Part 11
_July 28th.--Battle of Talavera._ Wellington repulses Victor, who attacks by King Joseph's order, without waiting for the arrival of Soult with the main army. Wellington retires on Portugal.
_July 29th-31st._--Walcheren Expedition; 17,000 English land in Belgium.
No. 16.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PLOMBIERES.
_Schoenbrunn, August 7, 1809._
I see from your letter that you are at Plombieres, and intend to stay there. You do well; the waters and the fine climate can only do you good.
I remain here. My health and my affairs follow my wishes.
Please give my kind regards to Hortense and the Napoleons.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_August 8th._--Combat of Arzobispo. Soult defeats the Spaniards.
_August 15th._--Flushing surrenders to the English.
No. 17.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Schoenbrunn, August 21, 1809._
I have received your letter of August 14th, from Plombieres; I see from it that by the 18th you will be either at Paris or Malmaison. The heat, which is very great here, will have upset you. Malmaison must be very dry and parched at this time of year.
My health is good. The heat, however, has brought on a slight catarrh.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 18.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Schoenbrunn, August 26, 1809._
I have your letter from Malmaison. They bring me word that you are plump, florid, and in the best of health, I assure you Vienna is not an amusing city. I would very much rather be back again in Paris.
Adieu, dear. Twice a week I listen to the comedians (_bouffons_); they are but very middling; it, however, passes the evenings. There are fifty or sixty women of Vienna, but outsiders (_au parterre_), as not having been presented.
NAPOLEON.
No. 19.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Schoenbrunn, August 31, 1809._
I have had no letter from you for several days; the pleasures of Malmaison, the beautiful greenhouses, the beautiful gardens, cause the absent to be forgotten. It is, they say, the rule of your sex. Every one speaks only of your good health; all this is very suspicious.
To-morrow I am off with Eugene for two days in Hungary.
My health is fairly good.
Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 20.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Krems, September 9, 1809._
_My Dear_,--I arrived here yesterday at 2 A.M.; I have come here to see my troops. My health has never been better. I know that you are very well.
I shall be in Paris at a moment when nobody will expect me. Everything here goes excellently and to my satisfaction.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 21.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Schoenbrunn, September 23, 1809._
I have received your letter of the 16th, and note that you are well. The old maid's house is only worth 120,000[34] francs; they will never get more for it. Still, I leave you mistress to do what you like, since it amuses you; only, once purchased, don't pull it down to put a rockery there.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 22.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Schoenbrunn, September 25, 1809._
I have received your letter. Be careful, and I advise you to be vigilant, for one of these nights you will hear a loud knocking.
My health is good. I know nothing about the rumours; I have never been better for many a long year. Corvisart was no use to me.
Adieu, dear; everything here prospers.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_September 26th._--Battle of Silistria; Turks defeat Russians.
No. 23.
_October 14th._--Treaty of Vienna, between France and Austria.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Schoenbrunn, October 14, 1809._
_My Dear_,--I write to advise you that Peace was signed two hours ago between Champagny and Prince Metternich.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_October 19th._--Mortier routs Spaniards at Ocana.
No. 24.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Nymphenburg, near Munich, October 21, 1809._
I arrived here yesterday in the best of health, but shall not start till to-morrow. I shall spend a day at Stuttgard. You will be advised twenty-four hours in advance of my arrival at Fontainebleau.
I look forward with pleasure to seeing you again, and I await that moment impatiently.
I send you a kiss.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 25.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Munich, October 22, 1809._
_My Dear_,--I start in an hour. I shall be at Fontainebleau from the 26th to 27th; you may meet me there with some of your ladies.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_November 25th._--Disappearance of Benjamin Bathurst, erroneously thought to have been murdered by the French, really by robbers.
_December 1st._--Capture of Gerona and 200 cannon by Augereau.
_December 16th.--French Senate pronounce the divorce of Napoleon and Josephine._
_December 24th._--English re-embark from Flushing.
FOOTNOTES
[32] Napoleon Louis, Prince Royal of Holland, and Grand Duke of Berg from March 3, 1809.
[33] Her two grandsons, who, with Hortense, their mother, were at Baden.
[34] Boispreau, belonging to Mademoiselle Julien.
SERIES M
"Josephine, my excellent Josephine, thou knowest if I have loved thee! To thee, to thee alone do I owe the only moments of happiness which I have enjoyed in this world. Josephine, my destiny overmasters my will. My dearest affections must be silent before the interests of France."--BOURRIENNE'S _Napoleon_.[35]
FOOTNOTES
[35] Also MEME'S _Memoirs of Josephine_, p. 333.
SERIES M
(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 295-304.)
LETTER PAGE
No. 1. A Family Council 295
No. 2. _Savary_ 297 _Queen of Naples_ 298 _The hunt_ 298
No. 4. _The weather is very damp_ 298
No. 5. _King of Bavaria_ 299
No. 6. Their last dinner together 299
No. 7. _Tuileries_ 299
No. 8. _A house vacant in Paris_ 299
No. 9. _Hortense_ 300
No. 10. A visit to Josephine 300
No. 11. _What charms your society has_ 300
No. 12. _King of Westphalia_ 301
No. 13. _Sensible_ 301
No. 14. _D'Audenarde_ 302
No. 16. The choosing of a bride 302
No. 17. Date 302
Nos. 18 & 19. _L'Elysee_ 302-3
No. 20. _Bessieres' country-house_ 303
No. 21. _Rambouillet_ 303 _Adieu_ 303
LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE AFTER THE DIVORCE AND BEFORE HIS MARRIAGE WITH MARIE LOUISE.
DECEMBER, 1809, TO APRIL 2, 1810.
No. 1.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_December 1809_, 8 P.M.
_My Dear_,--I found you to-day weaker than you ought to be. You have shown courage; it is necessary that you should maintain it and not give way to a doleful melancholy. You must be contented and take special care of your health, which is so precious to me.
If you are attached to me and if you love me, you should show strength of mind and force yourself to be happy. You cannot question my constant and tender friendship, and you would know very imperfectly all the affection I have for you if you imagined that I can be happy if you are unhappy, and contented if you are ill at ease.
Adieu, dear. Sleep well; dream that I wish it.
NAPOLEON.
No. 2.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Tuesday, 6 o'clock._
The Queen of Naples, whom I saw at the hunt in the Bois de Boulogne, where I rode down a stag, told me that she left you yesterday at 1 P.M. in the best of health.
Please tell me what you are doing to-day. As for me, I am very well. Yesterday, when I saw you, I was ill. I expect you will have been for a drive.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 3.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Trianon_, 7 P.M.
_My Dear_,--I have just received your letter. Savary tells me that you are always crying; that is not well. I trust that you have been for a drive to-day. I sent you my quarry. I shall come to see you when you tell me you are reasonable, and that your courage has the upper hand.
To-morrow, the whole day, I am receiving Ministers.
Adieu, dear. I also am sad to-day; I need to know that you are satisfied and to learn that your equilibrium (_aplomb_) is restored. Sleep well.
NAPOLEON.
No. 4.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Thursday, Noon, 1809._
_My Dear_,--I wished to come and see you to-day, but I was very busy and rather unwell. Still, I am just off to the Council.
Please tell me how you are.
This weather is very damp, and not at all healthy.
NAPOLEON.
No. 5.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Trianon._
I should have come to see you to-day if I had not been obliged to come to see the King of Bavaria, who has just arrived in Paris. I shall come to see you to-night at eight o'clock, and return at ten.
I hope to see you to-morrow, and to see you cheerful and placid.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 6.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Trianon, Tuesday._
_My Dear_,--I lay down after you left me yesterday;[36] I am going to Paris. I wish to hear that you are cheerful. I shall come to see you during the week.
I have received your letters, which I am going to read in the carriage.
NAPOLEON.
No. 7.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Paris, Wednesday, Noon, 27th December 1809._
Eugene told me that you were very miserable all yesterday. That is not well, my dear; it is contrary to what you promised me.
I have been thoroughly tired in revisiting the Tuileries; that great palace seemed empty to me, and I felt lost in it.
Adieu, dear. Keep well.
NAPOLEON.
No. 8.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Paris, Sunday, December 31_, 10 A.M., 1809.
_My Dear_,--To-day I have a grand parade; I shall see all my Old Guard and more than sixty artillery trains.
The King of Westphalia is returning home, which will leave a house vacant in Paris. I am sad not to see you. If the parade finishes before 3 o'clock, I will come; otherwise, to-morrow.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 9.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Thursday Evening_, 1810.
_My Dear_,--Hortense, whom I saw this afternoon, has given me news of you. I trust that you will have been able to see your plants to-day, the weather having been fine. I have only been out for a few minutes at three o'clock to shoot some hares.
Adieu, dear; sleep well.
NAPOLEON.
No. 10.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Friday_, 8 P.M., 1810.
I wished to come and see you to-day, but I cannot; it will be, I hope, in the morning. It is a long time since I heard from you. I learnt with pleasure that you take walks in your garden these cold days.
Adieu, dear; keep well, and never doubt my affection.
NAPOLEON.
No. 11.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Sunday_, 8 P.M., 1810.
I was very glad to see you yesterday; I feel what charms your society has for me.
To-day I walked with Esteve.[37] I have allowed L4000 for 1810, for the extraordinary expenses at Malmaison. You can therefore do as much planting as you like; you will distribute that sum as you may require. I have instructed Esteve to send L8000 the moment the contract for the Maison Julien shall be made. I have ordered them to pay for your _parure_ of rubies, which will be valued by the Department, for I do not wish to be robbed by jewellers. So, there goes the L16,000 that this may cost me.
I have ordered them to hold the million which the Civil List owes you for 1810 at the disposal of your man of business, in order to pay your debts.
You should find in the coffers of Malmaison twenty to twenty-five thousand pounds; you can take them to buy your plate and linen.
I have instructed them to make you a very fine porcelain service; they will take your commands in order that it may be a very fine one.
NAPOLEON.
No. 12.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Wednesday_, 6 P.M., 1810.
_My Dear_,--I see no objection to your receiving the King of Westphalia whenever you wish. The King and Queen of Bavaria will probably come to see you on Friday.
I long to come to Malmaison, but you must really show fortitude and self-restraint; the page on duty this morning told me that he saw you weeping.
I am going to dine quite alone.
Adieu, dear. Never doubt the depth of my feelings for you; you would be unjust and unfair if you did.
NAPOLEON.
No. 13.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Saturday_, 1 P.M., 1810.
_My Dear_,--Yesterday I saw Eugene, who told me that you gave a reception to the kings. I was at the concert till eight o'clock, and only dined, quite alone, at that hour.
I long to see you. If I do not come to-day, I will come after mass.
Adieu, dear. I hope to find you sensible and in good health. This weather should indeed make you put on flesh.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_January 9.--The clergy of Paris annul the religious marriage of Napoleon with Josephine_ (so _Biographie Universelle_, Michaud; Montgaillard gives January 18). _Confirmed by the Metropolitan Officialite, January 12_ (Pasquier).
No. 14.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Trianon, January 17, 1810._
_My Dear_,--D'Audenarde, whom I sent to you this morning, tells me that since you have been at Malmaison you have no longer any courage. Yet that place is full of our happy memories, which can and ought never to change, at least on my side.
I want badly to see you, but I must have some assurance that you are strong and not weak; I too am rather like you, and it makes me frightfully wretched.
Adieu, Josephine; good-night. If you doubted me, you would be very ungrateful.
NAPOLEON.
No. 15.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_January 20, 1810._
_My Dear_,--I send you the box that I promised you the day before yesterday--representing the Island of Lobau. I was rather tired yesterday. I work much, and do not go out.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 16.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Noon, Tuesday, 1810._
I hear that you are making yourself miserable; this is too bad. You have no confidence in me, and all the rumours that are being spread strike you; this is not knowing me, Josephine. I am much annoyed, and if I do not find you cheerful and contented, I shall scold you right well.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 17.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Sunday_, 9 P.M., 1810.
_My Dear_,--I was very glad to see you the day before yesterday.
I hope to go to Malmaison during the week. I have had all your affairs looked after here, and ordered that everything be brought to the Elysee-Napoleon.
Please take care of yourself.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 18.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_January 30, 1810._
_My Dear_,--Your letter to hand. I hope the walk you had yesterday, in order to show people your conservatories, has done you good.
I will gladly see you at the Elysee, and shall be very glad to see you oftener, for you know how I love you.
NAPOLEON.
No. 19.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Saturday_, 6 P.M., 1810.
I told Eugene that you would rather give ear to the vulgar gossip of a great city than to what I told you; yet people should not be allowed to invent fictions to make you miserable.
I have had all your effects moved to the Elysee. You shall come to Paris at once; but be at ease and contented, and have full confidence in me.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_February 2._--Soult occupies Seville. The Junta takes refuge at Cadiz.
_February 6._--Guadeloupe surrenders to the English.
_February 7.--Convention of marriage between the Emperor Napoleon and the Archduchess Marie Louise._
No. 20.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT THE ELYSEE-NAPOLEON.
_February 19, 1810._
_My Dear_,--I have received your letter. I long to see you, but the reflections that you make may be true. It is, perhaps, not desirable that we should be under the same roof for the first year. Yet Bessieres' country-house is too far off to go and return in one day; moreover I have rather a cold, and am not sure of being able to go there.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 21.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT THE ELYSEE-NAPOLEON.
_Friday_, 6 P.M., 1810.
Savary, as soon as he arrived, brought me your letter; I am sorry to see you are unhappy. I am very glad that you saw nothing of the fire.
I had fine weather at Rambouillet.
Hortense told me that you had some idea of coming to a dinner at Bessieres, and of returning to Paris to sleep. I am sorry that you have not been able to manage it.
Adieu, dear. Be cheerful, and consider how much you please me thereby.
NAPOLEON.
No. 22.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_March 12, 1810._
_My Dear_,--I trust that you will be pleased with what I have done for Navarre. You must see from that how anxious I am to make myself agreeable to you.
Get ready to take possession of Navarre; you will go there on March 25, to pass the month of April.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_April 1.--Civil marriage of Napoleon and Marie Louise._ (_Religious marriage, April 2._)
FOOTNOTES
[36] The Empress, with Hortense, had been to dine at Trianon.
[37] General Treasurer of the Crown.
SERIES N
1810
APRIL 2ND--DECEMBER 31ST
(_after the Marriage with Marie Louise_).
"Bella gerant alii, tu, felix Austria! nube."
SERIES N
(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 304-310.)
LETTER PAGE
No. 1. _Navarre_ 304 _To Malmaison_ 305
No. 1_a_. _It is written in a bad style_ 305
No. 2. Josephine's wishes 305
No. 2_a_. _Two letters_ 306
No. 3. The northern tour of 1810 306 _I will come to see you_ 307
No. 4. _July 8th_ 308 _You will have seen Eugene_ 308 _That unfortunate daughter_ 308
No. 5. _The conduct of the King of Holland_ 308
No. 6. _To die in a lake_ 309
No. 8. _Paris, this Friday_ 309
No. 9. _The only suitable places_ 310
No. 10. Malmaison 310 _The Empress progresses satisfactorily_ 310
No. 1.
LETTER OF THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE TO THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.
_Navarre, April 19, 1810._
_Sire_,-I have received, by my son, the assurance that your Majesty consents to my return to Malmaison, and grants to me the advances asked for in order to make the chateau of Navarre habitable. This double favour, Sire, dispels to a great extent the uneasiness, nay, even the fears which your Majesty's long silence had inspired. I was afraid that I might be entirely banished from your memory; I see that I am not. I am therefore less wretched to-day, and even as happy as henceforward it will be possible for me to be.
I shall go at the end of the month to Malmaison, since your Majesty sees no objection to it. But I ought to tell you, Sire, that I should not so soon have taken advantage of the latitude which your Majesty left me in this respect had the house of Navarre not required, for my health's sake and for that of my household, repairs which are urgent. My idea is to stay at Malmaison a very short time; I shall soon leave it in order to go to the waters. But while I am at Malmaison, your Majesty may be sure that I shall live there as if I were a thousand leagues from Paris. I have made a great sacrifice, Sire, and every day I realise more its full extent. Yet that sacrifice will be, as it ought to be, a complete one on my part. Your Highness, amid your happiness, shall be troubled by no expression of my regret.
I shall pray unceasingly for your Majesty's happiness, perhaps even I shall pray that I may see you again; but your Majesty may be assured that I shall always respect our new relationship. I shall respect it in silence, relying on the attachment that you had to me formerly; I shall call for no new proof; I shall trust to everything from your justice and your heart.
I limit myself to asking from you one favour: it is, that you will deign to find a way of sometimes convincing both myself and my _entourage_ that I have still a small place in your memory and a great place in your esteem and friendship. By this means, whatever happens, my sorrows will be mitigated without, as it seems to me, compromising that which is of permanent importance to me, the happiness of your Majesty.
JOSEPHINE.
No. 1A.
(_Reply of the Emperor Napoleon to the preceding._)
TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT NAVARRE.
_Compiegne, April 21, 1810._
_My Dear_,--I have yours of April 18th; it is written in a bad style. I am always the same; people like me do not change. I know not what Eugene has told you. I have not written to you because you have not written to me, and my sole desire is to fulfil your slightest inclination.
I see with pleasure that you are going to Malmaison and that you are contented; as for me, I shall be so likewise on hearing news from you and in giving you mine. I say no more about it until you have compared this letter with yours, and after that I will leave you to judge which of us two is the better friend.
Adieu, dear; keep well, and be just for your sake and mine.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_April 23rd._--Battle of Lerida. Suchet defeats Spaniards.
No. 2.
REPLY OF THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE.
A thousand, thousand loving thanks for not having forgotten me. My son has just brought me your letter. With what impetuosity I read it, and yet I took a long time over it, for there was not a word which did not make me weep; but these tears were very pleasant ones. I have found my whole heart again--such as it will always be; there are affections which are life itself, and which can only end with it.
I was in despair to find my letter of the 19th had displeased you; I do not remember the exact expressions, but I know what torture I felt in writing it--the grief at having no news from you.
I wrote you on my departure from Malmaison, and since then how often have I wished to write you! but I appreciated the causes of your silence and feared to be importunate with a letter. Yours has been the true balm for me. Be happy, be as much so as you deserve; it is my whole heart which speaks to you. You have also just given me my share of happiness, and a share which I value the most, for nothing can equal in my estimation a proof that you still remember me.
Adieu, dear; I again thank you as affectionately as I shall always love you.
JOSEPHINE.
No. 2A.
TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT THE CHATEAU NAVARRE.
_Compiegne, April 28, 1810._
_My Dear_,--I have just received two letters from you. I am writing to Eugene. I have ordered that the marriage of Tascher with the Princess de la Leyen shall take place.
To-morrow I shall go to Antwerp to see my fleet and to give orders about the works. I shall return on May 15th.
Eugene tells me that you wish to go to the waters; trouble yourself about nothing. Do not listen to the gossip of Paris; it is idle and far from knowing the real state of things. My affection for you does not change, and I long to know that you are happy and contented.
NAPOLEON.
No. 3.
TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT MALMAISON.