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THIS MONTH'S PAINTING
The Immortality of Nelson, by Benjamin West (1738-1820)
England's most popular hero, Nelson, was glorified after his death by the artists of his time. He was immortalised by the celebrated Anglo-American painter, West, who today has been largely forgotten.
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO
An order from the Paris Préfet de police, dated 14 October, 1802 (22 Vendémiaire, An XI), was published regulating the opening of places for the practice and teaching of dissection. That the opening of such places required authorisation had been established by a feasibility study performed by the Préfet. Teaching was only permitted between 1 Brumaire and 1 Floréal, and the dissection of bodies of people who had died of contagious diseases was forbidden. Corpses were to be transported in covered carriages, between 9 and 10 in the evening.
According to the Moniteur of 19 Brumaire, An XI, Russia launched a 100-gun ship on 14 October, 1802 (22 Vendémiaire, An XI), built by a certain Frenchman named Monsieur Lebrun, who had been invited to work for Russia by Paul I. The unnamed ship referred to in the Moniteur is presumably the 110-gun Archangel Gabriel, built in 1802 for the Baltic Fleet. Lebrun had also worked for Constantinople.
A bill of 16 October, 1802 (24 Vendémiaire, An XI), was passed concerning the Repubblica Italiana. It stipulated that from now on, those agencies which sold officially stamped paper should also sell tobacco. Those sho simply sold officially stamped paper would be replaced by tobacco merchants, who in turn would be asked to provide a further caution payment.
Le Moniteur universel, 19 Brumaire, An XI
18 October, 1802 (26 Vendémiaire, An XI), the jury, a key element in the penal justice system but considered by the First Consul to be rather too 'democratic', was abolished in most departments. Bonaparte had already reinforced power at the centre through the law of 6 Germinal, An VIII (27 march, 1800), by which the lists of jurymen would be established by Justices of the Peace (Juges de paix), and then subjected to the drawing of lots by the Préfets.
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week!
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
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THIS WEEK:
Snippets
Brandenburg Gate dramatically unveiled after 20 months of repairs
Press Review
The contents of the most recent Nelson Dispatch
Just published
The Nelson Encyclopedia - edited by Colin White
Web sites
- Imperial orders and decorations at the Belgian Royal Army Museum
Go to the Napoleonic Directory and search Web sites, 'Militaria'
- Military History Encyclopedia online
Go to the Napoleonic Directory and search Web sites, 'Militaria'
What's on
- Association: Annual General Meeting of the Nelson Society
- Conference: Napoleonic association, UK
- Exhibition: Nelson & Emma, Personal Pots and Lasting Mementos
- Exhibition: Seat of Empire
The monthly titles
- Book of the Month: Seven Ages of Paris: Portrait of a City, by Alistair Horne
- This month's picture, The Immortality of Nelson, by Benjamin West
- Article of the Month, Waterloo - Bias, Assumptions, and Perspectives, by Douglas Allen
- In the Collectors Corner, the Roi de Rome's cradle
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