"Tu ne m'annonces point avoir vu l'Impératrice ou l'Empereur"

Autograph letter signed by Marshal Davout to his wife, Aimée Leclerc. Two and a half pages in black ink on a double sheet. Fold marks inherent to mailing.
Very likely unpublished letter ("the intimate correspondence of Marshal Davout ceases from August to November [1807]" incorrectly states the Marquise de Blocqueville in Le Maréchal Davout, prince d'Eckmühl, raconté par les siens et par lui-même) addressed to his beloved wife, sister-in-law of Pauline Bonaparte. Settled in his palace halfway between Warsaw and Łódź, Davout, now Governor General of the Duchy of Warsaw, longs for his wife and their property in Savigny-sur-Orge: "but although this place is one of the most beautiful in the country, it is a hundred thousand leagues from Savigny." He especially urges the marshal's wife to appear at court and remain close to the Emperor; she was notably in charge of requesting her husband's leave permissions from Napoleon himself. Davout could hardly escape from Poland ("If I could foresee the date of my definitive return") to deal, among other things, with the marital affairs of his cousin Hélène Davout: "I would ask you, if our cousin is not greatly attached to her future husband, to convince her that in the next six months we will find a more advantageous match for her, but events may occur that do not allow for leave.") This latter will eventually marry General François-Louis Coutard in Warsaw in 1808.
Very visual letter bearing a beautiful signature of Marshal Davout.

"Skierniewice ce 14 7bre à 6h du matin
Already, my dear Aimée, I feel the salutary influence of the country air. My violent headache is beginning to dissipate; I hope that tomorrow I will be completely rid of it.
In your various letters, you do not mention having seen the Empress or the Emperor. Does your state of health not allow you to dress sufficiently to go to court? You have not spoken to me about the appointment of Beaumont [de la Boninière] as senator; however, all the newspapers have announced that the Emperor has appointed Senator General Beaumont, although knowing well that there is another by this name, everything leads me to hope that the one appointed is my brother-in-law. At least I wrote to him and congratulated him with all my heart [...]
Remind me to the memory of your good mother, a thousand greetings to Beaumont.
It has been a century since I have had letters. A thousand kisses to my two little ones and a thousand and a thousand kisses to my excellent and beautiful wife [...] your loving and faithful husband Davout [...]")