NAPOLEON III: (1808-1873) French monarch who served as the first President of France 1848-52 and as the last Emperor of the French 1852-70. L.S., Napoleon, one page, folio, Paris, 20^th February 1863, to ‘Mon Cousin’, in French. The Emperor writes an official diplomatic letter, in greater part, ‘La lettre que vous m'avez ecrite a l'anniversaire des fetes solennelles de Noel, est un gage de vos bons sentiments qui m'a ete particulierement agreable, je me plais egalement a vous remercier des voeux que vous adressez au ciel pour la France et pour moi. Aussi, je ne negligerai aucune occasion de vous prouver le sincere interet que je vous porte, et de vous renouveler les assurances de mon estime et de ma constante affection’ (Translation: ‘The letter that you wrote to me on the anniversary of the solemn Christmas celebrations is a token of your good feelings which was particularly pleasant to me, I also like to thank you for the wishes that you send to heaven for France and for me. Also, I will not neglect any opportunity to prove to you the sincerest interest that I have for you, and to renew to you the assurances of my esteem and my constant affection’). Countersigned at the foot of the page by Edouard Drouyn de Lhuys (1805-1881) French diplomat and politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs 1848-49, 1851, 1852-55 and 1862-66. With blank integral leaf. Some light foxing and a minor strip of age toning at the head of the page, about VG