NAPOLEON I (1769-1821). Autograph endorsement signed (“Nap’) in the left margin of CLARKE, Henri, Duc de Feltre (1765-1818) partly printed document signed, [Paris,] 17 October 1811.

In French. Two pages bifolium, 315 x 205mm.

Napoleon endorses a request from the Minister of War to allow a former French volunteer in the American Revolution to wear his Society of the Cincinnati medal in uniform. Feltre writes on behalf of Major-General de Segond (1758-1832), who had served with the Continental Army from 1777 until 1783, asking that the officer, who had been in the service of Austria, be granted his pension under the terms of the Treaty of Vienna. Additionally, because the general had been obliged to surrender his Cross of St. Louis, "which he had given up according to law, he solicits consent to wear the Eagle of the Society of the Cincinnati of which he is a member, and to which he was admitted by Genl. Washington after having served, during the American War…" To this request, Napoleon writes in the left margin: "Approved that he may draw the pension which was granted to him by the Austrian Emperor." Likely to Segond's chagrin, the Emperor seems to have only read the first part of the letter as he offered no opinion on the medal.