Emmanuel de GROUCHY (1766-1847) marshal. L.A.S., Château de la Férière (Calvados) January 26, 1839, to the Duke of Orleans; 1 1/2 pages in-4. Beautiful letter in which he asks to serve under the Prince in the Army of Northern Observation: "When everything announces that Your Royal Highness is about to put himself at the head of the army of observation which is gathering on our northern frontier, how could I not reiterate to you the wish that more than once you heard me form, to fight at your side [...] I would be happy and proud of it" He aspires to be able to "give to the King, to his Auguste Dynasty, and to our Institutions, irrefragable proofs of fidelity and devotion. Having, moreover, preserved the habit of an active life, and of the exercise of the horse, not fearing fatigue [...] there is none of the former chiefs of the army who is not also available, and as much in a position to enter immediately in campaign "...