IMPORTANT LETTER FROM DAVID G. CHANDLER

ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT NAPOLEONIC HISTORIANS.

David G. Chandler at work in his office

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A letter in response to the article in the Napoleonic Alliance Gazette, Vol. 2002, No. 1, by Victor Blair

To the Editor,

Victor Blair (vol. 2002 No 1) may say what he likes, but I am not really concerned "... on Napoleon's health and the possible poisonning". That aspect is certainly Dr. Ben Weider's main area. I am, on the other hand, deeply involved into the (nasty) Comte d'Artois and above all of Comte de Montholon, the so-called Lt. General as Napoleon's "best friend" at St. Helena. He has been proved a criminal several times over and the myth that he was Napoleon's only real friend on St. Helena in an absolute cock-and-bull story.

We now know that the emperor was murdered; I support Dr. Weider's thesis completely. I am much more concerned "by whom?" and "why?" Mr. Blair kindly refers to me as an authority on the battles, but I am currently deeply into the events from the spring of 1814 to May of 1820. My research with the Montholon notes at the Chateau de Vincennes uncovered the fact that there are serious gaps in the documents but that Montholon was undoubtedly involved in various plots with the Comte d'Artois (later Charles X). This period remains very dark and incomplete, and my illness will prevent me from being the one to do the conclusive research on the matter, but rest assured the truth will eventually come out and it will not be favorable to Comte de Montholon.

Sincerely,

David G. Chandler