[TRAFALGAR]: Rare A.L. by HUGHES-BERNARD MARET (1763-1839) Duc de Bassano, French Statesman and Diplomat, four ...

[TRAFALGAR]: Rare A.L. by HUGHES-BERNARD MARET (1763-1839) Duc de Bassano, French Statesman and Diplomat, four pages, folio, n.p., 6th May 1806, to `H[is] M[ajesty] the Emperor´, in French. The document being a draft letter in the hand of Maret, to be addressed to the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, which he entitles `Y[our] M[ajesty] ordered a report on the Commanders´ behaviour in the Trafalgar affair.´ A lengthy and extremely interesting draft letter with detailed information related to the Trafalgar battle. Maret reports having met several officers and concludes stating in part `It seems like the following list of Commanders did fulfill their duty. Captains Baudoin of the Fougueux - killed; Gourrege of the Aigle - killed; Denieport of the Achille - killed; Camas of the Berwick - killed; Le Tourneur of the Algesiras - C[apturé] A.; Infernet of the Intrepide; Cosmao of the Pluton; Lucas of the Redoutable; Magendie of the Bucentaure; Villemadrin of the Swiftsure.´ Maret further lists three Commanders whose behaviour should be subject of examination, stating in part `1º- The Heros, Captain Poulain, killed, had a correct attitude at the beginning of the battle. But apparently… 2º- The Neptune Captain Maistral. His position was backward the Admiral.. Captain Maistral attribute to several reasons the misfortune he had not being able to be at this honour position.. 3º- The Indomptable Captain Hubert, dead. This ship sank. The Commander died with ¾ of his crew. It looks like he did not fulfill his duty and proceeded wrongly during the struggle. They say that Captain Hubert´s mind was stray..4º- The Argonaute, Captain Epron. Few Captains report and accuse him of having badly fought..´ Furthermore Maret sets few main questions related to Captains reactions, decisions and time taken in some precise moments of the battle and if strategic orders were fulfilled or not. An excellent content letter with lengthy military and detailed report. Folded. Overall minor age wear with very slightly trimmed right edges, otherwise G £300-400 Louis Alexis Baudoin (1776-1805) French Captain of French ship Fougueux at the battle of Trafalgar. Pierre-Paulin Gourrege (1749-1805) Captain of the Aigle. Louis-Gabriel Denieport (1765-1805) Captain of the Achille. Jean-Gilles Filhol de Camas (1758-1805) Captain of the Berwick. Laurent Le Tourneur (1762-?) Captain of the Algesiras; Louis-Antoine-Cyprien Infernet (1757-1815) Captain of the Intrepide; Julien-Marie Cosmao -Kerjulien (1761-1825) Captain of the Pluton; Jean Jacques Etienne Lucas (1764-1819) Captain of the Redoutable; Jean-Jacques Magendie (1766-1835) Captain of the Bucentaure; Charles Eusebe l´Hospitalier de la Villemadrin (1756-1812) Captain of the Swiftsure; Jean-Baptiste-Joseph-René Poulain (?-1805) Captain of the Heros; Esprit-Tranquille Maistral (1763-1815) Captain of the Neptune; Jean Joseph Hubert (1765-1805) Captain of the Indomptable; Jacques Epron-Desjardins (1766-1837) Captain of the Argonaute.