The Campaigns of Paris in 1814 & 1815; Translated from the French of P.F.F.J. Giraud by Edmund Bryce, 1816. Together with Manuscript Transmitted from St Helena by an Unknown Channel, Jacob Frederic Lullin de Chateauvieux, 1817

This volume brings together two uncommon contemporary accounts of the Napoleonic wars. The first, The Campaigns of Paris in 1814 & 1815, is the 1816 second edition, enlarged, of P. F. F. J. Giraud’s French narrative translated by Edmund Bryce, offering an “impartial relation” of the invasion of France, the fall of Paris, and Napoleon’s abdication, together with a concise account of Waterloo.

The second, Manuscript Transmitted from St Helena by an Unknown Channel (1817), published anonymously, is a critical commentary on Napoleon’s conduct in exile. Issued in the years immediately after Waterloo, both works reflect the intense British and continental interest in Napoleon’s fate, and together form a revealing contemporary view of the Emperor’s final downfall. This work was written by Jacob Frederic Lullin de Chateauvieux, a Swiss writer. It was published anonymously because of the political sensitivity of commenting so directly on Napoleon’s captivity at St Helena. Anonymity provided a layer of protection and also lent an air of intrigue to the work.

The Campaigns of Paris in 1814 & 1815 with a Sketch of the Campaign of 1813; or, a brief and impartial relation of events from the invasion of France by the foreign armies in 1814 to the Capitulation of Paris, and the first dethronement and abdication of Buonaparte. With a concise History of the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th of June 1815, or the termination of his political life. Translated from the French of P.F.F.J. Giraud by Edmund Bryce. Bound together with Manuscript Transmitted from St Helena by an Unknown Channel, by Anon (Jacob Frederic Lullin de Chateauvieux).

Campaigns Printed for Samuel Leigh, London, 1816. Second edition, enlarged. Manuscript published by John Murray, London, 1817. True first edition (published before the New York printing of the same year, and the folllowing French and German translations).

These 2 works are combined into one good full calf leather hardback. Covers are worn, scuffed and bumped. Binding is a little fragile with rear cover largely split and held by binding cords.

Provenance: Bookplate of a Charles Robinson to first pastedown and later bookplate of Josceline Grove to first free endpaper. The latter also signs verso in pencil with an inscription "The notes in this book are not mine!". On the same page is a purple inkstamp monogram for R.W. (or W.R.). 

Marbled endpapers split to front and missing the free endpaper at the rear. The text is clear and legible. There are pencil notes in the text - some in blue pencil, relating to the content of the book. Final text page is detached, but present. There are no blank endpapers or half title, and we assume there was originally a map at the beginning, but there are no maps with this copy.

Despite the condition issues, an interesting Napoleonic pairing.

Text in English.

xii + 205pp + 2 light blue separator pages + (Title) + (1pp advertisement) + 146pp.

Dimensions: Approximately 213mm x 138mm x 28mm.

Weight: Approximately 558g.

References: ESTC T93936 (Giraud, 1816); ESTC T93862 (Manuscript, 1817)