The Constitution created legisla- george wanted absolute power, keep it rather than ever hand it back tive, executive and judicial branches while his voivods wanted to limit it. to the Dutch. of government, and declared The Turks saw that Russia was too Adam Kok I led his people north to respect for property, but confiscated involved in its war with Napoleon escape colonial control, just like the the goods of those Spanish-born. It to intervene. The Turks also had a Boers. The Griqua were the product abolished slavery and all class and tough new leader. of intermarriage or sex between racial social distinctions in favor of Hurşit Ahmed Pasha was Geor- Dutch colonists in the Cape and the the title “American” for all native- gian by birth, but he was taken to Khoikhoi (Hottentots). The mixed- born individuals. Torture, monopo- Istanbul as a youth, converted to race group which developed had lies and the system of tributes were Islam, and enrolled in the Janis- a variety of different names for also abolished. saries. He acquired the favor of themselves. “Bastaards” was one of But the Decreto Constitucional Sultan Mahmud II and occupied them. In 1813 Rev. John Campbell para la Libertad de la América several high positions, culminating of the London Missionary Society Mexicana established a weak exec- in July 1812 with his appoint- (LMS) found their “proud name” of utive and a powerful legislature, ment as grand vizier. His first job Bastaards offensive, so he renamed the opposite of what Morelos had was to finish the Serbian revolt. In them the Griqua. wanted. He nevertheless conceded August he reconquered Serbia after The Griqua had largely adopted that it was the best he could hope defeating Karageorge. The majority the Afrikaans language. They had for under the circumstances. of his troops were Albanians and the advantage of having Euro- The true problem was that, while Bosnians. In the usual Balkan style, pean technology and skills, such there were many fine leaders at the they burned down villages along as muskets and horses. As such Convention, under the pressures of the invasion routes, the inhabit- they were able to lord it over the Spanish counterattacks the insur- ants massacred or made refugees, African population, though in turn gent cause was splintering into

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The Congress of Chilpancingo in session. There’s a good selection of Mexico’s great men on display. At the table, from left to right, Ignacio Lopez Rayon, Jose Sixto Verduzco, Andrés Quintana Roo (he actually had a state named after him), José María Liceaga, and Carlos Bustamante. Standing, José María Morelos himself. I’m not sure who the people in the background are, but they were undoubtedly luminaries as well. many provincial bands who paid restored the Republic, it was as a tocrats, who had led the republic, scant attention to the leadership of military government with himself had abandoned the cause of inde- the politicians. as leader. He insisted the situation pendence. Much of the general did not allow for the restoration of population was now indifferent Venezuela the old authorities or new elections. to both the Royalist and Patriot Bolívar returned to Venezuela in A more violent phase of the Wars causes. In order to drive a wedge 1813 from his exile in the Dutch of Independence had begun. Monte- between Venezuelans and Penin- colony of Curaçao. He intended to verde’s troops had committed sulares, Bolívar instituted a policy avenge his defeat by Monteverde atrocities themselves. Bolívar knew of no quarter in his Decree of War the previous year. He was given an by this time many of the older aris- to the Death, in which he prom- army by New Granada (modern day ised to kill any Peninsular who did Colombia), under the direction of not actively support his efforts to the Congress of United Provinces restore independence, and to spare of New Granada, formed from the any American even if they actively regional juntas established in 1810. collaborated with Monteverde and Royalist successes had scared the royalists. them into unity. From Columbia he War to the death and military invaded Venezuela. despotism were harsh precedents This was the beginning of his for the new American republics. Admirable Campaign. He entered The common people thought the Mérida on 24 May, where he was republic was a tool of the urban proclaimed as El Libertador. On 15 elite. The southern, rural llaneros June, he dictated his famous Decree (cowboys), flocked to the royalist of War to the Death. Caracas was cause. These llaneros were a potent retaken on 6 August, and Bolívar military force, highly mobile and was confirmed as El Libertador, as ferocious. They soon showed they he proclaimed the restoration of the could be as bloodthirsty as Boli- Venezuelan republic. But if Bolívar Bolivar, El Libertador. var’s army. The restored Vene-

November-December 2013 Page 28 THE NAPOLEONIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER zuelan republic proved to be as ists from Peru had gained the temporary as its predecessor. upper hand. This contested ground between Argentina and Peru Uruguay became Bolivia. By 1813 the liberation of South America was in high gear. Surpris- Chile ingly small armies, led by dashing The Spanish Viceroy of Peru wasn’t heroes, fought over great distances. just counterattacking the republican In the southern part of the conti- tide in Bolivia. In 1813, he sent a nent, much of the action was caused military expedition by sea to Chile. by the increasing imperial govern- The troops were initially received ment in Buenos Aires. It convened with applause. a constituent assembly where Chile was ruled by a republican Artigas, the leader of the Banda dictator, Carrera, but he was a Oriental, emerged as a champion poor general. The Chileans found a of federalism, demanding political better one in Bernardo O’Higgins. and economic autonomy for each The fortunes of war swayed back area, and for his Banda Oriental in and forth. These small armies Francia’s rival, Fulgencio Yegros, particular. The assembly refused to were very vulnerable to surprise. First Consul of Paraguay. He does seat the delegates from the Banda Disagreements and resulting lack seem to be trying very hard to look Oriental. The Buenos Aires junta of coordination between Carrera like Napoleon. wanted unitary centralism, with and O’Higgins hindered the repub- itself as the government. lican cause. As 1813 ended, the required a police state. Although he So Artigas broke with Buenos royalist seemed in the ascendant in strived for equality of the people, Aires and went back to the Banda Chile too. Francia ruthlessly destroyed any Oriental to raise a rebellion. People opposition, imprisoning all those were soon calling the Banda Paraguay he deemed seditious. Oriental by a new name, Uruguay. On 1 October, the Paraguayan Paraguayans often referred to him Congress named Dr. Francia and simply as “Dr. Francia” or Karaí Bolivia Yegros as alternate consuls for a Guazú (“great lord” in Guaraní). Meanwhile Buenos Aires had been year, with Francia taking the first A few Indians meanwhile believed waging a campaign to conquer and third four-month periods. he had supernatural powers. When Upper Peru. But the Spanish cause Each controlled half the army. On some saw him measuring the stars had a stronghold in Peru and was October 12, Paraguay declared with his theodolite, they thought willing to fight for this borderland. independence from the Spanish he was talking to night demons. At the Battle of Ayohuma (“dead Empire. Francia would later use it to man’s head” in Quechua) on 14 Inspired by French revolutionary straighten the streets of Asunción. November 1813, the royalists ideals, Francia sought to create a Francia launched a coup in 1814 defeated the republican forces. utopian state based on Rosseau’s which gave him sole power in Para- Buenos Aires wasn’t willing to Social Contract. As so often guay, which he was turn into a state concede defeat, but the royal- happened, he descovered this ideal that isolated itself from the world.

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HAITI’S ROYAL PALACE

King Henri I of Haiti (better known French returned. It is reached by today, but what there is centers on as Henri Christophe) completed continuing on the trail behind the the Palace and the Citadel. the Sans-Souci Palace in northern Palace. Christophe ruled only northern Haiti. It was named after Frederick Christophe was buried in the Cita- Haiti. The south was Petion’s the Great’s palace in Potsdam. delle. A severe earthquake in 1842 Haitian Republic. The two states Construction of the palace had destroyed a considerable part of the fought frequently, but neither could started in 1810 on a former French palace. beat the other while Christophe plantation that Christophe managed There isn’t much tourism in Haiti lived. for a period during the Haitian Revolution. Many of his contem- poraries noted his ruthlessness, and it is unknown how many workers died during the palace’s construc- tion. It was the site of lavish enter- tainment, with immense gardens complete with artificial springs and waterworks. Sans-Souci is an empty ruin now, but then its splendor was noted by many foreign visitors. One American physician remarked that it had “the reputation of having been one of the most magnificent edifices of the West Indies.” Christophe’s was trying to prove to foreigners the power and capa- bility of the black race. One of his advisors said that the palace and its nearby church, “erected by descen- dants of Africans, show that we Above, the palace of San-Souci today. Below, the Citadelle Laferrière. have not lost the architectural taste and genius of our ancestors who covered Ethiopia, Egypt, Carthage, and old Spain with their superb monuments.” Christophe’s reign imitated the European monarchies. He established a hereditary nobility complete with heraldry and cere- monial dress. But most Europeans laughed at them, because the noblemen used titles based on the old French plantations so they had titles like the Comte de Limonade. Near the Palace is Christophe’s mountaintop fortress, the Citadelle Laferrière, his final refuge if the

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THE LAST SORTIE OF THE FRENCH NAVY

Pellew’s Action, by Thoams Luny.

The last gasp of the French fleet squadron, attempted to cut off the quarter from the Caledonian, seen was on 5 November 1813. The fleet French ships trying to return to port. almost in starboard-broadside view. at Toulon had been built up to 21 In the early afternoon several larger The Frenchman’s main topmast is sail of the line and 40 frigates, all British ships, including Pellew shot through and falling and her ready for sea. It just lacked exercise himself in his flagship,Caledonian , spanker yard is shot in two. To and experience at sea. 120 guns, almost made contact with the right of the Caledonian is the On 5 November, 12 ships of the the French, but they succeeded in Boyne, 98 guns, in starboard-bow line, six frigates and a schooner, escaping. The event became known view. all commanded by Vice-Admiral as Pellew’s Action. It wasn’t an important naval action. Emeriau, sortied out of Toulon with The marine artist Thomas Luny In fact it was barely an action at a favorable wind. But when the envisaged the French squadron all, but for the British it was a rare wind changed direction, the French headed for the safety of Toulon moment of excitement during the were soon in difficulty. Harbour. This is depicted in the left long blockade. For the French it Admiral Sir Edward Pellew’s middle distance. The high coast was a lucky escape, a desperate blockading fleet was hovering at a of France around Toulon is in the scramble back to safety. The French safe distance from the hostile shore, backgound. In the centre left fore- fleet never came out again. Napo- but he had an inshore squadron of ground is a French two-decker that leon soon stripped off much of the four frigates. Captain Henry Heath- has been left behind. She has just manpower for his campaigns to cote, in command of the inshore received a broadside on her port save the Empire.

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MORE JANE AUSTEN NAPOLEONIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY CALENDAR In our last newsletter, we mentioned equate likeness: it is crudely drawn to Feb 19, The Eye of Napoleon, the row about the likeness of Jane with particularly irregular eyes, 2014 Frazier History Museum, Austen that is to appear on British it is evidently unfinished, and it Louisville, KY. bank notes which seems “air- shows Austen with harsh features Feb 1 NHS one day conference brushed.” The portrait that was the and pursed lips. James Edward in Louisville, KY basis of that likeness has just been commissioned a local artist, James to June 9, Woman of Two Worlds: Eliz- offered for auction by Sotheby’s in Andrews, to produce a more satis- 2014 abeth Patterson Bonaparte, Maryland Historical Society London. fying likeness based on the sketch. Museum, Baltimore. Andrews probably used a tracing It is watercolor over pencil, to 30 By Fire and Sword: War depicting the author with brown from the sketch to do his portrait. June, in the Niagara Theatre, curly hair and hazel eyes. The oval Andrews’s work is undeniably 2014 1812-1814, Buffalo History picture is 5½ by 4 inches. It was idealized, but he was helped by Museum, Buffalo, NY. done in 1869. The frame is a reused Austen Leigh’s own memories. Nov NHS Conference, New lid from a casket or box. It sold for “In person she was very attrac- 14-16, Orleans. Mark your calen- $270,000 (including premium). tive; her figure was rather tall and 2014 dars. The provenance is good, as it has slender, her step light and firm, to 31 The War of 1812, St. Cath- always remained in the family. It and her whole appearance expres- Dec, erine’s University, Ontario. 2014 See www.stcatharines.ca has been reproduced innumerable sive of health and animation. In Oct 9-10, Jane Austen Society’s 2015 complexion she was a clear brunette times, but almost always from the 2015 Annual General Meeting. engraving produced in 1869, not with a rich color; she had full round Louisville, KY. Theme: the original watercolor which has cheeks, with mouth and nose small Living in Jane Austen’s rarely been seen in public. and well formed, bright hazel eyes, World. It was commissioned by Jane and brown hair forming natural Austen’s nephew, the Rev. James curls close round her face.” CALENDAR OF Edward Austen- EUROPEAN EVENTS Leigh, when he was tto Jan 5, Heroes Made to Measure, writing his Memoir 2014 Stadtgeschichtliches of Jane Austen, the Museum Leipzig. first full length biog- to Jan 26, Napoleon’s Sisters: Musée raphy. Austen-Leigh 2014 Marmottan, Paris. had been very close 5-6 July, Re-enactment, Wavre, to his aunt Jane (her 1814 Belgium. See www. surviving letters to wavre1815.com him are deeply affec- In the last newsletter, we mentioned tionate) and realizing an exhibition called “Turner and the that he and others of Sea” at the National Maritime Museum his generation who in Greenwich, London, until April 21, had known Jane were 2014. We’ve been told the exhibition will be coming to the USA, so you may now elderly and that not have to travel as far. their memories would soon be lost, he took © Copyright 2013 the Napole- action. onic Historical Society. All rights He found a sketch reserved. made by Jane’s sister Contact: editor@NapoleonicHis- Cassandra. But it toricalSociety.com. seemed to him inad- This issue edited by John Brewster.

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