BONAPARTE (Elisa). Letter signed with an autograph line, addressed to her sister Pauline Bonaparte. [Villa Medici], Poggio a Caiano [in Tuscany], 20 September 1812. 2 pp. 1/4 in-8 square. "If you knew, my dear Pauline, how worried and distressed I have been about your illness, you would understand the pleasure I have experienced in seeing your handwriting again. I knew all about your news, I had already been rejoicing for some time about your convalescence, but there is still a long way to go between that pleasure and the pleasure of hearing for yourself that you are free from your long pain and on the road to recovery. I sincerely hope that the fine weather will last long enough for you to be able to stay at the waters long enough to feel the effects that your illness has delayed... Please say a thousand kind words from me to Julie [Clary] whose sufferings have also kept me very busy and tormented. I am very grateful for the news you have given me of Louis [Bonaparte], it has been a long time since I received any. You will perhaps have heard that I have been ill; I am beginning to recover, but for a month I was obliged to stay in bed and in my room because of an accident that left me extremely weak. I moved here last Tuesday and intend to spend the autumn here. I will take it easy for a while yet, but the fresh air, moderate exercise and donkey milk will soon restore my strength. My daughter has been with me for three weeks [Elisa Baciocchi, future Countess Camerata]... This dear child is growing up a lot, she is very pretty, her intelligence is far above her age and her progress is such as one would expect from a child of six; she has gained a lot in terms of character and reason, and she is our delight... How happy I would be, dear Pauline, if the air of Tuscany were the best place for you to spend the winter! The pleasure of seeing you again, of introducing you to my daughter, would be joined by the pleasure of looking after you... You know, dear friend, how much I have always loved you, so you will believe how much I would like to see you again after such a long absence... Farewell, dear Pauline, receive my tender embraces, the affectionate greetings of the Prince [Joachim Murat], a kiss from Napoleon, and the assurance of my deep affection. Please say a thousand things on my behalf to the Princess of Sweden [Désirée Clary], I am sincerely happy for her and for Julie that they are together. Elisa added with her hand: "I send you a thousand kisses. Your sister and friend..." During the summer of 1812, some of the Bonaparte family came together for a cure at Aachen, including Pauline and the wife of the King of Spain, Joseph Bonaparte, Julie Clary, as well as the latter's sister, Désirée Clary, wife of Marshal Bernadotte, who had become Crown Prince of Sweden.