CHARLES HAS ONLY "ONE WISH WHICH IS TO DIE ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND NOT IN BED" CHARLES XV (1826-1872, King of Sweden and Charles IV of Norway)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed in French with translation to 'Madam' saying he "received a letter from you last summer. It has given me great pleasure in proving to me that I am not outside the sphere of your remembrance and that you also remembered the once so happy times. You judge me, Madam, with the same sagacity of mind as in the past and yet time has had a wintry effect on this once poetical and ardent (fiery) heart. I would ask you to pardon the delay in my reply, but your request came at a moment when everything was at a standstill and it is only now that matters having become more settled that I am in a position to fulfil your wish, as I did not wish for a third person to be mixed up in this matter. I am glad that I have been able to help your son and I wish him all the best for the success of his talents. It is a pity that he has not become a soldier, it is the only calling where real glory can be gained and where one can think and act as a gentleman in spite of the materialism of our times. As for myself, I remain body and soul a soldier and I have only one wish which is to die on the battlefield and not in bed. I can see you smiling and saying to yourself 'he is still a madcap'. Well, I possess this madness and this hope, placing my destiny in the hands of Providence. Good-bye, Madam, I have chattered too much, but with you I have done it so often, that it has become second nature with me and overtakes me at a galloping pace. Mad or not, original if you like ...", 3 sides 8vo., on his crested letterhead, no place, no date

Charles was married to Louise of the Netherlands but he preferred other women, saddening her deeply. His well-known mistresses included the actress Laura Bergnéhr, the countess Josephine Sparre, Wilhelmine Schröder and the actresses Hanna Styrell and Elise Hwasser, and the Crown Prince neglected his shy wife. It is possible that this letter is to one of these women.
Charles XV was the grandson of Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, French maréchal of Napoléon.
Transcription
Madame,
J'ai reçu cet été une lettre de vous. Elle m'a fait un grand plaisir en me prouvant que je n'étais pas hors la sphère de votre souvenir et que ce temps jadis heureux vous souriait encore. Vous me jugez Madame avec cette même sagacité d'esprit que dans le temps passé et cependant bien des frimas physiques et moraux ont passé sur ce cœur une fois poétique et bouillant.
Je vous prie de me pardonner la réponse tardive mais votre demande venait juste au moment que tout était scellé et ce n'est qu'âprement que les affaires sont redevenues claires que je suis en état de remplir votre désir vu que je ne voulais pas avoir une troisième personne mêlée dans cette question. Content que j'ai pu être utile à votre fils, je fais des vœux pour la réussite de ses talents. Dommage qu'il n'est devenu militaire. C'est cependant l'état ou la vraie gloire peut vous mener où on peut penser et agir en chevalier malgré le matérialisme de nos jours.
Moi je suis resté corps et âme soldat comme dans le passé ; et je n'ai qu'un désir, celui de mourir sur le champ de bataille et non dans mon lit. Je vous vois sourire et dites à vous-même : " C'est le même fou". Eh bien, j'ai cette folie et cet espoir, remettant ma destinée à la Providence.
Adieu Madame, j'ai trop jasé mais auprès de vous je l'ai tant fait que cette seconde nature me revient au galop. Fou ou non, original tant que vous le voulez, je reste
votre ami.
Charles +
Madam,
I received a letter from you last summer. It has given me great pleasure in proving to me that I am not outside the sphere of your remembrance and that you also remembered the once so happy times. You judge me, Madam, with the same sagacity of mind as in the past and yet time has had a wintry effect on this once poetical and ardent (fiery) heart. I would ask you to pardon the delay in my reply, but your request came at a moment when everything was at a standstill and it is only now that matters having become more settled that I am in a position to fulfil your wish, as I did not wish for a third person to be mixed up in this matter.
I am glad that I have been able to help your son and I wish him all the best for the success of his talents. It is a pity that he has not become a soldier, it, is the only calling where real glory can be gained and where one can think and act as a gentleman in spite of the materialism of our times.
As for myself, I remain body and soul a soldier and I have only one wish which is to die on the battlefield and not in bed. I can see you smiling and saying to yourself "he is still a madcap". Well, I possess this madness and this hope, placing my destiny in the hands of Providence.
Good-bye, Madam, I have chattered too much, but with you I have done it so often, that it has become second nature with me and overtakes me at a galloping pace. Mad or not, original if you like, I remain
Your friend, Charles +

Item Date:  0

Stock No:  40903      £675

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