Rare Pistol Given To Napoleon Up For Auction.

A historic pistol given to Napoleon Bonaparte by a flamboyant English army officer in 1802 is expected to fetch £25,000-30,000 when it is sold at auction next month.The gold-inlaid, 120-bore, three-barrelled flintlock pocket pistol is one of a pair and thought to be the only weapon ever given to Napoleon by an Englishman.It was presented to the French general and 'First Consul' by Lt Col Thomas Thornton when he visited France during a lull in hostilities in the Napoleonic Wars.David Williams, head of arms and armour at Bonhams auction house, said: "It's absolutely fascinating. The pistol itself is beautiful with all the gold inlay. They were usually rather more restrained at the time."It's interesting in its own right, because of the decoration, because of it's three barrels, which is very unusual, and it's in very good condition, but also because it has this interesting history."Any connection with Napoleon and people are very interested. It's extrememly rare."Thornton was famous as one of the most dedicated sportsmen of the 18th and 19th centuries, dividing his time between hunting, racing, shooting, angling and hawking. In his words he had "a greater quantity of sporting apparatus of the most valuable and curious manufacture than any other sporting gentleman in England."He was also well known for his many mistresses. One of these was Alicia Meynell or Massingham, the 'Norwich Nymph' who was famous in her own right for her horse race against Captain Flint at York racecourse in 1804, and again on the following year when she beat Edward Buckle, the top jockey of his day. Thornton bet 1,000 guineas on the first race, which he lost but reneged on the bet, leading to an inconclusive court case. He then put 2,000 guineas on the second race, which Alicia won, after which Thornton was publicly horsewhipped by the disgruntled winner of the first race.Thornton visited France with his mistress before the Revolution and again in 1802, when he made a sporting trip through the country. The journey was possible because of the brief peace created by the Treaty of Amiens, which followed Napoleon's victory over the Austrians at Marengo in 1800.Thornton presented the ornate pistols, made by Durs Egg of London, and featuring engravings of Thornton's family coat of arms on one side and a scroll with the battle honour 'Marengo' on the other, to Napoleon's aide-de-camp General Duroc. Soon afterwards he met Napoleon himself.It is thought the gift of the pistols was an attempt by Thornton to win support as he fought to rebuild his reputation after he was court martialled over an incident when his soldiers pulled him round Roborough army camp in a gun carriage. He wrote his side of the story in a pamphlet called 'An Elucidation of a Mutinous Conspiracy entered into by the officers of the West York Regiment of Militia against their Commanding Officer in year 1794'Mr Williams said: "Thornton himself was a very interesting guy. He was quite an eccentric."He was fairly enamoured by Napoleon and ended up living in France after the war. He was a francophile. He even styled himself Prince of Chambord and Marquess de Pont."The other pistol was sold in 1986 and its current whereabouts are unknown. This one is being sold by a private collector.Mr Williams said: "It really is a fascinating thing and it's a direct link with history."We don't know where other one is. It would be quite interesting if the sale of this one throws the other one up."

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