#1806

[ltwilliammowett]

A gold pocket compass/love token, London, 1806

The inside is engraved with a spiralling inscription, Saturday 20 July 1805. Eternal Anguish is my lot, for Thy Dear sake yet true, my Heart the Needle to the Pole can never turn from you, cented by the initial H, the blue needle in the shape of Cupid's arrow with initials EFS above an enamel 32-point compass rose.

[nemfrog]

Endpaper. L'art de connaitre les hommes. 1806.

Internet Archive

[mapsontheweb]

1806 French map of the United States and the West Indies

[pythiaswine]

the craziest part of some of the shit Adams wrote about Hamilton is that it was written years after his death. like get a grip, we know you hated Hamilton, but the man was semi-recently killed. 1805 and 1806 are two of the most damning letters where he's shit-talking and calling Hamilton a bastard brat, a Scottish creole, insolent coxcomb, a creature in delirium of ambition, etc etc.

[digitalfashionmuseum]

Emerald and Diamond Necklace, 1806, French.

Made by Nitots & Fils.

Possibly worn by Stéphanie de Beauharnais.

Victoria and Albert Museum.

[empirearchives]

La Toilette — Portrait of Constance Mayer

Pierre-Paul Prud’hon

1806, Napoleonic era

(Source)

[joachimnapoleon]

Napoleon will send Joseph plenty of opera performers if he wants, but Joseph must not send Napoleon any more convicts.

Source: The Confidential Correspondence of Napoleon Bonaparte With His Brother Joseph

[nordleuchten]

I have at the Same time received a proposal from M. John Gravier who pretends to have a Claim on a part of my property near the City, and offers to purchace the whole at the Rate of 84000. Dollars or to become Owner of one half in an association for which he will make a payment of Hundred Slaves. The first is underrated and inconvenient, the Second essentially inadmissible.

Marquis de La Fayette to James Madison, November 15, 1806

And yes, La Fayette underlined the word "essentially" in his original letter to Madison in order to get his point across.

“To James Madison from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 15 November 1806,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/99-01-02-1076. [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of James Madison. It is not an authoritative final version.] (01/21/2024)

[clove-pinks]

A Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, Probably a Sergeant, 2nd (or the Queen’s Royal) Regiment of Foot, by unknown artist c. 1806.

I love that this includes a woman and child in the background! The UK National Army Museum describes her as probably "a sutleress," but she looks more like a soldier's or even officer's wife. And to be fair, she might also be a washerwoman or sutler. I don't think people appreciate how many women and children were involved in Napoleonic era wars, accompanying the huge baggage train of the army.

[pitt-able]

The House of Commons reacting to Pitt’s Death

Pitt died on January 23, 1806 and the House of Commons meet the next day. The death of the Prime Minister had spread like wildfire – especially since his health had been so bad for so long, so there was no need for a public declaration. It was assumed everybody present was aware of the circumstances. In fact, the first order of business was a letter from the King read to the Members of Parliaments (the King thanked them for expressing their condolence upon the death of his brother, the Duke of Gloucester) and the continuous affair of the impeachment of Henry Dundas, Lord Melville. Pitt’s death was the third order of business that day. It was proposed that the House should debate his funeral and a show of public respect on Monday next, January 27.

His death was of a political and social consequence. Pitt’s passing left many important positions vacant, not just the office of Prime Minister. He had a considerable group of friends and followers in Parliament. Many of his colleagues, even if they were in opposition to his political points, expressed sympathy, respect for him.

There was also a certain order of business that was expected when a person of such public interest and a Prime Minister no less, died.

The topic of his death and funeral was again brought up on January 27, when a replacement for Pitt’s seat in Parliament was also sought. The House also took the time to reflect upon Pitt’s character and political legacy at length. Mr. Lascelles rose to present the motion:

I shall therefore conclude with moving, “That an humble address be presented to his majesty, that his majesty will be graciously pleased to give directions, that the remains of the right hon. William Pitt be interred at the public charge; and that a monument be erected, in the collegiate church of St. Peter, Westminster, to the memory of that excellent statesman, with an inscription expressive of the public sense of so great and irreparable a loss; and to assure his majesty that this house will make good the expences attending the same.”

Corbbett’s Parliamentary Debates, Vol. XI, London, p. 73.

The vote went as follows:

Corbbett’s Parliamentary Debates, Vol. XI, London, pp. 73-74.

Mentioned in the last instant is the debate over the full payment of Pitt’s debts (messy affair and messy debate) that would be discussed Monday next, February 3, 1806. On that day, the House was much more divided upon the topic of Pitt’s debts, but one very interesting speech came from nonother than Charles James Fox:

I shortened his speech a bit, but Fox essentially goes on to criticize some of the arguments and tactics made by the other proponents of the notion – while still being in support himself.

Corbbett’s Parliamentary Debates, Vol. XI, London, pp. 127-140.

[ltwilliammowett]

A Night action off Cadiz, by Ivan Berryman, before 2022

Skirmishes between frigates were a common occurrence, such as here when the 32-gun HMS Amphion encountered a French opponent off Cadiz in 1806 the latter, to her great cost, straying among the British inshore squadron in the darkness of a moonless night. It is understood that the French vessel managed to escape being taken as a prize, although with much damage to her whales and rigging.

[artschoolglasses]

Etching with a design for a bed, Late 18th Century - 1806

From the Victoria and Albert Museum

[mapsontheweb]

Map showing the route of the Lewis & Clark Expedition 1804-1806.

By W. H. Gordenier, 1927.

[aviel]

Jean-Bernard Duvivier - Madame Tallien (Detail) (1806)

[digitalfashionmuseum]

Oil painting, 1806, American.

Painted by Joshua Johnson.

Portraying Grace Allison McCurdy and her daughters in white dresses.

National Gallery of Art.

[empirearchives]

Napoleon and Universities

From University of Bordeaux — Our History page, updated 28/06/2022

“In 1793, the University of Bordeaux disappeared like all French universities following a decision of the Convention (Parliament that governed France from September 1792 to October 1795 during the French Revolution) which saw in these corporations a remnant of the Ancien Régime.”

“Napoleon Bonaparte restored the concept of the university in 1806. In Bordeaux, the Faculty of Theology was recreated in 1808 and those of Letters and Sciences in 1838.”

[bold in original]

———

In original French:

Source: Université de Bordeaux — Notre histoire