Napoleon Bonaparte's will (3)
32.
Item. To Baron Bignon, one hundred thousand francs.--I
recommend him to write the history of French diplomacy
from 1792 to 1815.
33.
Item. To Poggi di Talavo, one hundred thousand francs.
34. Item. To surgeon Emmery, one hundred thousand
francs.
35.
These sums will be raised from the six millions which
I deposited on leaving Paris in 1815; and from the
interest at the rate of 5 per cent. since July 1815.
The account thereof will be settled with the banker
by Counts Montholon and Bertrand, and Marchand.
36.
Whatever that deposit may produce beyond the sum of
five million six hundred thousand francs, which have
been above disposed of, shall he distributed as a
gratuity amongst the wounded at the battle of Waterloo,
and amongst the officers and soldiers of the battalion
of the Isle of Elba, according to a scale to be determined
upon by Montholon, Bertrand, Drouot, Cambrone, and
the surgeon Larrey.
37.
These legacies, in case of death, shall be paid to
the widows and children, and in default of such, shall
revert to the bulk of my property.
III.
1.
My private domain being my property, of which I am
not aware that any French law has deprived me, an
account of it will be required from the Baron de la
Rouillerie, the treasurer thereof: it ought to amount
to more than two hundred millions of francs; namely,
1.
The portfolio containing the savings which I made
during fourteen years out of my civil list, which
savings amounted to more than twelve millions per
annum, if my memory be good.
2.
The produce of this portfolio.
3.
The furniture of my palaces, such as it was in 1814,
including the palaces of Rome, Florence, and Turin.
All this furniture was purchased with moneys accruing
from the civil list.
4.
The proceeds of my houses in the kingdom of Italy,
such as money, plate, jewels, furniture, equipages;
the accounts of which will be rendered by Prince Eugene
and the steward of the Crown, Campagnoni.
NAPOLEON.
(Second Sheet.)
2. I bequeath my private domain, one half to the surviving
officers and soldiers of the French army who have
fought since 1792 to 1815, for the glory and the independence
of the nation, the distribution to be made in proportion
to their appointments upon active service; and one
half to the towns and districts of Alsace, Lorraine,
Franche-Comté, Burgundy, the Isle of France, Champagne
Forest, Dauphiné, which may have suffered by either
of the invasions. There shall be previously set apart
from this sum, one million for the town of Brienne,
and one million for that of Méri. I appoint Counts
Montholon and Bertrand, and Marchand, the executors
of my will. This present will, wholly written with
my own hand, is signed and sealed with my own arms.
NAPOLEON.
(L. S.) List (A).
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