NAPOLEON IV: (1856-1879) Louis-Napoleon, Prince Imperial of France, the only child of Napoleon III, Emperor of the ...

NAPOLEON IV: (1856-1879) Louis-Napoleon, Prince Imperial of France, the only child of Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, and Empress Eugenie. Titular Emperor of the French 1873-79. A rare A.L.S., Napoleon, two pages, small 8vo, n.p. (Cowes, Isle of Wight), n.d. (23rd September 1877), to Major Ward Ashton ('My dear Major'). The Prince thanks his correspondent for sharing in his grief and remarks 'Count Clary's death is for me a great loss, he was one of my best and most devoted friends', further adding that he has already written to Countess Clary 'to tell her the kind way in which you sympathised with her in her profound affliction'. In concluding Napoleon asks his correspondent to thank Bigge and Wodehouse on his behalf. With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by the Prince Imperial. Autograph letters of Napoleon are rare as a result of his early death at the age of 23 when he was killed in a skirmish with a group of Zulus whilst serving with the British forces in the Anglo-Zulu War. VG Edward John Ward Ashton (1836-1880) British Army officer who had served in the Crimean War, a friend of Empress Eugenie and military instructor to the Prince Imperial. Joachim Charles Napoleon Clary (1837-1877) French soldier and politician who took charge of the Imperial Household in England. Arthur Bigge (1849-1931) 1st Baron Stamfordham. British Lieutenant Colonel who fought in the Anglo-Zulu War. Queen Victoria summoned Bigge to Balmoral Castle in 1880 to provide an explanation of the death of the Prince Imperial and later served as Private Secretary to the Queen from 1895-1901, and to King George V from 1910-31. Josceline Wodehouse (1852-1930) British Army General who fought in the Anglo-Zulu War.