106

c. 1797 NAPOLEON BONAPARTE Pair of Manuscript Documents Undated + Unsigned

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,400.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
c. 1797 NAPOLEON BONAPARTE Pair of Manuscript Documents Undated + Unsigned
Federal Period
Two Napoleon Bonaparte Related Documents on Rules & Procedures for the French Arsenal at Venice
(NAPOLEON BONAPARTE) (1769-1821). Known as the "Little Corporal" whose brilliance in the field of battle and as Emperor of France has made him perhaps the most important figure of post-Renaissance Europe.
c. 1797, Pair of Manuscript Documents for articles relating to capitulation of the arsenal of the Republic of Venice, Both are Undated and Unsigned, Choice Extremely Fine Crisp condition.

1. Document written in French, 3 pages, measuring 8” x 11.25” containing nine articles for "Draft for the Rules of Procedure for the Interior Functions of the Arsenal of Venice."

2. Document written in French, 2 pages, measuring 12.5” x 8” containing eight articles for the "Rules and Proposals for the Interior Functions of the Venetian Arsenal". The articles categorize use and administration of Venetian arsenals by the French Navy for "construction and armament of Venetian ships".

Both Documents are finely written in brown ink and are near identical in content. The main difference is that the second Document lacks "Article 5." as stated below.

The Documents read in part:

Article 1: The dispositions of all work relating to the construction and arming of the three ships and frigates destined for the French Navy, within the arsenal workshops, will be administered by the French Navy in accord with the committee of the Venetian Navy.

Article 2: The committee of the Navy will comply with the dispositions instigated for the method of operation as well as for the use of workers and materials without needing any other authorization.

Article 3: All Engineers, overseers and managers of workshops will satisfy the demands of the French Administration.

Article 4: In the situation where an urgent decision must be made, the advice of agents of the French Navy will be provisionally taken; except in the case of a dispute where the ultimate decision will be made by a united administration based on the accounts of the Committee of the Venetian Navy and their respective agents.

Article 5: The orders will always be given in the workshops and warehouses by the officers of the Venetian Navy; but the orders will have been discussed with the administration of the French Navy.

Article 6: Appeals by workers will be decided according to usual practice by the Arsenal; their Junctions, determined by the French Administration, will be implemented by the Venetian government with encouragements which could augment the enthusiasm of the workers thereby accelerating the work.

Article 7: The current method used in the Arsenal for the accounting of materials will be observed and maintained by agents of the Venetian Navy, as long as these methods do not interfere with the delivery of material or are demanded in a manner detrimental to the swift delivery of the operations.

Article 8: The police of the Arsenal will remain in the hands of those who are now charged with them . Their accounts will be communicated to the French Administration; the officers in charge of surveillance will comply with the orders of this administration when appropriate. Article 9: The Commissioner of the French Navy will oversee all accounting concerning the two nations. He will sign the workers roll sheets employed in construction and armament of the Venetian ships, only as controller; but he will keep a record of expenditures of materials and days for each French ship; thus, nothing will be delivered or used on either a worker or ship belonging to the French Republic without being signed by him. The Administration will give knowledge to the Committee of the Navy of the name of the administrator in charge and an example of his signature. (2 items).
During his failed Italian Campaign, Napoleon conquered the Republic of Venice May 12, 1797, during the First Coalition. On October 12 that same year, Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campo Formio and Venice became Austrian territory on January 18, 1798. It was taken from Austria by the Treaty of Pressburg in 1805 and became part of Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy, but was returned to Austria following Napoleon's defeat in 1814 when it became part of the Austrian-held Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.