[Duc de Vincence [General Armand-Augustin Louis, 5th Marquis de Caulaincourt.] Autograph Letter Signed, in French, following the Congress of Châtillon and Treaty of Fontainebleau, asking Lord Aberdeen to deliver a letter to Viscount Castlereagh.

Something of an historic document. In February and March of 1814 Vincence had led the French delegation at the Congress of Châtillon peace conference, at which his counterpart was Lord Aberdeen, with the British Home Secretary Lord Castlereagh arriving partway through. On behalf of Napoleon, Vincence had led, with little success the subsequent negotiations with Russia, Prussia and Austria which resulted in Napoleon’s abdication and exile to Elba, by the signing of the Treaty of Fontainbleau, a month before the present letter, on 11 April 1814, which was ratified by Vincence. The British had opposed the treaty on two grounds: that it legitimized Bonaparte, and that Elba was too close to mainland Europe for safety. The present item 1p, 4to, on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium of laid paper. In fair condition, on aged and creased paper. With several folds. It reads: ‘Le Duc de Vincence a l’honneur d’adresser à Mylord Aberdeen deux lettres qu’Il a reçues pour Lord Castlereagh et qu’il le prie de lui faire passer. Il se chargera également de transmettre les reponses dont Lord Castlereagh voudrait le charger. / Le Duc de Vincence saisit cette occasion pour renouveller à Mylord Aberdeen l’assurance de sa haute Considération.’ See Image.