Exile

Autographed letter signed "Louis Napoléon" to his friend Pierre de Bourgoing Camden Place, October 23, 1870, 2 pages. Two crossings out in the hand of the Prince Imperial, trace of a tab on the fourth page. A rare missive from the Prince Imperial, then 14 years old, in the very early days of exile, less than two months after the defeat at Sedan. I do not need to tell you how touched I was by your kind letter, this new sign of affection, as well as by the good friendship you have shown me in good times and bad; I return it to you, you know, with all my heart. We have settled in a pretty little country house near London, in Chislehurst, the name of which you surely do not know.

He arrived last night, he is taller than ever; I did not know until now that exile made one’s legs grow longer, but now I have the conviction and the proof. I spend my days working, taking long walks on foot or horseback.

I visited the Tower of London, which is very interesting to see. The city itself is quite beautiful, but despite everything, England can do its best, it will never be worth as much as France! de Bourgoing of my affectionate feelings. How much we will have to say to each other when we see each other again.

I embrace you, your affectionate friend. After the capitulation of Sedan, the Prince Imperial was taken on September 4th to Maubeuge, on the same day that Empress Eugénie was leaving the Tuileries under tragic conditions.

On September 6th, young Louis Napoléon arrived on English soil, at Hastings; he was joined there by his mother on September 8th and by his tutor, Augustin Filon, the following day. It was quickly decided to seek a home other than the Marine Hotel, a temporary residence where circumstances had led them. The choice fell on an old building made of red bricks, of certain charm, whose village - a supreme consolation - housed a Catholic church: Camden Place, in Chislehurst. On September 24, 1870, the Empress and the Prince Imperial settled into a house located in Chislehurst, in Kent, called Camden Place, named after the famous antiquarian, Lord Camden, who lived there in the early 17th century. "The Prince entered as a pale and melancholic child; he would leave, eight years later, a proud and bold young man, radiant with intelligence, overflowing with energy, happy to live, intoxicated by action" (Augustin Filon).

After the fall of the Empire, he followed the Prince Imperial into exile. He was to occupy the room above that of the son of the fallen Emperor at Camden Place. Jean-Claude Lachnitt describes in his biography of the Prince Imperial the program for a day: "Get up at six, English breakfast, then work all morning until eleven. After lunch, physical exercises, most often horseback riding or outdoor games." The Prince visited the Tower of London in the company of Augustin Filon, the Duchess of Mouchy, and Princess Pauline of Metternich, both close friends of the Empress.

Louis did not see Pierre de Bourgoing again until December 1871. Succession of Abbé Misset Then personal collection of S. Prince Victor Napoléon (inventory number 6300) Then Denis Serena collection Then private collection.