First Empire items in green leatherette - Lot 675

First Empire items in green leatherette [MARINE PORTFOLIO] Set consisting of a First Empire officer's portfolio and a document (or miscellaneous object) box, also from the First Empire, recovered when Pierre François Étienne Bouvet de Maisonneuve (lieutenant de vaisseau at the time) captured the English East India Company brig or corvette La Marguerite. Long-grained green morocco wallet, gilt-edged, silver-plated copper lock. Accents, key missing, some rubbing and wear to extremities. Green morocco case, gilt-edged, copper clasp closure, central key missing, copper handles on the sides. Upholstered rust velvet interior. Gilded inscription on the box: "Prise du brick corvette de la compagnie La Marguerite - 8 février 1808". Rubbing and wear to extremities. History: Pierre François Étienne Bouvet de Maisonneuve (1775-1860), French sailor, honorary rear-admiral. He served successively on frigates, mainly in the English Channel. In November 1797, he was authorized to embark as lieutenant on a privateer, which was taken by the English frigate Melpomène on February 17, 1798. He was paroled in November 1799. He was then able to take command of the privateer Le Furet, but was captured after ten days. During the battle, he was seriously wounded in the thigh. He was released two months later. Promoted to lieutenant in May 1801, he took part in the campaign to Guadeloupe on the vessel Le Redoutable. In 1803, on the frigate l'Atalante, he took part in Admiral Linois' division to the Indian Ocean. He carried out several successful campaigns on L'Aréthuse. He successfully captured several Indiamen (Athia, Princess Royal, Heroism) and fought against the Centurion. In November 1805, the frigate ran aground near the Cape of Good Hope. Bouvet was tasked with carrying information, a report and dispatches to Île-de-France (Mauritius), and was captured just as he reached Port-Louis. Freed, he was exchanged in early 1807. He had an Indian ship copied, a patemar, armed with a single cannon and a crew of just 40 men, and set off on a racing campaign. Crossing the path of an English East India Company liner, La Marguerite commanded by Captain Houlson (he succeeded in capturing her after a three-hour chase and battle on the Malabar coast (January 23, 1808)).