Rare letter by Napoleon reveals struggle to master language

A rare letter written by the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte while in exile after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo has revealed his struggle to master the English language, The Daily Mail reported.

It is said to be one of only three letters written by the emperor in March 1816 while he was held by English captors on the island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic Ocean.

In broken English, he wrote: "Count Las Case. It is two o'clock after midnight, I have enow sleep, I go then finish the night into to cause with you."

The emperor is attempting to convey that he has had enough sleep and wishes to chat - but instead muddles the word with the French phrase 'causer', which has the same meaning.


The letter has gone on show in Paris and is expected to sell for 80,000 euros when it goes up for sale this weekend.
 

The emperor continues: 'He shall land above seven day, a ship from Europe that we shall give account from anything who this shall have been even to day of first January thousand eight hundred sixteen.
 

"You shall have for this ocurens a letter from Lady Las Case that shall you learn what himself could carry well if she had conceive the your occurens. But I tire myself and you shall have of the ado at conceive my."
 

The auction will take place in Fontainebleau, south of Paris, on Sunday.