BONAPARTE (Charles). Autograph letter signed "De... Lot 32

BONAPARTE (Charles). Autograph letter signed "De Buonaparte", in French, [addressed to someone at the Corsican Intendance, probably the Ajaccio subdelegate Jean-Pierre Souiris]. Ajaccio, May 19, 1784. 2 pp. in-4. "I had asked Mr. Intendant [Claude-François Bertrand de Boucheporn] to send Mr. Baciocchi, provincial treasurer, the orders for what will be due to me on July 1st for the establishment of my nursery, and he replied that he would have no difficulty, in my absence, in sending the orders to the person appointed to look after the nursery. I have just learned of the departure of monsieur l'intend[an]t for Paris, and I have the honor of asking you, Monsieur, to let me know if, in his absence, you will be able to sign and send me the said orders, since before leaving I would like to ensure the subsistence of my gardener, and the daily expenses of the nursery. I would also consider it a favor if you would honor me with a commission for Paris, with the intention of leaving by June 1st...". On the affair of this mulberry tree nursery, see n° 31 above. Handwritten Apostille of the period, mentioning the name of Jean-Victor Colchen. SECRETARY TO INTENDANT BOUCHEPORN, JEAN-VICTOR COLCHEN (1751-1830) was a native of Metz, like the latter, and had been a pupil of Roederer and Lacretelle aîné. A lawyer at the re-established Parliament of Metz (1776), he then worked alongside Boucheporn for fourteen years, first in Corsica (1777-1784) then in Pau (1785-1791). He then entered the diplomatic service, and in 1805 was appointed senator, member of the Conseil du sceau des titres, and Comte d'Empire. In 1813-1814, he was appointed Commissaire Extraordinaire in the 4th Military Division in Nancy, then in Central France during the Hundred Days. Made a peer de France in 1814, and maintained in this dignity by Napoleon I in 1815, he was deprived of it during the second Restoration. He left a memoir in which he recalls his association with the Bonapartes in Corsica: "The father [Charles Bonaparte] had always been very attached to me, and his mother had shown me kindness on all occasions: playing cards with me present, she always had me cut, claiming that I brought her good luck. Provenance: Xavier Versini (autograph descriptive sheet of this document, attached).