MASSENA ANDRE: (1758-1817) Marshal of France, Duc de Rivoli. A fine and clean L.S. `Le Maréchal Prince d´Essling ...

MASSENA ANDRE: (1758-1817) Marshal of France, Duc de Rivoli. A fine and clean L.S. `Le Maréchal Prince d´Essling, Commandant en chef de l´armée de Portugal Massena´, one page, 4to, Torres Novas, Portugal, 26th January 1811, to an authorizing officer, in French. Massena sends a sharp letter, stating `You must know that you cannot leave an army, even more an army like the one of Portugal without an authorization of the General-in-Chief. If you had come to ask me, I would have been very willing to grant it to you, and you would have not been included in the execution of the general order that I had to give to General Count Gardanne. You say you are surprised that this order has been executed - that word inconvenient coming from you to me, and same happens with those referring to my order removing you from your functions - it is by order of His Majesty the Emperor that you have ceased to exercise them, and you may know or you will know the reasons´ The letter has been lightly and neatly ffixed to the left edge to a very slightly larger page. Very small area of paper loss to the left edge, not affecting the text or signature. G to VG