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Bid for import of produce during the French campaign in Egypt.
1798154713Cairo: 27 Fructidor An 6 13 September 1798. A proposal to break the British blockade A covert commercial scheme devised by an elusive French agent proposing the export of Egyptian cargo by sea for sale at Smyrna or Thessaloniki drafted shortly after Nelson's decisive victory at the Battle of the Nile left the French army stranded and deprived of supply. The postscript is secretarial while Napoleon's signature is likely autograph though not provably so. The document concludes with his instruction to Jean-Baptiste Étienne Poussielgue administrateur général of finances to report on the feasibility of the plan. The proposal outlines shipment of rice ammonium chloride incense and coffee intended to mislead the English into assuming Egyptian mercantile origin since local traders were unlikely to risk capital in a single commodity. Greek agents had already been placed in the Levant to secure stocks of ammonium chloride and anticipated profits were to be reinvested in wine and oil from Santorini and Naxos; failing this the agent proposed travelling to Constantinople to acquire drugs or dried fruits from Russian merchants unlikely to suspect Egyptian destination. He stresses his suitability through 14 years' residence in the Levant linguistic competence and appropriate dress and names a trusted associate Hajji Andrea of Psara to command the vessel from Damietta. Napoleon's Egyptian expedition of 1798 sought to challenge British power in the eastern Mediterranean. After departing Toulon seizing Malta and defeating Mamluk forces at the Battle of the Pyramids French control of Egypt was swiftly undermined when Nelson destroyed the fleet at Aboukir in August isolating the army. Napoleon departed secretly in August 1799 leaving his forces behind; Poussielgue and Kléber soon reported that he had carried off 2 million francs on quitting Egypt. Bifolium page size 337 x 225 mm manuscript in French on three pages watermark to right side. Soft creases from old folds light toning short split at head bottom fore-corners both minimally clipped small ink burn: a very good example. Marie Joseph L. Adolphe Thiers Thiers' History of the Consulate and Empire of Napoleon 1846. unknown
Peter Harrington · Royaume-Uni5 000,00 £GB≈ 5 709,00 €
