Colonel W. Napier to John Murray.
BROMHAM, WILTS,
December 5, 1828.
Dear Sir,
My first volume is now nearly ready for the press, and as I think that in matters of business a plain straightforward course is best, I will at once say what I conceive to be the valuable part of my work, and leave you to make a proposition relative to publication of the single volume, reserving further discussion about the whole until the other volumes shall be in a more forward state.
The volume in question commences with the secret treaty of Fontainebleau concluded in 1809, and ends with the battle of Corunna. It will have an appendix of original documents, many of which are extremely interesting, and there will also be some plans of the battles. My authorities have been:
1. All the original papers of Sir Hew Dalrymple.
2. Those of Sir John Moore.
3. King Joseph's correspondence taken at the battle of Vittoria, and placed at my disposal by the Duke of Wellington. Among other papers are several notes and detailed instructions by Napoleon which throw a complete light upon his views and proceedings in the early part of the war.
4. Notes of conversations held with the Duke of Wellington for the especial purpose of connecting my account of his operations.