Part 9
_My Dear_,--I have just got your letter of the 20th. I am sorry to see you are ill. I wrote you to stay at Paris the whole month of April, and to go to St. Cloud on May 1st. You may go and spend the Sundays, and a day or two, at Malmaison. At St. Cloud you may have your usual visitors.
My health is good. It is still quite cold enough here. All is quiet.
I have named the little princess Josephine.[23] Eugene should be well pleased.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 60.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein, April 2, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I write you a line. I have just moved my headquarters into a very fine chateau, after the style of Bessieres', where I have several fireplaces, which is a great comfort to me; getting up often in the night, I like to see the fire.
My health is perfect. The weather is fine, but still cold. The thermometer is at four to five degrees.
Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 61.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein_, _April 6, 1807_, 3 P.M.
_My Dear_,--I have received your letter, from which I see you have spent Holy Week at Malmaison, and that your health is better. I long to hear that you are thoroughly well.
I am in a fine chateau, where there are fireplaces, which I find a great comfort. It is still very cold here; everything is frozen.
You will have seen that I have good news from Constantinople.
My health is good. There is nothing fresh here.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 62.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein_, _April 10, 1807_, 6 P.M.
_My Dear_,--My health is excellent. Here spring is beginning; but as yet there is no vegetation. I wish you to be cheerful and contented, and never to doubt my attachment. Here all goes well.
NAPOLEON.
No. 63.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein_, _April 14, 1807_, 7 P.M.
I have received your letter of April 3rd. I see from it that you are well, and that it has been very cold in Paris. The weather here is very unsettled; still I think the spring has come at length; already the ice has almost gone. I am in splendid health.
Adieu, dear. I ordered some time ago for Malmaison all that you ask for,--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 64.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein, April 18, 1807._
I have received your letter of April 5th. I am sorry to see from it that you are grieved at what I have told you. As usual, your little Creole head becomes flurried and excited in a moment. Let us not, therefore, speak of it again. I am very well, but yet the weather is rainy. Savary is very ill of a bilious fever, before Dantzic; I hope it will be nothing serious.
Adieu, dear; my very best wishes to you.
NAPOLEON.
No. 65.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein_, _April 24, 1807_, 7 P.M.
I have received your letter of the 12th. I see from it that your health is good, and that you are very happy at the thought of going to Malmaison.
The weather has changed to fine; I hope it may continue so.
There is nothing fresh here. I am very well.
Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 66.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein_, _May 2, 1807_, 4 P.M.
_My Dear_,--I have just received your letter of the 23rd; I see with pleasure that you are well, and that you are as fond as ever of Malmaison. I hear the Arch-Chancellor is in love. Is this a joke, or a fact? It has amused me; you might have given me a hint about it!
I am very well, and the fine season commences. Spring shows itself at length, and the leaves begin to shoot.
Adieu, dear; very best wishes.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 67.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein, May 10, 1807._
I have just received your letter. I know not what you tell me about ladies in correspondence with me. I love only my little Josephine, sweet, pouting, and capricious, who can quarrel with grace, as she does everything else, for she is always lovable, except when she is jealous; then she becomes a regular shrew.[24] But let us come back to these ladies. If I had leisure for any among them, I assure you that I should like them to be pretty rosebuds.
Are those of whom you speak of this kind?
I wish you to have only those persons to dinner who have dined with me; that your list be the same for your assemblies; that you never make intimates at Malmaison of ambassadors and foreigners. If you should do the contrary, you would displease me. Finally, do not allow yourself to be duped too much by persons whom I do not know, and who would not come to the house, if I were there.
Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 68.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein, May 12, 1807._
I have just received your letter of May 2nd, in which I see that you are getting ready to go to St. Cloud. I was sorry to see the bad conduct of Madame ----. Might you not speak to her about mending her ways, which at present might easily cause unpleasantness on the part of her husband?
From what I hear, Napoleon is cured; I can well imagine how unhappy his mother has been; but measles is an ailment to which every one is liable. I hope that he has been vaccinated, and that he will at least be safe from the smallpox.
Adieu, dear. The weather is very warm, and vegetation has begun; but it will be some days before there is any grass.
NAPOLEON.
No. 69.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Finckenstein, May 14, 1807._
I realise the grief which the death of this poor Napoleon[25] must cause you; you can imagine what I am enduring. I should like to be by your side, in order that your sorrow might be kept within reasonable bounds. You have had the good fortune never to lose children; but it is one of the pains and conditions attached to our miseries here below. I trust I may hear you have been rational in your sorrow, and that your health remains good! Would you willingly augment my grief?
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 70.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Finckenstein, May 16, 1807._
I have just received your letter of May 6th. I see from it how ill you are already; and I fear that you are not rational, and that you are making yourself too wretched about the misfortune which has come upon us.
Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 71.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT LACKEN.
_Finckenstein, May 20, 1807._
I have just received your letter of May 10th. I see that you have gone to Lacken. I think you might stay there a fortnight; it would please the Belgians and serve to distract you.
I am sorry to see that you have not been rational. Grief has bounds which should not be passed. Take care of yourself for the sake of your friend, and believe in my entire affection.
NAPOLEON.
No. 72.
_May 24th.--Dantzic surrenders to Lefebvre after two months' siege, with 800 guns and immense stores._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT LACKEN.
_Finckenstein, May 24, 1807._
Your letter from Lacken just received. I am sorry to see your grief undiminished, and that Hortense has not yet come; she is unreasonable, and does not deserve our love, since she only loves her children.
Try to calm her, and do not make me wretched. For every ill without a remedy consolations must be found.
Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 73.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT LACKEN.
_Finckenstein, May 26, 1807._
I have just received your letter of the 16th. I have seen with pleasure that Hortense has arrived at Lacken. I am annoyed at what you tell me of the state of stupor in which she still is. She must have more courage, and force herself to have it. I cannot imagine why they want her to go to take the waters; she will forget her trouble much better at Paris, and find more sources of consolation.
Show force of character, be cheerful, and keep well. My health is excellent.
Adieu, dear. I suffer much from all your griefs; it is a great trouble to me not to be by your side.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_May 28th.--Lefebvre made Duke of Dantzic by Napoleon._
_May 29th._--Selim III. deposed in Turkey by Mustapha IV., his nephew.
_June 1st.--22,000 Spanish troops, sent by Charles IV., join the French army in Germany._
No. 74.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Dantzig, June 2, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I note your arrival at Malmaison. I have no letters from you; I am vexed with Hortense, she has never written me a line. All that you tell me about her grieves me. Why have you not found her some distractions? Weeping won't do it! I trust you will take care of yourself in order that I may not find you utterly woebegone.
I have been the two past days at Dantzic; the weather is very fine, my health excellent. I think more of you than you are thinking of a husband far away.
Adieu, dear; very kindest regards. Pass on this letter to Hortense.
NAPOLEON.
No. 75.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Marienburg, June 3, 1807._
This morning I slept at Marienburg. Yesterday I left Dantzic; my health is very good. Every letter that comes from St. Cloud tells me you are always weeping. That is not well; it is necessary for you to keep well and be cheerful.
Hortense is still unwell; what you tell me of her makes me very sorry for her.
Adieu, dear; think of all the affection I bear for you.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_June 5th.--Russians defeated at Spanden; Bernadotte wounded._
No. 76.
_June 6th.--Russians defeated at Deppen by Soult._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Finckenstein, June 6, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I am in flourishing health. Your yesterday's letter pained me; it seems to me that you are always grieving, and that you are not reasonable. The weather is very fine.
Adieu, dear; I love you and wish to see you cheerful and contented.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_June 9th.--Russians defeated at Guttstadt by Napoleon, and_
_June 10th.--At Heilsberg._
_June 14th.--Battle of Friedland, completing the "Campaign of Ten Days."_
No. 77.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Friedland, June 15, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I write you only a line, for I am very tired, by reason of several days' bivouacking. My children have worthily celebrated the anniversary of the battle of Marengo.
The battle of Friedland will be as celebrated for my people, and equally glorious. The entire Russian army routed, 80 pieces of cannon captured, 30,000 men taken or slain, 25 Russian generals killed, wounded, or taken, the Russian Guard wiped out. The battle is worthy of her sisters--Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena. The bulletin will tell you the rest. My loss is not considerable. I out-manoeuvred the enemy successfully.
Be content and without uneasiness.
Adieu, dear; my horse is waiting.
NAPOLEON.
You may give this news as official, if it arrives before the bulletin. They may also fire salvoes. Cambaceres will make the proclamation.
No. 78.
_June 16th.--Koenigsberg captured by Soult--"what was left to the King of Prussia is conquered."_
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Friedland_, _June 16, 1807_, 4 P.M.
_My Dear_,--Yesterday I despatched Moustache with the news of the battle of Friedland. Since then I have continued to pursue the enemy. Koenigsberg, which is a town of 80,000 souls, is in my power. I have found there many cannon, large stores, and, lastly, more than 160,000 muskets, which have come from England.
Adieu, dear. My health is perfect, although I have a slight catarrh caused by bivouacking in the rain and cold. Be happy and cheerful.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_June 17th.--Neisse, in Silesia, with 6000 men, surrenders to the French; also_
_June 18th--Glatz._
No. 79.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, June 19, 1807._
This morning I despatched Tascher to you, to calm all your fears. Here all goes splendidly. The battle of Friedland has decided everything. The enemy is confounded, overwhelmed, and greatly weakened.
My health is good, and my army is superb.
Adieu, dear. Be cheerful and contented.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_June 21st.--Armistice concluded at Tilsit._
No. 80.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, June 22, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I have your letter of June 10th. I am sorry to see you are so depressed. You will see by the bulletin that I have concluded a suspension of arms, and that we are negotiating peace. Be contented and cheerful.
I despatched Borghese to you, and, twelve hours later, Moustache; therefore you should have received in good time my letters and the news of the grand battle of Friedland.
I am wonderfully well, and wish to hear that you are happy.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 81.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, June 25, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I have just seen the Emperor Alexander. I was much pleased with him. He is a very handsome, young, and kind-hearted Emperor; he has more intelligence than people usually give him credit for. To-morrow he will lodge in the town of Tilsit.
Adieu, dear. I am very anxious to hear that you are well and happy. My health is very good.
NAPOLEON.
No. 82.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, July 3, 1807._
_My Dear_,--M. de Turenne will give you full details of all that has occurred here. Everything goes excellently. I think I told you that the Emperor of Russia drinks your health with much cordiality. He, as well as the King of Prussia, dines with me every day. I sincerely trust that you are happy. Adieu, dear. A thousand loving remembrances.
NAPOLEON.
No. 83.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, July 6, 1807._
I have your letter of June 25th. I was grieved to see that you were selfish, and that the success of my arms should have no charm for you.
The beautiful Queen of Prussia is to come to-morrow to dine with me.
I am well, and am longing to see you again, when destiny shall so order it. Still, it may be sooner than we expect.
Adieu, dear; a thousand loving remembrances.
NAPOLEON.
No. 84.
_July 7th.--Peace signed between France and Russia._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, July 7, 1807._
_My Dear_,--Yesterday the Queen of Prussia dined with me. I had to be on the defence against some further concessions she wished me to make to her husband; but I was very polite, and yet held firmly to my policy. She is very charming. I shall soon give you the details, which I could not possibly give you now unless at great length. When you read this letter, peace with Prussia and Russia will be concluded, and Jerome acknowledged King of Westphalia, with a population of three millions. This news is for yourself alone.
Adieu, dear; I love you, and wish to know that you are cheerful and contented.
NAPOLEON.
No. 85.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, July 8,[26] 1807._
The Queen of Prussia is really charming; she is full of _coquetterie_ for me; but don't be jealous; I am an oil-cloth over which all that can only glide. It would cost me too much to play the lover.
NAPOLEON.
No. 12,875 of the _Correspondence_ (taken from Las Cases).
* * * * *
_July 9th.--Peace signed between France and Prussia, the latter resigning all its possessions between the Rhine and the Elbe._
No. 86.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Dresden, July 18, 1807, Noon._
_My Dear_,--Yesterday I arrived at Dresden at 5 P.M., in excellent health, although I remained a hundred hours in the carriage without getting out. I am staying here with the King of Saxony, with whom I am highly pleased. I have now therefore traversed more than half the distance that separates us.
It is very likely that one of these fine nights I may descend upon St. Cloud like a jealous husband, so beware.
Adieu, dear; I shall have great pleasure in seeing you.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_July 25th._--Plot of Prince Ferdinand of Asturias against his parents, the King and Queen of Spain.
_July 27th.--Napoleon arrives at St. Cloud,_ 5 A.M.
_August 19th.--Napoleon suppresses the French Tribunate._
_August 20th.--Marshal Brune captures Stralsund from the Swedes._
_September 1st.--The Ionian Isles become part of the French Empire._
_September 5th to 7th._--Bombardment of Copenhagen by the English.
_September 7th.--Occupation of Rugen by Marshal Brune._
_October 6th._--War between Russia and Sweden.
_October 16th.--Treaty of alliance between France and Denmark._
_October 17th.--Junot with 27,000 men starts for Portugal, with whom France has been nominally at war since 1801._
_October 27th.--Treaty of Fontainebleau signed between France and Spain. (Plot of Prince Ferdinand against his father discovered at Madrid the same day.)_
_November 8th._--Russia declares war against England.
_November 15th.--Napoleon constitutes the kingdom of Westphalia, with his brother Jerome as king._
_November 26th.--Junot enters Abrantes, and on_
_November 30th, enters Lisbon._
_December 9th._--Trade suspended between England and the United States (_re_ rights of neutrals).
_December 23rd.--France levies a contribution of 100 million francs on Portugal._
FOOTNOTES
[22] Murat and Borghese.
[23] Eugene's eldest daughter, the Princess Josephine Maximilienne Auguste, born March 14, 1807; married Bernadotte's son, Prince Oscar, June 18, 1827.
[24] _Toute diablesse._
[25] Charles Napoleon, Prince Royal of Holland, died at the Hague, May 5, 1807.
[26] Presumed date.
SERIES H
"Napoleon was received with unbounded adulation by all the towns of Italy.... He was the Redeemer of France, but the Creator of Italy."--ALISON, _Hist. of Europe_ (vol. xi. 280).
SERIES H
(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 264-267.)
LETTER PAGE
No. 1. _Milan_ 264 _Mont Cenis_ 264 _Eugene_ 264
No. 2. _Venice_ 265 _November 30th_ 265
No. 3. _Udine_ 265-7 _I may soon be in Paris_ 267
LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE DURING THE JOURNEY HE MADE IN ITALY, 1807.
_November 16th.--Napoleon leaves Fontainebleau._
_November 22nd-25th.--At Milan._
No. 1.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Milan, November 25, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I have been here two days. I am very glad that I did not bring you here; you would have suffered dreadfully in crossing Mont Cenis, where a storm detained me twenty-four hours.
I found Eugene in good health; I am very pleased with him. The Princess is ill; I went to see her at Monza. She has had a miscarriage; she is getting better.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_November 29th to December 7th.--At Venice (writes Talleyrand, "This land is a phenomenon of the power of commerce")._
No. 2.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Venice, November 30, 1807._
I have your letter of November 22nd. The last two days I have been at Venice. The weather is very bad, which has not prevented me from sailing over the lagoons in order to see the different forts.
I am glad to see you are enjoying yourself at Paris.
The King of Bavaria, with his family, as well as the Princess Eliza, are here.
I am spending December 2nd[27] here, and that past I shall be on my way home, and very glad to see you.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 3.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Udine, December 11, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I have your letter of December 3rd, from which I note that you were much pleased with the Jardin des Plantes. Here I am at the extreme limit of my journey; it is possible I may soon be in Paris, where I shall be very glad to see you again. The weather has not as yet been cold here, but very rainy. I have profited by this good season up to the last moment, for I suppose that at Christmas the winter will at length make itself felt.
Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_December 12th.--At Udine._
_December 14th.--At Mantua._
_December 16th.--At Milan (till December 26th)._
_December 17th.--His Milan decree against English commerce._
_December 27th-28th.--At Turin._
1808.
_January 1st.--At Paris._
FOOTNOTES
[27] His Coronation Day.
SERIES I
"The imbecility of Charles IV., the vileness of Ferdinand, and the corruption of Godoy were undoubtedly the proximate causes of the calamities which overwhelmed Spain."--NAPIER'S _Peninsular War_ (vol. i. preface).
SERIES I
(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 267-269.)
LETTER PAGE
No. 1. _Bayonne_ 267
No. 2. _A country-house_ 267 _Everything is still most primitive_ 267
No. 3. _Prince of the Asturias_ 268 _The Queen_ 268
No. 4. _A son has been born_ 268 _Arrive on the 27th_ 269
LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE DURING THE STAY THAT HE MADE AT BAYONNE, 1808.
"This year offers a strange picture. The Emperor Napoleon was at Venice in the month of January, surrounded by the homage of all the courts and princes of Italy; in the month of April he was at Bayonne, surrounded by that of Spain, and the great personages of that country; and, finally, in the month of October he is at Erfurth, with his _parterre_ of kings."--_Memoires du Duc de Rovigo._
* * * * *
_January 27th.--Queen and Prince Regent of Portugal reach Rio de Janeiro._
_February 2nd.--French troops enter Rome._
_February 17th.--French occupy Pampeluna, and_
_February 29th.--Barcelona._
_March 19th.--Charles IV. abdicates, and his son proclaimed Ferdinand VII._
_March 20th.--Godoy imprisoned by Ferdinand._
_March 23rd.--Murat enters Madrid._
_March 27th.--Napoleon excommunicated._
_April 15th.--Napoleon arrives at Bayonne._
No. 1.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT BORDEAUX.
_Bayonne, April 16, 1808._
I have arrived here in good health, rather tired by a dull journey and a very bad road.
I am very glad you stayed behind, for the houses here are wretched and very small.
I go to-day into a small house in the country, about a mile from the town.
Adieu, dear. Take care of yourself.
No. 2.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT BORDEAUX.
_Bayonne, April 17, 1808._
I have just received yours of April 15th. What you tell me of the owner of the country-house pleases me. Go and spend the day there sometimes.
I am sending an order for you to have 20,000 francs per month additional while I am away, counting from the 1st of April.
I am lodged atrociously. I am leaving this place in an hour, to occupy a country-house (_bastide_) about a mile away. The Infant Don Carlos and five or six Spanish grandees are here, the Prince of the Asturias fifty miles away. King Charles and the Queen are due. I know not how I shall lodge all these people. Everything here is still most primitive (_a l'auberge_). The health of my troops in Spain is good.
It took me some time to understand your little jokes; I have laughed at your recollections. O you women, what memories you have!
My health is fairly good, and I love you most affectionately. I wish you to give my kind regards to everybody at Bordeaux; I have been too busy to send them to anybody.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_April 20th.--Ferdinand arrives at Bayonne._
No. 3.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT BORDEAUX.
_April 21, 1808._
I have just received your letter of April 19th. Yesterday I had the Prince of the Asturias and his suite to dinner, which occasioned me considerable embarrassment. I am waiting for Charles IV. and the Queen.
My health is good. I am now sufficiently recovered for the campaign.
Adieu, dear. Your letters always give me much pleasure.
NAPOLEON.
No. 4.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT BORDEAUX.
_Bayonne, April 23, 1808._