THE SWORD
of the First Consul or the prince's act

In 1873, the former Empress Eugénie demanded from the government of the Republic the restitution of 500 objects of artistic and historical value, lent by Napoleon III to various national museums. The State turned a deaf ear. The trial brought against it by the Empress lasted thirty-four years. In May 1907, the Administration of Domains was ordered to return the objects estimated at the time, according to experts - life has since increased - at 5 million francs. But she did not return anything at all and the Empress, for her part, limited herself to renewing, in principle, the five-year prescription until her death which took place in Madrid on July 11, 1920.
Her rights passed to her heirs Prince Victor, her nephew, to whom she left 2 million, and his daughter, Princess Marie-Clotilde, then aged 12. The inheritance tax amounted to 2 and a half million for the entire inheritance.
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In the meantime, the government classified the birthplace of Napoleon I in Ajaccio as a historical monument. It was suggested to the prince:
- Donate this house to the State. The gesture would be clever and elegant.
The prince listened to the advice and made the generous donation, without ulterior motive. However, shortly after, in 1921, he proposed to the government this little
combination:
- Let the tax authorities give me a receipt for the 2 and a half million that make up the sum of my inheritance rights and I renounce the 500 objects of artistic and historical value, property of Napoleon III, which were estimated at 5 million.
Bad deal for the prince! one might think. Not so bad, because it did not seem that the Chambers had any firm intention of enforcing the judgment. The prince added:
- I only claim, as a souvenir, the sword of the First Consul and the musical clock by Clodion.
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The prince was not lacking in taste. The sword of the First Consul is a remarkable piece. It was, a few months ago, at the Museum of Decorative Arts. The hilt is made of ivory decorated with gold carvings representing a Gorgon's head, with, on the pommel, a gold bifron lion. The mother-of-pearl scabbard is decorated with chiseled silver-gilt attributes and magnificent enamels. This sword was offered to the First Consul by the City of Paris.
Clodion's clock is a splendid work. It is, in reality, a music box. A white marble nymph is leaning on a tambourine that forms a silent dial. The base is made of mahogany decorated with bronzes. It is supported by four gilded bronze lions.
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In February 1924, Mr. Léon Bérard, then Minister of Fine Arts, submitted the combination proposed by the prince to the Council of Ministers, which took it into consideration. In faith of which the two magnificent trinkets were given to Prince Victor. This happened in the most discreet way possible; a little too discreetly, perhaps. L'Officiel did not publish any decree. The press was not notified of any press release. The prince proposed and Mr. Léon Bérard disposed. But was it not, in this case, a question of our national wealth, and are these not, by definition, intangible?...

HENRI SIMONI.