Lieutenant George Villiers was tasked with finding and retrieving the Prince Imperial's uniform, pistol and personal effects, which the Zulus had taken. His death sent shockwaves through Europe as he was the last serious dynastic hope for the restoration of the House of Bonaparte to the throne of France. He was killed in a skirmish with the Zulus during the Anglo-Zulu War, 1879. Memorandum regarding the discovery of the late Prince Imperial's uniform and other effects, the handwritten account by Lieutenant George Villiers and relates to the mission which he was tasked with on 12 September 1879, the 8-page letter incomplete, 17.5 x 11cmQty: (1)Footnote: Written by Lieutenant George Villiers (1847-1892) in London on 29 January 1880, it relates to the death of Napoleon, Prince Imperial, son of Napoleon III (1856-1879). But the dramatic incident has often been recounted in the years since it occurred. The horse recovered and soon was delivering the mail again. Eventually the lioness took refuge behind some stones nearby and her owner and trainer were able to rescue her. Adding to the madness, a large dog seized the lioness, starting a terrible fight betwen them. Astonished passengers ran for the inn, bolting the door behind them. He pointed his pistol at the guard's head promsing to shoot if the beast was killed. But, as the guard raised his blunderbuss to shoot the lioness, a voice cried out in the darkness - it was the owner of the show. The guard and coachment tried to deal with the situation which had taken them by surprise. The attacker was a hungry lioness which had escaped from a traveling menagerie staying overnight at the inn. As the Coach pulled into the Pheasant Inn - also known as the Winterslow Hut - the creature lunged out of the night, leaping ferociously at the offside leader of the team. Not too concerned, they simply assumed it was a large calf and continued on their way. Peering into the darkness, the coachmen and passengers saw the mysterious figure of an animal following the team. Suddenly the horses began to get nervous and fidgety. On the night of October 20, 1816, the Exeter Mail Coach, which normally ran from Exeter to London, had left its stop at Sailsbury and was proceeding across Salisbury Field. This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Great Britain 16p Exeter Mail Coach stamp issued July 31, 1984. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. 1934) "Exeter Mail Coach" Signed lower left.