BONAPARTE (Joseph). Autograph letter signed to... Lot 36

BONAPARTE (Joseph). Autograph letter signed [to Jean-Jérôme Levie]. Paris, 15 pluviôse an IX [February 4, 1801]. 2 pp. in-4, foxed paper with some splits at folds. "Ho ricevuto, car[issi]mo amico, le vostre lettere. Non dovete aver' mai dubitato delli sentimenti innalterabili che mi avete inspirati da molti anni. Profito dell'occasione di Ramolini per inviarvi un ritratto di una persona che vi è caro, e che moltissimo vi è attacato. Avrete veduti Luiggi, che ora aspettiamo. Abbiamo le notizie di Egitto del 22 frimaire, le cose erano ristabilite, il generale ave'a fatte molte alleanze con varii popoli dell'interno dell'Africa, et dell'Etiopia, lui era a quell'epoca nell'Alto-Egitto. Malgrado li sforzi che si fanno da ambe le parti per la pace, si teme la guerra con l'Austria. Vi prego di richiamarmi alla memoria dei nostri amici, li miei ossequi alla s[i]gn[o]ra Mannenina [?]. Vi abbraccio con vero affetto... " Translation: "I have received, dear friend, your letters. You must never have doubted the unalterable feelings you have inspired in me for many years. I take the opportunity of Ramolino to send you a portrait of a person who is dear to you, and who is really very attached to you. You will have seen Louis [his brother Louis Bonaparte], whom we are now expecting. WE HAVE HEARD FROM EGYPT from Frimaire 22 [December 13, 1800], things had stabilized, the general had made numerous alliances with various peoples in the interior of Africa, and Ethiopia, he was at this time in Upper Egypt [the news of the assassination of General-in-Chief Jean-Baptiste Kléber in June 1800 had not yet reached France, and Joseph Bonaparte refers here to the restoration of the situation achieved by Kléber thanks to his victory at Heliopolis and his reconquest of Upper Egypt.] IN SPITE OF THE EFFORTS BEING MADE ON BOTH SIDES FOR PEACE, WAR WITH AUSTRIA IS FEARED. I beg you to remember me to our friends, my respects to Madame Mannenina [...]. I embrace you with true affection..." A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDLY AND POLITICAL LETTER ILLUSTRATING THE INTIMACY OF THESE TWO AJACCIO FAMILIES. On Jean-Jérôme Levie, see n° 35 above. Provenance : Xavier Versini (autograph description of this document, enclosed).