Letter written in English by Napoleon put on display at museum ahead of auction

A shirt worn by Napoleon and a letter he wrote to practice his English have gone on display at a museum in Belgium. They will be auctioned later this year in Britain. They are part of a collection of items the former French emperor used when he was exiled on Saint Helena island beginning in 1815. Other items include a silk scarf and a walking stick made from a narwhal tooth. The exhibition at the Battle of Waterloo memorial museum, near Brussels, is part of commemorations of the bicentenary of Napoleon’s death on the island at the age of 51 on May 5, 1821. Very few English texts written by Napoleon have survived. Historians think Napoleon’s secretary dictated the letter to the emperor to help him improve his English. The letter is expected to fetch the highest price out of all the items that will be sold at auction at Bonhams in London on Oct. 27. (Reuters) This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.