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diff --git a/37499-8.txt b/37499-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cfbaabf --- /dev/null +++ b/37499-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16085 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Napoleon's Letters to Josephine, by Henry Foljambe Hall + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Napoleon's Letters to Josephine + +Author: Henry Foljambe Hall + +Release Date: September 21, 2011 [EBook #37499] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAPOLEON'S LETTERS TO JOSEPHINE *** + + + + +Produced by StevenGibbs, Hélène de Mink, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + Transcriber's note: Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the + original document have been preserved. Obvious typographical + errors have been corrected. + + + + + NAPOLEON'S LETTERS + TO JOSEPHINE + + "_When all the lesser tumults, and lesser men of our age, shall + have passed away into the darkness of oblivion, history will + still inscribe one mighty era with the majestic name of + Napoleon._"--LOCKHART (in Lang's "Life and Letters of J. G. + Lockhart," 1897, vol. i. 170). + + + + + NAPOLEON'S LETTERS + TO JOSEPHINE + + 1796-1812 + + FOR THE FIRST TIME COLLECTED AND + TRANSLATED, WITH NOTES SOCIAL, + HISTORICAL, AND CHRONOLOGICAL, + FROM CONTEMPORARY SOURCES + + BY + + HENRY FOLJAMBE HALL + + F.R.HIST.S. + + + 1901 + + LONDON: J. M. DENT & CO. + + NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO. + + + + +Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. + +At the Ballantyne Press + + + + +PREFACE + + +I have no apology to offer for the subject of this book, in view of +Lord Rosebery's testimony that, until recently, we knew nothing about +Napoleon, and even now "prefer to drink at any other source than the +original." + +"Study of Napoleon's utterances, apart from any attempt to discover +the secret of his prodigious exploits, cannot be considered as lost +time." It is then absolutely necessary that we should, in the words of +an eminent but unsympathetic divine, know something of the "domestic +side of the monster," first hand from his own correspondence, +confirmed or corrected by contemporaries. There is no master mind that +we can less afford to be ignorant of. To know more of the doings of +Pericles and Aspasia, of the two Cæsars and the Serpent of old Nile, +of Mary Stuart and Rizzio, of the Green Faction and the Blue, of +Orsini and Colonna, than of the Bonapartes and Beauharnais, is worthy +of a student of folklore rather than of history. + +Napoleon was not only a King of Kings, he was a King of Words and of +Facts, which "are the sons of heaven, while words are the daughters of +earth," and whose progeny, the Genii of the Code, still dominates +Christendom.[1] In the hurly-burly of the French War, on the chilling +morrow of its balance-sheet, in the Janus alliance of the Second +Empire, we could not get rid of the nightmare of the Great Shadow. +Most modern works on the Napoleonic period (Lord Rosebery's "Last +Phase" being a brilliant exception) seem to be (1) too long, (2) too +little confined to contemporary sources. The first fault, especially +if merely discursive enthusiasm, is excusable, the latter pernicious, +for, as Dr. Johnson says of Robertson, "You are sure he does not know +the people whom he paints, so you cannot suppose a likeness. +Characters should never be given by a historian unless he knew the +people whom he describes, _or copies from those who knew him_." + +Now, if ever, we must _fix_ and _crystallise_ the life-work of +Napoleon for posterity, for "when an opinion has once become popular, +very few are willing to oppose it. Idleness is more willing to credit +than inquire ... and he that writes merely for sale is tempted to +court purchasers by flattering the prejudices of the public."[2] We +have accumulated practically all the evidence, and are not yet so +remote from the aspirations and springs of action of a century ago as +to be out of touch with them. The Vaccination and Education questions +are still before us; so is the cure of croup and the composition of +electricity. We have special reasons for sympathy with the first +failures of Fulton, and can appreciate Napoleon's primitive but +effective expedients for modern telegraphy and transport, which were +as far in advance of his era as his nephew's ignorance of railway +warfare in 1870 was behind it. We must admire The Man[3] who found +within the fields of France the command of the Tropics, and who needed +nothing but time to prosper Corsican cotton and Solingen steel. The +man's words and deeds are still vigorous and alive; in another +generation many of them will be dead as Marley--"dead as a door-nail." +Let us then each to his task, and each try, as best he may, to weigh +in honest scales the modern Hannibal--"our last great man,"[4] "the +mightiest genius of two thousand years."[5] + + H. F. HALL. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [1] See _infra_, Napoleon's Heritage, p. xxiv., Introduction. + + [2] Dr. Johnson (_Gentleman's Magazine_, 1760), in defence of Mary + Stuart. + + [3] _L'Homme_, so spoken of during the Empire, outside military + circles. + + [4] Carlyle. + + [5] Napier. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + Difficulties of translation--Napoleon as lexicographer and + bookworm--Historic value of his Bulletins--A few aspects of + Napoleon's character--"Approfondissez!"--The need of a Creator--The + influence of sea power--England's future rival---Napoleon as average + adjuster--His use of Freemasonry--Of the Catholics and of the + Jews--His neglect of women in politics--Josephine a failure--His + incessant work, "which knew no rest save change of occupation"--His + attachment to early friendships--The Bonaparte family--His influence + on literary men--Conversations with Wieland and Müller--Verdict of + a British tar--The character of Josephine--Sources of the Letters--The + Tennant Collection--The Didot Collection--Archibald Constable and + Sir Walter Scott--Correspondence of Napoleon I.--Report of the + Commission--Contemporary sources--The Diary--Napoleon's heritage. + + +Napoleon is by no means an easy writer to translate adequately. He +had always a terse, concise mode of speaking, and this, with the +constant habit of dictating, became accentuated. Whenever he could +use a short, compact word he did so. The greatest temptation has +been to render his very modern ideas by modern colloquialisms. +Occasionally, where Murray's Dictionary proves that the word was +in vogue a century ago, we have used a somewhat rarer word than +Napoleon's equivalent, as _e.g._ "coolth," in Letter No. 6, Series +B (_pendant le frais_), in order to preserve as far as possible the +brevity and crispness of the original. Napoleon's vocabulary was not +specially wide, but always exact. In expletive it was extensive +and peculiar. Judging his brother by himself, he did not consider +Lucien sufficient of a purist in French literature to write epics; +and the same remark would have been partly true of the Emperor, +who, however, was always at considerable pains to verify any word +of which he did not know the exact meaning.[6] His own appetite +for literature was enormous, especially during the year's garrison +life he spent at Valence, where he read and re-read the contents of a +_bouquiniste's_ shop, and, what is more, remembered them, so much so +that, nearly a quarter of a century later, he was able to correct the +dates of ecclesiastical experts at Erfurt. Whatever he says or +whatever he writes, one always finds a specific gravity of stark, +staring facts altogether abnormal. For generations it was the fashion +to consider "as false as a bulletin" peculiar to Napoleon's +despatches; but the publication of Napoleon's correspondence, by +order of Napoleon III., has changed all that. In the first place, +as to dates. Not only have Haydn, Woodward and Cates, and the +_Encyclopædia Britannica_ made mistakes during this period, but +even the _Biographie Universelle_ (usually so careful) is not +immaculate. Secondly, with regard to the descriptions of the battles. +We have never found one that in accuracy and truthfulness would +not compare to conspicuous advantage with some of those with which +we were only too familiar in December 1899. Napoleon was sometimes +1200 miles away from home; he had to gauge the effect of his +bulletins from one end to the other of the largest effective empire +that the world has ever seen, and, like Dr. Johnson in Fleet +Street reporting Parliamentary debates (but with a hundred times more +reason), he was determined not to let the other dogs have the best of +it. The notes on the battles of Eylau (Series H) and Essling (Series +L), the two most conspicuous examples of where it was necessary to +colour the bulletins, will show what is meant. Carlyle was the first +to point out that his despatches are as instinct with genius as his +conquests--his very words have "Austerlitz battles" in them. The +reference to "General Danube," in 1809, as the best general the +Austrians had, was one of those flashes of inspiration which +military writers, from Napoleon to Lord Wolseley, have shown to be +a determining factor in every doubtful fray. + +"_Approfondissez_--go to the bottom of things," wrote Lord Chesterfield; +and this might have been the life-motto of the Emperor. But to adopt +this fundamental common-sense with regard to the character of Napoleon +is almost impossible; it is, to use the metaphor of Lord Rosebery, +like trying to span a mountain with a tape. We can but indicate a few +leading features. In the first place, he had, like the great +Stagirite, an eye at once telescopic and microscopic. Beyond the +_mécanique céleste_, beyond the nebulous reign of chaos and old night, +his ken pierced the primal truth--the need of a Creator: "not every +one can be an atheist who wishes it." No man saw deeper into the causes +of things. The influence of sea power on history, to take one +example, was never absent from his thoughts. Slowly and laboriously he +built and rebuilt his fleets, only to fall into the hands of his "Punic" +rival. Beaten at sea, he has but two weapons left against England--to +"conquer her by land," or to stir up a maritime rival who will sooner +or later avenge him. We have the Emperor Alexander's testimony from +the merchants of Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool how nearly his +Continental System _had_ ruined us. The rival raised up beyond the +western waves by the astute sale of Louisiana is still growing. In less +than a decade Napoleon had a first crumb of comfort (when such crumbs +were rare) in hearing of the victories of the _Constitution_ over +British frigates. + +As for his microscopic eye, we know of nothing like it in all history. +In focussing the facets, we seem to shadow out the main secret of his +success--his ceaseless survey of all sorts and conditions of +knowledge. "Never despise local information," he wrote Murat, who was +at Naples, little anticipating the extremes of good and evil fortune +which awaited him there. Another characteristic--one in which he +surpassed alike the theory of Macchiavelli and the practice of the +Medici--was his use of _la bascule_, with himself as equilibrist or +average adjuster, as the only safe principle of government. Opinions +on the whole[7] lean to the idea that, up to the First Consulate, +Napoleon was an active Freemason, at a time when politics were +permitted, and when the Grand Orient, having initiated Voltaire almost +on his deathbed, and having been submerged by the Terror, was +beginning to show new life. In any case, we have in O'Meara the +Emperor's statement (and this is rather against the theory of Napoleon +being more than his brother Joseph, a mere patron of the craft) that +he encouraged the brotherhood. Cambacérès had more Masonic degrees +than probably any man before or since, and no man was so long and so +consistently trusted by Napoleon, with one short and significant +exception. Then there was the _gendarmerie d'élite_, then the ordinary +police, the myrmidons of Fouché of Nantes--in fact, if we take Lord +Rosebery literally, Napoleon had "half-a-dozen police agencies of his +own." There was also Talleyrand and, during the Concordats, the whole +priest-craft of Christendom as enlisting sergeants and spies +extraordinary for the Emperor. Finally, when he wishes to attack +Russia, he convokes a Sanhedrim at Paris, and wins the active +sympathies of Israel. "He was his own War Office, his own Foreign +Office, his own Admiralty."[8] His weak spot was his neglect of woman +as a political factor; this department he left to Josephine, who was a +failure. She gained popularity, but no converts. The Faubourg St. +Germain mistrusted a woman whose chief friend was the wife of +Thermidorian Tallien--Notre Dame de Septembre. In vain Napoleon raged +and stormed about the Tallien friendship, till his final mandate in +1806; and then it was too late. + +Another characteristic, very marked in these Home Letters, is the +desire not to give his wife anxiety. His ailments and his difficulties +are always minimised. + +Perhaps no man ever worked so hard physically and mentally as Napoleon +from 1796 to 1814. Lord Rosebery reminds us that "he would post from +Poland to Paris, summon a council at once, and preside over it with +his usual vigour and acuteness." And his councils were no joke; they +would last eight or ten hours. Once, at two o'clock in the morning, +the councillors were all worn-out; the Minister of Marine was fast +asleep. Napoleon still urged them to further deliberation: "Come, +gentlemen, pull yourselves together; it is only two o'clock, we must +earn the money that the nation gives us." The Commission who first +sifted the _Correspondence_ may well speak of the ceaseless workings +of that mind, which _knew no rest save change of occupation_, and of +"that universal intelligence from which nothing escaped." The chief +fault in Napoleon as a statesman was intrinsically a virtue, viz., his +good nature. There was, as Sir Walter Scott has said, "gentleness and +even softness in his character. It was his common and expressive +phrase that the heart of a politician should be in his head; but his +feelings sometimes surprised him in a gentler mood." + +To be a relation of his own or his wife's, to have been a friend in +his time of stress, was to have a claim on Napoleon's support which no +subsequent treachery to himself could efface. From the days of his new +power--political power, first the Consulate and then the Empire--he +lavished gifts and favours even on the most undeserving of his early +comrades. Fouché, Talleyrand, Bernadotte were forgiven once, twice, +and again, to his own final ruin. Like Medea, one of whose other +exploits he had evoked in a bulletin, he could say--but to his honour +and not to his shame-- + + "Si possem, sanior essem. + Sed trahit invitam nova vis; aliudque Cupido, + Mens aliud suadet. Video meliora, proboque + Deteriora sequor." + +Treachery and peculation against the State was different, as Moreau, +Bourrienne, and even Massena and Murat discovered. + +As for his family, they were a flabby and somewhat sensual lot, with +the exception of Lucien, who was sufficiently capable to be hopelessly +impracticable. He was, however, infinitely more competent than the +effeminate Joseph and the melancholy Louis, and seems to have had more +command of parliamentary oratory than Napoleon himself. + +Napoleon's influence on literary men may be gauged by what Wieland[9] +and Müller[10] reported of their interview with him at Erfurt. That +with Wieland took place at the ball which followed the entertainment +on the field of Jena. "I was presented," he says, "by the Duchess of +Weimar, with the usual ceremonies; he then paid me some compliments in +an affable tone, and looked steadfastly at me. Few men have +appeared to me to possess, in the same degree, the art of reading +at the first glance the thoughts of other men. He saw, in an +instant, that notwithstanding my celebrity I was simple in my manners +and void of pretension; and, as he seemed desirous of making a +favourable impression on me, he assumed the tone most likely to +attain his end. I have never beheld any one more calm, more simple, +more mild, or less ostentatious in appearance; nothing about him +indicated the feeling of power in a great monarch; he spoke to me as +an old acquaintance would speak to an equal; and what was more +extraordinary on his part, he conversed with me exclusively for an +hour and a half, to the great surprise of the whole assembly." +Wieland has related part of their conversation, which is, as it could +not fail to be, highly interesting. They touched on a variety of +subjects; among others, the ancients. Napoleon declared his +preference of the Romans to the Greeks. "The eternal squabbles of +their petty republics," he said, "were not calculated to give birth +to anything grand; whereas the Romans were always occupied with great +things, and it was owing to this they raised up the Colossus which +bestrode the world." This preference was characteristic; the +following is anomalous: "He preferred Ossian to Homer." "He was fond +only of serious poetry," continues Wieland; "the pathetic and +vigorous writers; and, above all, the tragic poets. He appeared to +have no relish for anything gay; and in spite of the prepossessing +amenity of his manners, an observation struck me often, he seemed to +be of bronze. Nevertheless, he had put me so much at my ease that I +ventured to ask how it was that the public worship he had restored +in France was not more philosophical and in harmony with the +spirit of the times? 'My dear Wieland,' he replied, 'religion is not +meant for philosophers; they have no faith either in me or my +priests. As to those who do believe, it would be difficult to give +them or to leave them too much of the marvellous. If I had to +frame a religion for philosophers, it would be just the reverse of +that of the credulous part of mankind.'"[11] + +Müller, the celebrated Swiss historian, who had a private interview +with Napoleon at this period, has left a still fuller account of the +impression he received. "The Emperor[12] began to speak," says Müller, +"of the history of Switzerland, told me that I ought to complete it, +that even the more recent times had their interest. He proceeded from +the Swiss to the old Greek constitutions and history; to the theory of +constitutions; to the complete diversity of those of Asia, and the +causes of this diversity in the climate, polygamy, &c.; the opposite +characters of the Arabian and the Tartar races; the peculiar value of +European culture, and the progress of freedom since the sixteenth +century; how everything was linked together, and in the inscrutable +guidance of an invisible hand; how he himself had become great through +his enemies; the great confederation of nations, the idea of which +Henry IV. had; the foundation of all religion, and its necessity; that +man could not bear clear truth, and required to be kept in order; +admitting the possibility, however, of a more happy condition if the +numerous feuds ceased, which were occasioned by too complicated +constitutions (such as the German), and the intolerable burden +suffered by states from excessive armies." These opinions clearly mark +the guiding motives of Napoleon's attempts to enforce upon different +nations uniformity of institutions and customs. "I opposed him +occasionally," says Müller, "and he entered into discussion. Quite +impartially and truly, as before God, I must say that the variety of +his knowledge, the acuteness of his observations, the solidity of his +understanding (not dazzling wit), his grand and comprehensive views, +filled me with astonishment, and his manner of speaking to me, with +love for him. By his genius and his disinterested goodness, he has +also conquered me." Slowly but surely they are conquering the world. +Of his goodness we have the well-weighed verdict of Lord Acton, that +it was "the most splendid that has appeared on earth." Of his +goodness, we may at least concur in the opinion of the old British tar +at Elba, quoted by Sir Walter, and evidently his own view, that "Boney +was a d--d good fellow after all." + +With regard to the character of _Josephine_ opinions still differ +about every quality but one. Like the friend of Goldsmith's mad dog-- + + "A kind and gentle heart she had + To comfort friends and foes:" + +either her brother Mason Cambacérès, or her brother Catholic and +unbrotherly brother-in-law Lucien. + +From early days she had learnt "how to flirt and how to fib." Morality +was at a low ebb during the French Revolution, when women often saved +their necks at the expense of their bodies, and there is unfortunately +no doubt that Josephine was no exception. It is certain, however, from +his first letters to Josephine, that Napoleon knew nothing of this at +the time of his honeymoon (solus) in Italy. Gradually, but very +unwillingly, his eyes were opened, and by the time he had reached +Egypt he felt himself absolved from the absolute faithfulness he had +hitherto preserved towards his wife. On his return Josephine becomes +once more his consort, and even his friend--never again his only love. +Josephine's main characteristic henceforward is to make everybody +happy and comfortable--in spite of Napoleon's grumblings at her +reckless prodigality; never to say No! (except to her husband's +accusations) suits her Creole disposition best, especially as it costs +her no active exertion, and the Emperor pays for all. And so, having +been in turn Our Lady of Victories and Saint Mary the Egyptian, she +becomes from her coronation to her death-day "The Mother of the +Poor." + +THE SOURCES OF THE LETTERS.--These may be divided into three +parts--(1st) the Early Love-Letters of 1796; (2nd) the Collection +published by Didot Frères in 1833; and (3rd) the few scattered Letters +gathered from various outside sources. + +(1st) With regard to the Early Love-Letters of 1796, these are found +most complete in a work published by Longmans in 1824, in two volumes, +with the title, "A Tour through Parts of the Netherlands, Holland, +Germany, Switzerland, Savoy, and France, in the year 1821-2, by +Charles Tennant, Esq.; also containing in an Appendix Fac-simile +Copies of Eight Letters in the handwriting of Napoleon Bonaparte to +his wife Josephine." + +The author introduces them with an interesting preface, which shows +that then, as now, the interest in everything connected with Napoleon +was unabated:-- + +"Long after this fleeting book shall have passed away, and with its +author shall have been forgotten, these documents will remain; for +here, perhaps, is to be found the purest source of information which +exists, touching the private character of Napoleon Bonaparte, known, +probably, but to the few whose situations have enabled them to observe +that extraordinary man in the undisguised relations of domestic life. +Although much already has been said and written of him, yet the +eagerness with which every little anecdote and incident of his life is +sought for shows the interest which still attaches to his name, and +these, no doubt, will be bequests which posterity will duly estimate. +From these it will be the province of future historians to cull and +select simple and authenticated facts, and from these only can be +drawn a true picture of the man whose fame has already extended into +every distant region of the habitable globe. + + * * * * * + +"I will now proceed to relate the means by which I am enabled to +introduce into this journal fac-simile copies of eight letters in the +handwriting of Napoleon Bonaparte, the originals of which are in my +possession. Had these been of a political nature, much as I should +prize any relics of such a man, yet they would not have appeared in a +book from which I have studiously excluded all controversial topics, +and more especially those of a political character. Neither should I +have ventured upon their publication if there were a possibility that +by so doing I might wound the feelings of any human being. Death has +closed the cares of the individuals connected with these letters. Like +the memorials of Alexander the Great or of Charlemagne, they are the +property of the possessor, and through him of the public; but not like +ancient documents, dependent upon legendary evidence for their +identity and truth. + +"These have passed to me through two hands only, since they came into +possession of the Empress Josephine, to whom they are written by +their illustrious author. One of the individuals here alluded to, and +from whom I received these letters, is a Polish nobleman, who attached +himself and his fortunes to Bonaparte, whose confidence he enjoyed in +several important diplomatic negotiations." + +This book and these letters were known to Sir Walter Scott, who made +use of some of them in his _History of Napoleon_. M. Aubenas, in his +_Histoire de l'Impératrice Joséphine_, published in 1857, which has +been lavishly made use of in a recent work on the same subject, seems +to have known, at any rate, four of these letters, which were +communicated to him by M. le Baron Feuillet de Conches. Monsieur +Aubenas seems never to have seen the Tennant Collection, of which +these undoubtedly form part, but as Baron Feuillet de Conches was an +expert in deciphering Bonaparte's extraordinary caligraphy, these +letters are very useful for reference in helping us to translate some +phrases which had been given up as illegible by Mr. Tennant and Sir +Walter Scott. + +(2nd) The _Collection Didot_. This enormously valuable collection +forms by far the greater part of the Letters that we possess of +Napoleon to his wife. They are undoubtedly authentic, and have +been utilised largely by Aubenas, St. Amand, Masson, and the +_Correspondance de Napoléon I._ They were edited by Madame Salvage +de Faverolles. As is well known, Sir Walter Scott was very anxious to +obtain possession of these letters for his _Life of Napoleon_, and +his visit to Paris was partly on this account. In _Archibald +Constable and his Literary Correspondents_, edited in 1873 by his son, +we find the following:-- + + +"_Letter from_ ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE _to_ SIR WALTER SCOTT. + + "_August 30, 1825._ + +"I have had various conversations with Mr. Thomson on the subject of +Napoleon's correspondence with Josephine. Mr. Thomson communicated +with Count Flahault for me in the view of its being published, and +whether the letters could not, in the meantime, be rendered +accessible. The publication, it seems, under any circumstances, is by +no means determined on, but should they be given, the price expected +is five thousand guineas, which I should imagine greatly too much. I +have an enumeration of the letters, from whence written, &c. I shall +subjoin a copy of it." + +When they were finally published in 1833, they seem to have been +stimulated into existence by publication of the _Mémorial de +Saint-Helène_, better known in England as _Las Cases_. Doubtless +Hortense only allowed such letters to be published as would not injure +the reputation of her mother or her relations. In the Preface it is +stated: "We think that these letters will afford an interest as +important as delightful. Everything that comes from Napoleon, and +everything that appertains to him, will always excite the lively +attention of contemporaries and posterity. If the lofty meditation of +philosophy concerns itself only with the general influence of great +men upon their own generation and future ones, a curiosity of another +nature, and not less greedy, loves to penetrate into the inmost +recesses of their soul, in order to elicit their most secret +inclinations. It likes to learn what has been left of the _man_, amid +the preoccupations of their projects and the elevation of their +fortune. It requires to know in what manner their character has +modified their genius, or has been subservient to it. + +"It is this curiosity that we hope to satisfy by the publication of +these letters. They reveal the inmost thought of Napoleon, they will +reflect his earliest impulses, they will show how the General, the +Consul, and the Emperor felt and spoke, not in his discourses or his +proclamations--the official garb of his thought--but in the free +outpourings of the most passionate or the most tender affections.... +This correspondence will prove, we strongly believe, that the +conqueror was human, the master of the world a good husband, the great +man in fact an excellent man.... We shall see in them how, up to the +last moment, he lavished on his wife proofs of his tenderness. Without +doubt the letters of the Emperor Napoleon are rarer and shorter than +those of the First Consul, and the First Consul writes no longer like +General Bonaparte, but everywhere the sentiment is fundamentally the +same. + +"We make no reflection on the style of these letters, written in haste +and in all the _abandon_ of intimacy. We can easily perceive they were +not destined to see the light. Nevertheless we publish them without +changing anything in them." + +The _Collection Didot_ contains 228 letters from Napoleon to +Josephine, and 70 from Josephine to Hortense, and two from Josephine +to Napoleon, which seem to be the only two in existence of Josephine +to Napoleon whose authenticity is unquestioned. + +(3rd) The fugitive letters are collected from various sources, and +their genuineness does not seem to be quite as well proved as those +of the Tennant or Didot Series. We have generally taken the +_Correspondence of Napoleon I._ as the touchstone of their merit to be +inserted here, although one of them--that republished from _Las +Cases_ (No. 85, Series G.)--is manifestly mainly the work of that +versatile author, who is utterly unreliable except when confirmed +by others. As Lord Rosebery has well said, the book is "an arsenal +of spurious documents." + +We have relegated to an Appendix those published by Madame Ducrest, as +transparent forgeries, and have to acknowledge with thanks a letter +from M. Masson on this subject which thoroughly confirms these views. +There seems some reason to doubt No. I., Series E, but being in the +_Correspondence_, I have translated it. + +The _Correspondence of Napoleon I._ is a splendid monument to the +memory of Napoleon. It is alluded to throughout the Notes as _The +Correspondence_, and it deserves special recognition here. Its +compilation was decreed by Napoleon III. from Boulogne, on 7th +September 1854, and the first volume appeared in 1858, and the last in +1870. With the first volume is inserted the Report of the Commission +to the Emperor, part of which we subjoin:-- + + +"_Report of the Commission to the Emperor._ + +"SIRE,--Augustus numbered Cæsar among the gods, and dedicated to him a +temple; the temple has disappeared, the Commentaries remain. Your +Majesty, wishing to raise to the chief of your dynasty an imperishable +monument, has ordered us to gather together and publish the political, +military, and administrative correspondence of Napoleon I. It has +realised that the most conspicuous (_éclatant_) homage to render to +this incomparable genius was to make him known in his entirety. No one +is ignorant of his victories, of the laws with which he has endowed +our country, the institutions that he has founded and which dwell +immovable after so many revolutions; his prosperity and his reverses +are in every mouth; history has recounted what he has done, but it has +not always known his designs: it has not had the secret of so many +admirable combinations that have been the spoil of fortune (_que la +fortune a dejouées_), and so many grand projects for the execution of +which time alone was wanting. The traces of Napoleon's thoughts were +scattered; it was necessary to reunite them and to give them to the +light. + +"Such is the task which your Majesty confided to us, and of which we +were far from suspecting the extent. The thousands of letters which +were received from all parts have allowed us to follow, in spite of a +few regrettable _lacunæ_, the thoughts of Napoleon day by day, and to +assist, so to say, at the birth of his projects, at the ceaseless +workings of his mind, which knew no other rest than change of +occupation. But what is perhaps most surprising in the reading of a +correspondence so varied, is the power of that universal intelligence +from which nothing escaped, which in turn raised itself without an +effort to the most sublime conceptions, and which descends with the +same facility to the smallest details.... Nothing seems to him +unworthy of his attention that has to do with the realisation of his +designs; and it is not sufficient for him to give the most precise +orders, but he superintends himself the execution of them with an +indefatigable perseverance. + +"The letters of Napoleon can add nothing to his glory, but they better +enable us to comprehend his prodigious destiny, the prestige that he +exercised over his contemporaries--'le culte universel dont sa mémoire +est l'objet, enfin, l'entraînement irrésistible par lequel la France a +replacé sa dynastie au sommet de l'édifice qu'il avait construit.' + +"These letters also contain the most fruitful sources of information +... for peoples as for governments; for soldiers and for statesmen no +less than for historians. Perhaps some persons, greedy of knowing the +least details concerning the intimate life of great men, will regret +that we have not reproduced those letters which, published elsewhere +for the most part, have only dealt with family affairs and domestic +relations. Collected together by us as well as the others, they have +not found a place in the plan of which your Majesty has fixed for us +the limits. + +"Let us haste to declare that, in conformity with the express +intentions of your Majesty, we have scrupulously avoided, in the +reproduction of the letters of the Emperor, any alteration, +curtailment, or modification of the text. Sometimes, thinking of the +legitimate sorrow which blame from so high a quarter may cause, we +have regretted not to be able to soften the vigorous judgment of +Napoleon on many of his contemporaries, but it was not our province to +discuss them, still less to explain them; but if, better informed or +calmer, the Emperor has rendered justice to those of his servants that +he had for a moment misunderstood, we have been glad to indicate that +these severe words have been followed by reparation. + +"We have found it necessary to have the spelling of names of places +and of persons frequently altered, but we have allowed to remain +slight incorrectnesses of language which denote the impetuosity of +composition, and which often could not be rectified without weakening +the originality of an energetic style running right to its object, +brief and precise as the words of command. Some concise notes +necessary for clearing up obscure passages are the sole conditions +which we have allowed ourselves.... + +"The Commission has decided in favour of chronological order +throughout. It is, moreover, the only one which can reproduce +faithfully the sequence of the Emperor's thoughts. It is also the best +for putting in relief his universal aptitude and his marvellous +fecundity. + +"Napoleon wrote little with his own hand; nearly all the items of his +correspondence were dictated to his secretaries, to his aides-de-camp +and his chief of staff, or to his ministers. Thus the Commission has +not hesitated to comprise in this collection a great number of items +which, although bearing another signature, evidently emanate from +Napoleon.... + +"By declaring that his public life dated from the siege of Toulon, +Napoleon has himself determined the point of departure which the +Commission should choose. It is from this immortal date that commences +the present publication. + + "(Signed) THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. + + "_Paris, January 20, 1858._" + +CONTEMPORARY SOURCES.--It is a commonplace that the history of +Napoleon has yet to be written. His contemporaries were stunned or +overwhelmed by the whirlwind of his glory; the next generation was +blinded by meteoric fragments of his "system," which glowed with +impotent heat as they fell through an alien atmosphere into oblivion. +Such were the Bourriennes, the Jominis, the Talleyrands, and other +traitors of that ilk. But + + "The tumult and the shouting dies; + The captains and the kings depart;" + +and now, when all the lesser tumults and lesser men _have_ passed +away, each new century will, as Lockhart foretold, "inscribe one +mighty era with the majestic name of Napoleon." And yet the writings +of no contemporary can be ignored; neither Alison nor Scott, certainly +not Bignon, Montgaillard, Pelet, Mathieu Dumas, and Pasquier. +Constant, Bausset, Méneval, Rovigo, and D'Abrantès are full of +interest for their personal details, and D'Avrillon, Las Cases, +Marmont, Marbot, and Lejeune only a degree less so. Jung's _Memoirs of +Lucien_ are invaluable, and those of Joseph and Louis Bonaparte +useful. But the _Correspondence_ is worth everything else, including +Panckouke (1796-99), where, in spite of shocking arrangement, print, +and paper, we get the replies as well as the letters. The _Biographie +Universelle Michaud_ is hostile, except the interesting footnotes of +Bégin. It must, however, be read. The article in the _Encyclopædia +Britannica_ was the work of an avowed enemy of the Napoleonic system, +the editor of the _Life and Times of Stein_. + +For the Diary, the _Revue Chronologique de l'Histoire de France_ or +Montgaillard (1823) has been heavily drawn upon, especially for the +later years, but wherever practicable the dates have been verified +from the _Correspondence_ and bulletins of the day. On the whole, the +records of respective losses in the battles are slightly favourable to +the French, as their figures have been usually taken; always, however, +the maximum French loss and the minimum of the allies is recorded, +when unverified from other sources. + +The late Professor Seeley, in his monograph, asserts that Napoleon, +tried by his plan, is a failure--that even before death his words and +actions merited no monument. We must seek, however, for the mightiest +heritage of Napoleon in his brainchildren of the second generation, +the Genii of the Code. + +The Code Napoleon claims to-day its two hundred million subjects. "The +Law should be clean, precise, uniform; to interpret is to corrupt it." +So ruled the Emperor; and now, a century later, Archbishop Temple +(born in one distant island the year Napoleon died in another) bears +testimony to the beneficent sway of Napoleon's Word-Empire. +Criticising English legal phraseology, the Archbishop of Canterbury +said, "The French Code is always welcome in every country where it has +been introduced; and where people have once got hold of it, they are +unwilling to have it changed for any other, because it is _a marvel of +clearness_." Surely if ever Style _is_ the Man, it is Napoleon, +otherwise the inspection of over seven million words, as marshalled +forth in his _Correspondence_, would not only confuse but confound. As +it is, its "hum of armies, gathering rank on rank," has left behind +what Bacon calls a conflation of sound, from which, however, as from +Kipling's steel-sinewed symphony, + + "The clanging chorus goes-- + Law, Order, Duty and Restraint, Obedience, Discipline." + + +FOOTNOTES + + [6] Sometimes he is perhaps more to be trusted than the leading + lexicographer, as for example when, the day after Wagram, he + writes his Minister of War that the _coup de Jarnac_ will come + from the English in Spain. Now, when the Jarnac in question was + slain in fair fight by La Chateignerie by a blow _au jarret_, + it was an _unexpected_ blow, but not surely, as Littré tells + us, _manoeuvre perfide_, _déloyale_. Nothing was too disloyal + for perfidious Albion, but for 30,000 English to outmanoeuvre + three marshals and 100,000 French veterans would be, and was, + the unexpected which happened at Talavera three weeks later. + + [7] Findel's _History of Freemasonry_. + + [8] Lord Rosebery. + + [9] This versatile writer, the author of _Oberon_, the translator of + Lucian and Shakespeare, and the founder of psychological + romance in Germany, was then in his seventy-fifth year. + + [10] The historian (1755-1809), "the Thucydides of Switzerland." + + [11] Horne's _History of Napoleon_ (1841). + + [12] Ibid. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + + Column Headings: + + A: Pages. + B: Series. + C: Dates. + D: No. of Letters. + E: Sources. + F: Tennant. + G: Didot. + H: Various. + I: Pages of Corresponding Notes. + + + | | | | | E | | + | A | B| C | D |----------------------------------- | I | + | | | | | F | G | H | | + | | | | | | |{No. 2, from } | | + | 1-16 | A|1796 | 8 |{ Nos.} | |{ St. Amand, } |198-211| + | | | | |{1, } | |{ _La Citoyenne_} | | + | | | | |{3-8 } | |{ _Bonaparte_ } | | + | | | | | | | | | + | | | | | |{Nos. }|{No. 15, from } | | + | 17-38 | B|1796-7 | 25 | |{1-14 }|{ Bourrienne's } |211-223| + | | | | | |{16-25}|{ _Life of_ } | | + | | | | | | |{ _Bonaparte_ } | | + | | | | | | | | | + | 39-46 | C|1800 | 4 | No. 3 | 1,2,4 | |223-225| + | | | | | | | | | + | 47-53 | D|1801-2 | 5 | | all | |225-231| + | | | | | | | | | + | | | | | | |{No. 1, } | | + | | | | | | |{ _Correspondence_}| + | 55-60 | E|1804 | 6 | |{Nos. }|{No. 5, } |232-237| + | | | | | |{2,3,} |{ Collection } | | + | | | | | |{4,6 } |{ of Baron Heath} | | + | | | | | | | | | + | 61-74 | F|1805 | 19 | | all | |237-243| + | | | | | | | | | + | | | | | | |{No. 9A, from } | | + | | | | | | |{ Mlle. }|243-264 | | + | | | | | | |{ D'Avrillon } | | + | 75-118| G|1806-7 | 87 | |all but|{No. 85, from } | | + | | | | | | |{ Las Casas } | | + | | | | | | | | | + |119-122| H|1807 | 3 | | all | |264-267| + | | | | | | | | | + |123-128| I|1808 | 4 | | all | |267-269| + | | | | | | | | | + |129-132| J|1808 | 3 | | all | |269-273| + | | | | | | | | | + |133-140| K|1808-9 | 14 | | all | |273-278| + | | | | | | | | | + |141-154| L|1809 | 25 | | all | |278-295| + | | | | | | | | | + |155-165| M|1809-10| 22 | | all | |295-304| + | | | | | | | | | + |167-176| N|1810 |11[13]| | all | |304-310| + | | | | | | | | | + |177-181| O|1811 | 4 | | all | |311-312| + | | | | | | | | | + |183-197| P|1812-14| 2 | | all | |312-315| + | | | |------| | | | | + | | | | 242 | | | | | + + + 316. APPENDIX (1).--Reputed Poem by Napoleon. + + 317. APPENDIX (2).--Genealogy of the Bonaparte Family. + + 317-321. APPENDIX (3).--Spurious Letters of Napoleon to Josephine. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [13] Exclusive of two from Josephine to Napoleon. + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + NAPOLEON _Frontispiece_ + FROM AN ENGRAVING BY T. WRIGHT, AFTER + AN ORIGINAL DRAWING (_Photogravure_) + + EUGÈNE BEAUHARNAIS _Face page_ 121 + AFTERWARDS VICEROY OF ITALY (_Photogravure_) + + JOSEPHINE BEAUHARNAIS _Face page_ 198 + _Circa_ 1795 (_Photogravure_) + + FAC-SIMILE OF LETTER, DATED APRIL + 24, 1796 _Pages_ 202-3 + + + + +NAPOLEON'S LETTERS + +SERIES A + +(1796) + + +"Only those who knew Napoleon in the intercourse of private life can +render justice to his character. For my own part, I know him, as it +were, by heart; and in proportion as time separates us, he appears to +me like a beautiful dream. And would you believe that, in my +recollections of Napoleon, that which seems to me to approach most +nearly to ideal excellence is not the hero, filling the world with his +gigantic fame, but the man, viewed in the relations of private +life?"--_Recollections of Caulaincourt_, _Duke of Vicenza_, vol. i. +197. + + + + +SERIES A + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 198-211.) + + + LETTER PAGE + + _Bonaparte made Commander-in-Chief_ 198 + + No. 1. 7 A.M. 198 + + No. 2. _Our good Ossian_ 199 + + No. 4. _Chauvet is dead_ 199 + + No. 5. Napoleon's suspicions 199 + _The lovers of nineteen_ 200 + _My brother_ 200 + + No. 6. _Unalterably good_ 201 + _If you want a place for any one_ 201 + + No. 7. A criticism by Aubenas 201 + _June 15th_ 204 + _Presentiment of ill_ 210 + + No. 8. The Treaty with Rome 210 + _Fortuné_ 211 + + +1796. + + _February 23rd.--Bonaparte made Commander-in-Chief of the Army of + Italy._ + + +No. 1. + + _Seven o'clock in the morning._ + +My waking thoughts are all of thee. Your portrait and the remembrance +of last night's delirium have robbed my senses of repose. Sweet and +incomparable Josephine, what an extraordinary influence you have over +my heart. Are you vexed? do I see you sad? are you ill at ease? My +soul is broken with grief, and there is no rest for your lover. But is +there more for me when, delivering ourselves up to the deep feelings +which master me, I breathe out upon your lips, upon your heart, a +flame which burns me up--ah, it was this past night I realised that +your portrait was not you. You start at noon; I shall see you in three +hours. Meanwhile, _mio dolce amor_, accept a thousand kisses,[14] but +give me none, for they fire my blood. + + N. B. + + _A Madame Beauharnais._ + + * * * * * + + _March 9th.--Bonaparte marries Josephine._ + + _March 11th.--Bonaparte leaves Paris to join his army._ + + +No. 2. + + _Chanceaux Post House, + March 14, 1796._ + +I wrote you at Chatillon, and sent you a power of attorney to enable +you to receive various sums of money in course of remittance to me. +Every moment separates me further from you, my beloved, and every +moment I have less energy to exist so far from you. You are the +constant object of my thoughts; I exhaust my imagination in thinking +of what you are doing. If I see you unhappy, my heart is torn, and my +grief grows greater. If you are gay and lively among your friends +(male and female), I reproach you with having so soon forgotten the +sorrowful separation three days ago; thence you must be fickle, and +henceforward stirred by no deep emotions. So you see I am not easy to +satisfy; but, my dear, I have quite different sensations when I fear +that your health may be affected, or that you have cause to be +annoyed; then I regret the haste with which I was separated from my +darling. I feel, in fact, that your natural kindness of heart exists +no longer for me, and it is only when I am quite sure you are not +vexed that I am satisfied. If I were asked how I slept, I feel that +before replying I should have to get a message to tell me that you had +had a good night. The ailments, the passions of men influence me only +when I imagine they may reach you, my dear. May my good genius, which +has always preserved me in the midst of great dangers, surround you, +enfold you, while I will face my fate unguarded. Ah! be not gay, but a +trifle melancholy; and especially may your soul be free from worries, +as your body from illness: you know what our good Ossian says on this +subject. Write me, dear, and at full length, and accept the thousand +and one kisses of your most devoted and faithful friend. + +[This letter is translated from St. Amand's _La Citoyenne Bonaparte_, +p. 3, 1892.] + + * * * * * + + _March 27th.--Arrival at Nice and proclamation to the soldiers._ + + +No. 3. + + _April 3rd.--He is at Mentone._ + + _Port Maurice, April 3rd._ + +I have received all your letters, but none has affected me like the +last. How can you think, my charmer, of writing me in such terms? Do +you believe that my position is not already painful enough without +further increasing my regrets and subverting my reason. What +eloquence, what feelings you portray; they are of fire, they inflame +my poor heart! My unique Josephine, away from you there is no more +joy--away from thee the world is a wilderness, in which I stand alone, +and without experiencing the bliss of unburdening my soul. You have +robbed me of more than my soul; you are the one only thought of my +life. When I am weary of the worries of my profession, when I mistrust +the issue, when men disgust me, when I am ready to curse my life, I +put my hand on my heart where your portrait beats in unison. I look at +it, and love is for me complete happiness; and everything laughs for +joy, except the time during which I find myself absent from my +beloved. + +By what art have you learnt how to captivate all my faculties, to +concentrate in yourself my spiritual existence--it is witchery, dear +love, which will end only with me. To live for Josephine, that is the +history of my life. I am struggling to get near you, I am dying to be +by your side; fool that I am, I fail to realise how far off I am, that +lands and provinces separate us. What an age it will be before you +read these lines, the weak expressions of the fevered soul in which +you reign. Ah, my winsome wife, I know not what fate awaits me, but if +it keeps me much longer from you it will be unbearable--my strength +will not last out. There was a time in which I prided myself on my +strength, and, sometimes, when casting my eyes on the ills which men +might do me, on the fate that destiny might have in store for me, I +have gazed steadfastly on the most incredible misfortunes without a +wrinkle on my brow or a vestige of surprise: but to-day the thought +that my Josephine might be ill; and, above all, the cruel, the fatal +thought that she might love me less, blights my soul, stops my blood, +makes me wretched and dejected, without even leaving me the courage of +fury and despair. I often used to say that men have no power over him +who dies without regrets; but, to-day, to die without your love, to +die in uncertainty of that, is the torment of hell, it is a lifelike +and terrifying figure of absolute annihilation--I feel passion +strangling me. My unique companion! you whom Fate has destined to walk +with me the painful path of life! the day on which I no longer possess +your heart will be that on which parched Nature will be for me without +warmth and without vegetation. I stop, dear love! my soul is sad, my +body tired, my spirit dazed, men worry me--I ought indeed to detest +them; they keep me from my beloved. + +I am at Port Maurice, near Oneille; to-morrow I shall be at Albenga. +The two armies are in motion. We are trying to deceive each +other--victory to the most skilful! I am pretty well satisfied with +Beaulieu; he need be a much stronger man than his predecessor to alarm +me much. I expect to give him a good drubbing. Don't be anxious; love +me as thine eyes, but that is not enough; as thyself, more than +thyself; as thy thoughts, thy mind, thy sight, thy all. Dear love, +forgive me, I am exhausted; nature is weak for him who feels acutely, +for him whom you inspire. + + N. B. + + * * * * * + +Kind regards to Barras, Sussi, Madame Tallien; compliments to Madame +Chateau Renard; to Eugène and Hortense best love. Adieu, adieu! I lie +down without thee, I shall sleep without thee; I pray thee, let me +sleep. Many times I shall clasp thee in my arms, but, but--it is not +thee. + + _A la citoyenne Bonaparte chez la + citoyenne Beauharnais, + Rue Chantereine No. 6, Paris._ + + +No. 4. + + _Albenga, April 5th._ + +It is an hour after midnight. They have just brought me a letter. It +is a sad one, my mind is distressed--it is the death of Chauvet. He +was _commissionaire ordinateur en chef_ of the army; you have +sometimes seen him at the house of Barras. My love, I feel the need of +consolation. It is by writing to thee, to thee alone, the thought of +whom can so influence my moral being, to whom I must pour out my +troubles. What means the future? what means the past? what are we +ourselves? what magic fluid surrounds and hides from us the things +that it behoves us most to know? We are born, we live, we die in the +midst of marvels; is it astounding that priests, astrologers, +charlatans have profited by this propensity, by this strange +circumstance, to exploit our ideas, and direct them to their own +advantage. Chauvet is dead. He was attached to me. He has rendered +essential service to the fatherland. His last words were that he was +starting to join me. Yes, I see his ghost; it hovers everywhere, it +whistles in the air. His soul is in the clouds, he will be propitious +to my destiny. But, fool that I am, I shed tears for our friendship, +and who shall tell me that I have not already to bewail the +irreparable. Soul of my life, write me by every courier, else I shall +not know how to exist. I am very busy here. Beaulieu is moving his +army again. We are face to face. I am rather tired; I am every day on +horseback. Adieu, adieu, adieu; I am going to dream of you. Sleep +consoles me; it places you by my side, I clasp you in my arms. But on +waking, alas! I find myself three hundred leagues from you. +Remembrances to Barras, Tallien, and his wife. + + N. B. + + _A la citoyenne Bonaparte chez la + citoyenne Beauharnais, + Rue Chantereine No. 6, Paris._ + + +No. 5. + + _Albenga, April 7th._ + +I have received the letter that you break off, in order, you say, to +go into the country; and in spite of that you give me to understand +that you are jealous of me, who am here, overwhelmed with business and +fatigue. Ah, my dear, it is true I am wrong. In the spring the country +is beautiful, and then the lover of nineteen will doubtless find means +to spare an extra moment to write to him who, distant three hundred +leagues from thee, lives, enjoys, exists only in thoughts of thee, who +reads thy letters as one devours, after six hours' hunting, the meat +he likes best. I am not satisfied with your last letter; it is cold as +friendship. I have not found that fire which kindles your looks, and +which I have sometimes fancied I found there. But how infatuated I am. +I found your previous letters weigh too heavily on my mind. The +revolution which they produced there invaded my rest, and took my +faculties captive. I desired more frigid letters, but they gave me the +chill of death. Not to be loved by Josephine, the thought of finding +her inconstant ... but I am forging troubles--there are so many real +ones, there is no need to manufacture more! You cannot have inspired a +boundless love without sharing it, for a cultured mind and a soul like +yours cannot requite complete surrender and devotion with the +death-blow. + +I have received the letter from Madame Chateau Renard. I have written +to the Minister. I will write to the former to-morrow, to whom you +will make the usual compliments. Kind regards to Madame Tallien and +Barras. + +You do not speak of your wretched indigestion--I hate it. Adieu, till +to-morrow, _mio dolce amor_. A remembrance from my unique wife, and a +victory from Destiny--these are my wishes: a unique remembrance +entirely worthy of him who thinks of thee every moment. + +My brother is here; he has learnt of my marriage with pleasure. He +longs to see you. I am trying to prevail on him to go to Paris--his +wife has just borne him a girl. He sends you a gift of a box of Genoa +bonbons. You will receive oranges, perfumes, and orange-flower water, +which I am sending. + +Junot and Murat present their respects to you. + + _A la citoyenne Bonaparte,_ + _Rue Chantereine No. 6,_ (Address not in B.'s writing.) + _Chaussée d'Antin, Paris._ + + * * * * * + + _April 10th.--Campaign opens (Napoleon's available troops about + 35,000)._ + + _April 11th.--Colonel Rampon, with 1200 men, breaks the attack of + D'Argenteau, giving Napoleon time to come up._ + + _April 12th.--Battle of Montenotte, Austrians defeated. Lose 3500 + men (2000 prisoners), 5 guns, and 4 stand of colours._ + + _April 14th.--Battle of Millesimo, Austrians and Sardinians + defeated. Lose over 6000 prisoners, 2 generals, 4500 killed and + wounded, 32 guns, and 15 stand of colours. Lannes made Colonel on + the battlefield._ + + _April 15th.--Battle of Dego, the allies defeated and separated._ + + _April 22nd.--Battle of Mondovi, Sardinians defeated. Lose 3000 + men, 8 guns, 10 stand of colours._ + + +No. 6. + + _Carru, April 24th._ + +_To My Sweet Love._--My brother will remit you this letter. I have for +him the most lively affection. I trust he will obtain yours; he merits +it. Nature has endowed him with a gentle, even, and unalterably good +disposition; he is made up of good qualities. I am writing Barras to +help him to the Consulate of some Italian port. He wishes to live with +his little wife far from the great whirlwind, and from great events. I +recommend him to you. I have received your letters of (April) the +fifth and tenth. You have been several days without writing me. What +_are_ you doing then? Yes, my kind, kind love, I am not jealous, but +sometimes uneasy. Come soon. I warn you, if you tarry you will find me +ill; fatigue and your absence are too much for me at the same time. + +Your letters make up my daily pleasure, and my happy days are not +often. Junot bears to Paris twenty-two flags. You ought to return with +him, do you understand? Be ready, if that is not disagreeable to you. +Should he not come, woe without remedy; should he come back to me +alone, grief without consolation, constant anxiety. My Beloved, he +will see you, he will breathe on your temples; perhaps you will accord +him the unique and priceless favour of kissing your cheek, and I, I +shall be alone and very far away; but you are about to come, are you +not? You will soon be beside me, on my breast, in my arms, over your +mouth. Take wings, come quickly, but travel gently. The route is long, +bad, fatiguing. If you should be overturned or be taken ill, if +fatigue--go gently, my beloved. + +I have received a letter from Hortense. She is entirely lovable. I am +going to write to her. I love her much, and I will soon send her the +perfumes that she wants. + + N. B. + + * * * * * + +I know not if you want money, for you never speak to me of business. +If you do, will you ask my brother for it--he has 200 louis of mine! +If you want a place for any one you can send him; I will give him one. +Chateau Renard may come too. + + _A la citoyenne Bonaparte, &c._ + + * * * * * + + _April 28th.--Armistice of Cherasco (submission of Sardinia to + France): peace signed May 15th._ + + _May 7th.--Bonaparte passed the Po at Placentia, and attacks + Beaulieu, who has 40,000 Austrians._ + + _May 8th.--Austrians defeated at Fombio. Lose 2500 prisoners, + guns, and 3 standards. Skirmish of Codogno--death of General La + Harpe._ + + _May 9th.--Capitulation of Parma by the Grand Duke, who pays + ransom of 2 million francs, 1600 artillery horses, food, and 20 + paintings._ + + _May 10th.--Passage of Bridge of Lodi. Austrians lose 2000 men and + 20 cannon._ + + _May 14th.--Bonaparte was requested to divide his command, and + thereupon tendered his resignation._ + + _May 15th.--Bonaparte enters Milan. Lombardy pays ransom of 20 + million francs; and the Duke of Modena 10 millions, and 20 + pictures._ + + _May 24th-25th.--Revolt of Lombardy, and punishment of Pavia by + the French._ + + _May 30th-31st.--Bonaparte defeats Beaulieu at Borghetto, crosses + the Mincio, and makes French cavalry fight (a new feature for the + Republican troops)._ + + _June 3rd.--Occupies Verona, and secures the line of the Adige._ + + _June 4th._--Battle of Altenkirchen (Franconia) won by Jourdan. + + _June 5th.--Armistice with Naples. Their troops secede from the + Austrian army._ + + +No. 7. + +TO JOSEPHINE. + + _Tortona, Noon, June 15th._ + +My life is a perpetual nightmare. A presentiment of ill oppresses me. +I see you no longer. I have lost more than life, more than happiness, +more than my rest. I am almost without hope. I hasten to send a +courier to you. He will stay only four hours in Paris, and then +bring me your reply. Write me ten pages. That alone can console me a +little. You are ill, you love me, I have made you unhappy, you are in +delicate health, and I do not see you!--that thought overwhelms me. I +have done you so much wrong that I know not how to atone for it; I +accuse you of staying in Paris, and you were ill there. Forgive me, +my dear; the love with which you have inspired me has bereft me of +reason. I shall never find it again. It is an ill for which there +is no cure. My presentiments are so ominous that I would confine +myself to merely seeing you, to pressing you for two hours to my +heart--and then dying with you. Who looks after you? I expect you +have sent for Hortense. I love that sweet child a thousand times more +when I think she can console you a little, though for me there is +neither consolation nor repose, nor hope until the courier that I +have sent comes back; and until, in a long letter, you explain to me +what is the nature of your illness, and to what extent it is +serious; if it be dangerous, I warn you, I start at once for +Paris. My coming shall coincide with your illness. I have always +been fortunate, never has my destiny resisted my will, and to-day I +am hurt in what touches me solely (_uniquement_). Josephine, how +can you remain so long without writing to me; your last laconic +letter is dated May 22. Moreover, it is a distressing one for me, but +I always keep it in my pocket; your portrait and letters are +perpetually before my eyes. + +I am nothing without you. I scarcely imagine how I existed without +knowing you. Ah! Josephine, had you known my heart would you have +waited from May 18th to June 4th before starting? Would you have given +an ear to perfidious friends who are perhaps desirous of keeping you +away from me? I openly avow it to every one, I hate everybody who is +near you. I expected you to set out on May 24th, and arrive on June +3rd. + +Josephine, if you love me, if you realise how everything depends on +your health, take care of yourself. I dare not tell you not to +undertake so long a journey, and that, too, in the hot weather. At +least, if you are fit to make it, come by short stages; write me at +every sleeping-place, and despatch your letters in advance. + +All my thoughts are concentrated in thy boudoir, in thy bed, on thy +heart. Thy illness!--that is what occupies me night and day. Without +appetite, without sleep, without care for my friends, for glory, for +fatherland, you, you alone--the rest of the world exists no more for +me than if it were annihilated. I prize honour since you prize it, I +prize victory since it pleases you; without that I should leave +everything in order to fling myself at your feet. + +Sometimes I tell myself that I alarm myself unnecessarily; that even +now she is better, that she is starting, has started, is perhaps +already at Lyons. Vain fancies! you are in bed suffering, more +beautiful, more interesting, more lovable. You are pale and your eyes +are more languishing, but when will you be cured? If one of us ought +to be ill it is I--more robust, more courageous; I should support +illness more easily. Destiny is cruel, it strikes at me through you. + +What consoles me sometimes is to think that it is in the power of +destiny to make you ill; but it is in the power of no one to make me +survive you. + +In your letter, dear, be sure to tell me that you are convinced that I +love you more than it is possible to imagine; that you are persuaded +that all my moments are consecrated to you; that to think of any other +woman has never entered my head--they are all in my eyes without +grace, wit, or beauty; that you, you alone, such as I see you, such as +you are, can please me, and absorb all the faculties of my mind; that +you have traversed its whole extent; that my heart has no recess into +which you have not seen, no thoughts which are not subordinate to +yours; that my strength, my prowess, my spirit are all yours; that my +soul is in your body; and that the day on which you change or cease to +live will be my death-day; that Nature, that Earth, is beautiful only +because you dwell therein. If you do not believe all this, if your +soul is not convinced, penetrated by it, you grieve me, you do not +love me--there is a magnetic fluid between people who love one +another--you know perfectly well that I could not brook a rival, much +less offer you one.[15] To tear out his heart and to see him would be +for me one and the same thing, and then if I were to carry my hands +against your sacred person--no, I should never dare to do it; but I +would quit a life in which the most virtuous of women had deceived +me. + +But I am sure and proud of your love; misfortunes are the trials which +reveal to each mutually the whole force of our passion. A child as +charming as its mamma will soon see the daylight, and will pass many +years in your arms. Hapless me! I would be happy with one _day_. A +thousand kisses on your eyes, your lips, your tongue, your heart. Most +charming of thy sex, what is thy power over me? I am very sick of thy +sickness; I have still a burning fever! Do not keep the courier more +than six hours, and let him return at once to bring me the longed-for +letter of my Beloved. + +Do you remember my dream, in which I was your boots, your dress, and +in which I made you come bodily into my heart? Why has not Nature +arranged matters in this way; she has much to do yet. + + N. B. + + _A la citoyenne Bonaparte, &c._ + + * * * * * + + _June 18th.--Bonaparte enters Modena, and takes 50 cannon at + Urbino._ + + _June 19th.--Occupies Bologna, and takes 114 cannon._ + + _June 23rd.--Armistice with Rome. The Pope to pay 21 millions, 100 + rare pictures, 200 MSS., and to close his ports to the English._ + + _June 24th._--Desaix, with part of Moreau's army, forces the + passage of the Rhine. + + +No. 8. + +TO JOSEPHINE. + + _Pistoia, Tuscany, June 26th._ + +For a month I have only received from my dear love two letters of +three lines each. Is she so busy, that writing to her dear love is not +then needful for her, nor, consequently, thinking about him? To live +without thinking of Josephine would be death and annihilation to your +husband. Your image gilds my fancies, and enlivens the black and +sombre picture of melancholy and grief. A day perhaps may come in +which I shall see you, for I doubt not you will be still at Paris, and +verily on that day I will show you my pockets stuffed with letters +that I have not sent you because they are too foolish (_bête_). Yes, +that's the word. Good heavens! tell me, you who know so well how to +make others love you without being in love yourself, do you know how +to cure me of love??? I will give a good price for that remedy. + +You ought to have started on May 24th. Being good-natured, I waited +till June 1st, as if a pretty woman would give up her habits, her +friends, both Madame Tallien and a dinner with Barras, and the acting +of a new play, and Fortuné; yes, Fortuné, whom you love much more than +your husband, for whom you have only a little of the esteem, and a +share of that benevolence with which your heart abounds. Every day I +count up your misdeeds. I lash myself to fury in order to love you no +more. Bah, don't I love you the more? In fact, my peerless little +mother, I will tell you my secret. Set me at defiance, stay at Paris, +have lovers--let everybody know it--never write me a monosyllable! +then I shall love you ten times more for it; and it is not folly, a +delirious fever! and I shall not get the better of it. Oh! would to +heaven I could get better! but don't tell me you are ill, don't try to +justify yourself. Good heavens! you are pardoned. I love you to +distraction, and never will my poor heart cease to give all for love. +If you did not love me, my fate would be indeed grotesque. You have +not written me; you are ill, you do not come. But you have passed +Lyons; you will be at Turin on the 28th, at Milan on the 30th, where +you will wait for me. You will be in Italy, and I shall be still far +from you. Adieu, my well-beloved; a kiss on thy mouth, another on thy +heart. + +We have made peace with Rome--who gives us money. To-morrow we shall +be at Leghorn, and as soon as I can in your arms, at your feet, on +your bosom. + + _A la citoyenne Bonaparte, &c._ + + * * * * * + + _June 27th.--Leghorn occupied by Murat and Vaubois._ + + _June 29th.--Surrender of citadel of Milan; 1600 prisoners and 150 + cannon taken._ + + +FOOTNOTES + + [14] _Un millier de baise_ (sic). + + [15] So Tennant (_t'en offrir un_): but Baron Feuillet de Conches, an + expert in Napoleonic graphology, renders the expression _t'en + souffrir un_. + + + + +SERIES B + +(1796-97) + + +"Des 1796, lorsque, avec 30,000 hommes, il fait la conquête de l'Italie, +il est non-seulement grand général, mais profond politique."--_Des +Idées Napoléonniennes._ + + * * * * * + +"Your Government has sent against me four armies without Generals, and +this time a General without an army."--_Napoleon to the Austrian +Plenipotentiaries, at Leoben._ + + + + +SERIES B + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 211-223.) + + + LETTER PAGE + + No. 1. _Sortie from Mantua_ 211 + + No. 2. _Marmirolo_ 211 + _Fortuné_ 212 + + No. 3. _The village of Virgil_ 212 + + No. 4. _Achille_ 212 + + No. 5. _Will-o'-the-Wisp_ 213 + + No. 6. _The needs of the army_ 213-5 + + No. 7. _Brescia_ 215 + + No. 9. _I hope we shall get into Trent_ 216 + + No. 12. _One of these nights the doors will be burst open_ 216-8 + + No. 13. _Corsica is ours_ 218 + + No. 14. _Verona_ 219 + + No. 15. _Once more I breathe freely_ 220 + + No. 18. "_The 29th_" 220 + + No. 20. _General Brune_ 221 + + No. 21. _February 3rd_ 221 + + No. 24. _Perhaps I shall make peace with the Pope_ 222 + + No. 25. _The unlimited power you hold over me_ 222 + + +No. 1. + + _July 5th._--Archduke Charles defeated by Moreau at Radstadt. + + _July 6th.--Sortie from Mantua: Austrians fairly successful._ + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Roverbella, July 6, 1796._ + +I have beaten the enemy. Kilmaine will send you the copy of the +despatch. I am tired to death. Pray start at once for Verona. I need +you, for I think that I am going to be very ill. + +I send you a thousand kisses. I am in bed. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _July 9th.--Bonaparte asks Kellermann for reinforcements._ + + _July 14th._--Frankfort on the Main captured by Kléber. + + _July 16th.--Sortie from Mantua: Austrians defeated._ + + +No. 2. + + _July 17th.--Attempted coup de main at Mantua: French unsuccessful._ + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Marmirolo_, _July 17, 1796_, 9 P.M. + +I got your letter, my beloved; it has filled my heart with joy. I am +grateful to you for the trouble you have taken to send me news; your +health should be better to-day--I am sure you are cured. I urge you +strongly to ride, which cannot fail to do you good. + +Ever since I left you, I have been sad. I am only happy when by your +side. Ceaselessly I recall your kisses, your tears, your enchanting +jealousy; and the charms of the incomparable Josephine keep constantly +alight a bright and burning flame in my heart and senses. When, free +from every worry, from all business, shall I spend all my moments by +your side, to have nothing to do but to love you, and to prove it to +you? I shall send your horse, but I am hoping that you will soon be +able to rejoin me. I thought I loved you some days ago; but, since I +saw you, I feel that I love you even a thousand times more. Ever since +I have known you, I worship you more every day; which proves how false +is the maxim of La Bruyère that "Love comes all at once." Everything +in nature has a regular course, and different degrees of growth. Ah! +pray let me see some of your faults; be less beautiful, less gracious, +less tender, and, especially, less kind; above all never be jealous, +never weep; your tears madden me, fire my blood. Be sure that it is no +longer possible for me to have a thought except for you, or an idea of +which you shall not be the judge. + +Have a good rest. Haste to get well. Come and join me, so that, at +least, before dying, we could say--"We were happy for so many days!!" + +Millions of kisses, and even to Fortuné, in spite of his naughtiness. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 3. + + _July 18th.--Trenches opened before Mantua._ + + _July 18th._--Stuttgard occupied by Saint-Cyr, who, like Kléber, + is under Moreau. + + _July 18th._--Wurtzburg captured by Klein and Ney (acting under + Jourdan). + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Marmirolo, July 18, 1796_, 2 P.M. + +I passed the whole night under arms. I ought to have had Mantua by a +plucky and fortunate coup; but the waters of the lake have suddenly +fallen, so that the column I had shipped could not land. This evening +I shall begin a new attempt, but one that will not give such +satisfactory results. + +I got a letter from Eugène, which I send you. Please write for me to +these charming children of yours, and send them some trinkets. Be sure +to tell them that I love them as if they were my own. What is yours or +mine is so mixed up in my heart, that there is no difference there. + +I am very anxious to know how you are, what you are doing? I have been +in the village of Virgil, on the banks of the lake, by the silvery +light of the moon, and not a moment without dreaming of Josephine. + +The enemy made a general sortie on June 16th; it has killed or wounded +two hundred of our men, but lost five hundred of its own in a +precipitous retreat. + +I am well. I am Josephine's entirely, and I have no pleasure or +happiness except in her society. + +Three Neapolitan regiments have arrived at Brescia; they have sundered +themselves from the Austrian army, in consequence of the convention I +have concluded with M. Pignatelli. + +I've lost my snuff-box; please choose me another, rather flat-shaped, +and write something pretty inside, with your own hair. + +A thousand kisses as burning as you are cold. Boundless love, and +fidelity up to every proof. Before Joseph starts, I wish to speak to +him. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 4. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Marmirolo, July 19, 1796._ + +I have been without letters from you for two days. That is at least +the thirtieth time to-day that I have made this observation to myself; +you are thinking this particularly wearisome; yet you cannot doubt +the tender and unique anxiety with which you inspire me. + +We attacked Mantua yesterday. We warmed it up from two batteries with +red-hot shot and from mortars. All night long that wretched town has +been on fire. The sight was horrible and majestic. We have secured +several of the outworks; we open the first parallel to-night. +To-morrow I start for Castiglione with the Staff, and I reckon on +sleeping there. I have received a courier from Paris. There were two +letters for you; I have read them. But though this action appears to +me quite natural, and though you gave me permission to do so the other +day, I fear you may be vexed, and that is a great trouble to me. I +should have liked to have sealed them up again: fie! that would have +been atrocious. If I am to blame, I beg your forgiveness. I swear that +it is not because I am jealous; assuredly not. I have too high an +opinion of my beloved for that. I should like you to give me full +permission to read your letters, then there would be no longer either +remorse or apprehension. + +Achille has just ridden post from Milan; no letters from my beloved! +Adieu, my unique joy. When will you be able to rejoin me? I shall have +to fetch you myself from Milan. + +A thousand kisses as fiery as my soul, as chaste as yourself. + +I have summoned the courier; he tells me that he crossed over to your +house, and that you told him you had no commands. Fie! naughty, +undutiful, cruel, tyrannous, jolly little monster. You laugh at my +threats, at my infatuation; ah, you well know that if I could shut you +up in my breast, I would put you in prison there! + +Tell me you are cheerful, in good health, and very affectionate. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 5. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Castiglione, July 21, 1796_, 8 A.M. + +I am hoping that when I arrive to-night I shall get one of your +letters. You know, my dear Josephine, the pleasure they give me; and I +am sure you have pleasure in writing them. I shall start to-night for +Peschiera, for the mountains of ----, for Verona, and thence I shall +go to Mantua, and perhaps to Milan, to receive a kiss, since you +assure me they are not made of ice. I hope you will be perfectly well +by then, and will be able to accompany me to headquarters, so that we +may not part again. Are you not the soul of my life, and the +quintessence of my heart's affections? + +Your protégés are a little excitable; they are like the will-o'-the-wisp. +How glad I am to do something for them which will please you. They will +go to Milan. A little patience is requisite in everything. + +Adieu, _belle et bonne_, quite unequalled, quite divine. A thousand +loving kisses. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 6. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Castiglione, July 22, 1796._ + +The needs of the army require my presence hereabouts; it is impossible +that I can leave it to come to Milan. Five or six days would be +necessary, and during that time movements may occur whereby my +presence here would be imperative. + +You assure me your health is good; I beg you therefore to come to +Brescia. Even now I am sending Murat to prepare apartments for you +there in the town, as you desire. + +I think you will do well to spend the first night (July 24th) at +Cassano, setting out very late from Milan; and to arrive at Brescia on +July 25th, where the most affectionate of lovers awaits you. I am +disconsolate that you can believe, dear, that my heart can reveal +itself to others as to you; it belongs to you by right of conquest, +and that conquest will be durable and for ever. I do not know why you +speak of Madame T., with whom I do not concern myself in the +slightest, nor with the women of Brescia. As to the letters which you +are vexed at my opening, this shall be the last; your letter had not +come. + +Adieu, _ma tendre amie_, send me news often, come forthwith and join +me, and be happy and at ease; all goes well, and my heart is yours for +life. + +Be sure to return to the Adjutant-General Miollis the box of medals +that he writes me he has sent you. Men have such false tongues, and +are so wicked, that it is necessary to have everything exactly on the +square. + +Good health, love, and a prompt arrival at Brescia. + +I have at Milan a carriage suitable alike for town or country; you can +make use of it for the journey. Bring your plate with you, and some of +the things you absolutely require. + +Travel by easy stages, and during the coolth, so as not to tire +yourself. Troops only take three days coming to Brescia. Travelling +post it is only a fourteen hours' journey. I request you to sleep on +the 24th at Cassano; I shall come to meet you on the 25th at latest. + +Adieu, my own Josephine. A thousand loving kisses. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _July 29th.--Advance of Wurmser, by the Adige valley, on Mantua, + and of Quesdonowich on Brescia, who drives back Massena and + Sauret._ + + _July 31st.--Siege of Mantua raised._ + + _August 3rd.--Bonaparte victorious at Lonato._ + + _August 5th.--Augereau victorious at Castiglione, completing the + Campaign of Five Days, in which 10,000 prisoners are taken._ + + _August 8th.--Verona occupied by Serrurier._ + + _August 15th._--(Moreau arrives on the Danube) _Wurmser retreats + upon Trent, the capital of Italian Tyrol_. + + _August 18th._--Alliance, offensive and defensive, between France + and Spain. + + _September 3rd._--Jourdan routed by Archduke Charles at + Wurtzburg. + + +No. 7. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Brescia, August 30, 1796._ + +Arriving, my beloved, my first thought is to write to you. Your +health, your sweet face and form have not been absent a moment from my +thoughts the whole day. I shall be comfortable only when I have got +letters from you. I await them impatiently. You cannot possibly +imagine my uneasiness. I left you vexed, annoyed, and not well. If the +deepest and sincerest affection can make you happy, you ought to +be.... I am worked to death. + +Adieu, my kind Josephine: love me, keep well, and often, often think +of me. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 8. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Brescia, August 31, 1796._ + +I start at once for Verona. I had hoped to get a letter from you; and +I am terribly uneasy about you. You were rather ill when I left; I beg +you not to leave me in such uneasiness. You promised me to be more +regular; and, at the time, your tongue was in harmony with your heart. +You, to whom nature has given a kind, genial, and wholly charming +disposition, how can you forget the man who loves you with so much +fervour? No letters from you for three days; and yet I have written to +you several times. To be parted is dreadful, the nights are long, +stupid, and wearisome; the day's work is monotonous. + +This evening, alone with my thoughts, work and correspondence, with +men and their stupid schemes, I have not even one letter from you +which I might press to my heart. + +The Staff has gone; I set off in an hour. To-night I get an express +from Paris; there was for you only the enclosed letter, which will +please you. + +Think of me, live for me, be often with your well-beloved, and be sure +that there is only one misfortune that he is afraid of--that of being +no longer loved by his Josephine. A thousand kisses, very sweet, very +affectionate, very exclusive. + +Send M. Monclas at once to Verona; I will find him a place. He must +get there before September 4th. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + +_September 1st.--Bonaparte leaves Verona and directs his troops on +Trent. Wurmser, reinforced by 20,000 men, leaves his right wing at +Roveredo, and marches viâ the Brenta Gorge on Verona._ + + +No. 9. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Ala, September 3, 1796._ + +We are in the thick of the fight, my beloved; we have driven in the +enemy's outposts; we have taken eight or ten of their horses with a +like number of riders. My troops are good-humoured and in excellent +spirits. I hope that we shall do great things, and get into Trent by +the fifth. + +No letters from you, which really makes me uneasy; yet they tell me +you are well, and have even had an excursion to Lake Como. Every day I +wait impatiently for the post which will bring me news of you--you +are well aware how I prize it. Far from you I cannot live, the +happiness of my life is near my gentle Josephine. Think of me! Write +me often, very often: in absence it is the only remedy: it is cruel, +but, I hope, will be only temporary. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _September 4th.--Austrian right wing defeated at Roveredo._ + + _September 5th.--Bonaparte enters Trent, cutting off Wurmser from + his base. Defeats Davidowich on the Lavis and leaves Vaubois to + contain this general while he follows Wurmser._ + + _September 6th.--Wurmser continues his advance, his outposts + occupy Vicenza and Montebello._ + + _September 7th.--Combat of Primolano: Austrians defeated. Austrian + vanguard attack Verona, but are repulsed by General Kilmaine._ + + _September 8th.--Battle of Bassano: Wurmser completely routed, and + retires on Legnago._ + + +No. 10. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Montebello, Noon, September 10, 1796._ + +_My Dear_,--The enemy has lost 18,000 men prisoners; the rest killed +or wounded. Wurmser, with a column of 1500 cavalry, and 500 infantry, +has no resource but to throw himself into Mantua. + +Never have we had successes so unvarying and so great. Italy, Friuli, +the Tyrol, are assured to the Republic. The Emperor will have to +create a second army: artillery, pontoons, baggage, everything is +taken. + +In a few days we shall meet; it is the sweetest reward for my labours +and anxieties. + +A thousand fervent and very affectionate kisses. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _September 11th.--Skirmish at Cerea: Austrians successful. + Bonaparte arrives alone, and is nearly captured._ + + +No. 11. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Ronco, September 12, 1796_, 10 A.M. + +_My dear Josephine_,--I have been here two days, badly lodged, badly +fed, and very cross at being so far from you. + +Wurmser is hemmed in, he has with him 3000 cavalry and 5000 infantry. +He is at Porto-Legnago; he is trying to get back into Mantua, but for +him that has now become impossible. The moment this matter shall be +finished I will be in your arms. + +I embrace you a million times. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _September 13th.--Wurmser, brushing aside the few French who + oppose him, gains the suburbs of Mantua._ + + _September 14th.--Massena attempts a surprise, but is repulsed._ + + _September 15th.--Wurmser makes a sortie from St. Georges, but is + driven back._ + + _September 16th.--And at La Favorite, with like result._ + + +No. 12. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Verona, September 17, 1796._ + +_My Dear_,--I write very often and you seldom. You are naughty, and +undutiful; very undutiful, as well as thoughtless. It is disloyal to +deceive a poor husband, an affectionate lover. Ought he to lose his +rights because he is far away, up to the neck in business, worries and +anxiety. Without his Josephine, without the assurance of her love, +what in the wide world remains for him. What will he do? + +Yesterday we had a very sanguinary conflict; the enemy has lost +heavily, and been completely beaten. We have taken from him the +suburbs of Mantua. + +Adieu, charming Josephine; one of these nights the door will be burst +open with a bang, as if by a jealous husband, and in a moment I shall +be in your arms. + +A thousand affectionate kisses. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _October 2nd._--(Moreau defeats Latour at Biberach, but then + continues his retreat.) + + _October 8th._--Spain declares war against England. + + _October 10th.--Peace with Naples signed._ + + +No. 13. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Modena, October 17, 1796_, 9 P.M. + +The day before yesterday I was out the whole day. Yesterday I kept my +bed. Fever and a racking headache both prevented me writing to my +beloved; but I got your letters. I have pressed them to my heart and +lips, and the grief of a hundred miles of separation has disappeared. +At the present moment I can see you by my side, not capricious and out +of humour, but gentle, affectionate, with that mellifluent kindness of +which my Josephine is the sole proprietor. It was a dream, judge if it +has cured my fever. Your letters are as cold as if you were fifty; we +might have been married fifteen years. One finds in them the +friendship and feelings of that winter of life. Fie! Josephine. It is +very naughty, very unkind, very undutiful of you. What more can you do +to make me indeed an object for compassion? Love me no longer? Eh, +that is already accomplished! Hate me? Well, I prefer that! +Everything grows stale except ill-will; but indifference, with its +marble pulse, its rigid stare, its monotonous demeanour!... + +A thousand thousand very heartfelt kisses. + +I am rather better. I start to-morrow. The English evacuate the +Mediterranean. Corsica is ours. Good news for France, and for the +army. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _October 25th._--(Moreau recrosses the Rhine.) + + _November 1st.--Advance of Marshal Alvinzi. Vaubois defeated by + Davidovich on November 5th, after two days' fight._ + + _November 6th.--Napoleon successful, but Vaubois' defeat compels + the French army to return to Verona._ + + +No. 14. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Verona, November 9, 1796._ + +_My Dear_,--I have been at Verona since the day before yesterday. +Although tired, I am very well, very busy; and I love you passionately +at all times. I am just off on horseback. + +I embrace you a thousand times. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _November 12th.--Combat of Caldiero: Napoleon fails to turn the + Austrian position, owing to heavy rains. His position desperate._ + + _November 15th.--First battle of Arcola. French gain partial + victory._ + + _November 16th and 17th.--Second battle of Arcola. French + completely victorious "Lodi was nothing to Arcola" (Bourrienne)._ + + _November 17th._--Death of Czarina Catherine II. of Russia. + + _November 18th.--Napoleon victoriously re-enters Verona by the + Venice gate, having left it, apparently in full retreat, on the + night of the 14th by the Milan gate._ + + +No. 15. + +From BOURRIENNE'S "LIFE OF NAPOLEON," vol. i. chap. 4. + + _Verona, November 19th, Noon._ + +_My Adored Josephine_,--Once more I breathe freely. Death is no +longer before me, and glory and honour are once more re-established. +The enemy is beaten at Arcola. To-morrow we will repair Vaubois' +blunder of abandoning Rivoli. In a week Mantua will be ours, and +then your husband will clasp you in his arms, and give you a +thousand proofs of his ardent affection. I shall proceed to Milan as +soon as I can; I am rather tired. I have received letters from +Eugène and Hortense--charming young people. I will send them to +you as soon as I find my belongings, which are at present somewhat +dispersed. + +We have made five thousand prisoners, and killed at least six thousand +of the enemy. Good-bye, my adored Josephine. Think of me often. If you +cease to love your Achilles, if for him your heart grows cold, you +will be very cruel, very unjust. But I am sure you will always remain +my faithful mistress, as I shall ever remain your fond lover. Death +alone can break the chain which sympathy, love, and sentiment have +forged. Let me have news of your health. A thousand and a thousand +kisses. + + +No. 16. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Verona, November 23, 1796._ + +I don't love you an atom; on the contrary, I detest you. You are a +good for nothing, very ungraceful, very tactless, very tatterdemalion. +You never write to me; you don't care for your husband; you know the +pleasure your letters give him, and you write him barely half-a-dozen +lines, thrown off anyhow. + +How, then, do you spend the livelong day, madam? What business of +such importance robs you of the time to write to your very kind lover? +What inclination stifles and alienates love, the affectionate and +unvarying love which you promised me? Who may this paragon be, this +new lover who engrosses all your time, is master of your days, and +prevents you from concerning yourself about your husband? Josephine, +be vigilant; one fine night the doors will be broken in, and I shall +be before you. + +Truly, my dear, I am uneasy at getting no news from you. Write me four +pages immediately, and some of those charming remarks which fill my +heart with the pleasures of imagination. + +I hope that before long I shall clasp you in my arms, and cover you +with a million kisses as burning as if under the equator. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 17. + + _Verona, November 24, 1796._ + +I hope soon, darling, to be in your arms. I love you to distraction. I +am writing to Paris by this courier. All goes well. Wurmser was beaten +yesterday under Mantua. Your husband only needs Josephine's love to be +happy. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 18. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT GENOA. + + _Milan_, _November 27, 1796_, 3 P.M. + +I get to Milan; I fling myself into your room; I have left all in +order to see you, to clasp you in my arms.... You were not there. You +gad about the towns amid junketings; you run farther from me when I am +at hand; you care no longer for your dear Napoleon. A passing fancy +made you love him; fickleness renders him indifferent to you. + +Used to perils, I know the remedy for weariness and the ills of life. +The ill-luck that I now suffer is past all calculations; I did right +not to anticipate it. + +I shall be here till the evening of the 29th. Don't alter your plans; +have your fling of pleasure; happiness was invented for you. The whole +world is only too happy if it can please you, and only your husband is +very, very unhappy. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 19. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT GENOA. + + _Milan_, _November 28, 1796_, 8 P.M. + +I have received the courier whom Berthier had hurried on to Genoa. You +have not had time to write me, I feel it intuitively. Surrounded with +pleasures and pastimes, you would be wrong to make the least sacrifice +for me. Berthier has been good enough to show me the letter which you +wrote him. My intention is that you should not make the least change +in your plans, nor with respect to the pleasure parties in your +honour; I am of no consequence, either the happiness or the misery of +a man whom you don't love is a matter of no moment. + +For my part, to love you only, to make you happy, to do nothing which +may vex you, that is the object and goal of my life. + +Be happy, do not reproach me, do not concern yourself in the happiness +of a man who lives only in your life, rejoices only in your pleasure +and happiness. When I exacted from you a love like my own I was wrong; +why expect lace to weigh as heavy as gold? When I sacrifice to you all +my desires, all my thoughts, every moment of my life, I obey the sway +which your charms, your disposition, and your whole personality have +so effectively exerted over my unfortunate heart. I was wrong, since +nature has not given me attractions with which to captivate you; but +what I do deserve from Josephine is her regard and esteem, for I love +her frantically and uniquely. + +Farewell, beloved wife; farewell, my Josephine. May fate concentrate +in my breast all the griefs and troubles, but may it give Josephine +happy and prosperous days. Who deserves them more? When it shall be +quite settled that she can love me no more, I will hide my profound +grief, and will content myself with the power of being useful and +serviceable to her. + +I reopen my letter to give you a kiss.... Ah! Josephine!... +Josephine! + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _December 24th._--French under Hoche sail for Ireland; return + "foiled by the elements." + + _January 7th, 1797.--Alvinzi begins his new attack on Rivoli, + while Provera tries to get to Mantua with 11,000 men viâ Padua and + Legnago. Alvinzi's total forces 48,000, but only 28,000 at Rivoli + against Bonaparte's 23,000._ + + _January 9th._--Kehl (after 48 days' siege) surrenders to Archduke + Charles. + + _January 10th.--Napoleon at Bologna advised of the advance, and + hastens to make Verona, as before, the pivot of his movements._ + + +No. 20. + + _January 12th.--Combat of St. Michel: Massena defeats Austrians._ + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN. + + _Verona, January 12, 1797._ + +Scarcely set out from Roverbella, I learnt that the enemy had appeared +at Verona. Massena made some dispositions, which have been very +successful. We have made six hundred prisoners, and have taken three +pieces of cannon. General Brune got seven bullets in his clothes, +without being touched by one of them--this is what it is to be lucky. + +I give you a thousand kisses. I am very well. We have had only ten men +killed, and a hundred wounded. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _January 13th.--Joubert attacked; retires from Corona on Rivoli in + the morning, joined by Bonaparte at night._ + + _January 14th.--Battle of Rivoli: Austrian centre defeated. + Bonaparte_ _at close of day hurries off with Massena's troops to + overtake Provera, marching sixteen leagues during the night. + Massena named next day enfant chéri de la victoire by Bonaparte, + and later Duc de Rivoli._ + + _January 15th.--Joubert continues battle of Rivoli: complete + defeat of Austrians. Provera, however, has reached St. Georges, + outside Mantua._ + + _January 16th--Sortie of Wurmser at La Favorite repulsed. Provera, + hurled back by Victor (named the Terrible on this day), is + surrounded by skilful manoeuvres of Bonaparte, and surrenders with + 6000 men. In three days Bonaparte had taken 18,000 prisoners and + all Alvinzi's artillery. Colonel Graham gives Austrian losses at + 14,000 to 15,000, exclusive of Provera's 6000._ + + _January 26th.--Combat of Carpenedolo: Massena defeats the + Austrians._ + + _February 2nd.--Joubert occupies Lawis. Capitulation of Mantua, by + Wurmser, with 13,000 men (and 6000 in hospital), but he, his + staff, and 200 cavalry allowed to return. Enormous capture of + artillery, including siege-train abandoned by Bonaparte before the + battle of Castiglione. Advance of Victor on Rome._ + + +No. 21. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA. + + _Forli, February 3, 1797._ + +I wrote you this morning. I start to-night. Our forces are at Rimini. +This country is beginning to be tranquillised. My cold makes me always +rather tired. + +I idolise you, and send you a thousand kisses. + +A thousand kind messages to my sister. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _February 9th.--Capture of Ancona._ + + +No. 22. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA. + + _Ancona, February 10, 1797._ + +We have been at Ancona these two days. We took the citadel, after a +slight fusillade, and by a _coup de main_. We made 1200 prisoners. I +sent back the fifty officers to their homes. + +I am still at Ancona. I do not press you to come, because everything +is not yet settled, but in a few days I am hoping that it will be. +Besides, this country is still discontented, and everybody is +nervous. + +I start to-morrow for the mountains. You don't write to me at all, yet +you ought to let me have news of you every day. + +Please go out every day; it will do you good. + +I send you a million kisses. I never was so sick of anything as of +this vile war. + +Good-bye, my darling. Think of me! + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 23. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA. + + _Ancona, February 13, 1797._ + +I get no news from you, and I feel sure that you no longer love me. I +have sent you the papers, and various letters. I start immediately to +cross the mountains. The moment that I know something definite, I will +arrange for you to accompany me; it is the dearest wish of my heart. + +A thousand and a thousand kisses. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 24. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA. + + _February 16, 1797._ + +You are melancholy, you are ill; you no longer write to me, you want +to go back to Paris. Is it possible that you no longer love your +comrade? The very thought makes me wretched. My darling, life is +unbearable to me now that I am aware of your melancholy. + +I make haste to send you Moscati, so that he may look after you. My +health is rather bad; my cold gets no better. Please take care of +yourself, love me as much as I love you, and write me every day. I am +more uneasy than ever. + +I have told Moscati to escort you to Ancona, if you care to come +there. I will write to you there, to let you know where I am. + +Perhaps I shall make peace with the Pope, then I shall soon be by your +side; it is my soul's most ardent wish. + +I send you a hundred kisses. Be sure that nothing equals my love, +unless it be my uneasiness. Write to me every day yourself. Good-bye, +dearest. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 25. + + _February 19th.--Peace of Tolentino with the Pope, who has to pay + for his equivocal attitude and broken treaty._ + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA. + + _Tolentino, February 19, 1797._ + +Peace with Rome has just been signed. Bologna, Ferrara, Romagna, are +ceded to the Republic. The Pope is to pay us thirty millions shortly, +and various works of art. + +I start to-morrow morning for Ancona, and thence for Rimini, Ravenna, +and Bologna. If your health permit, come to Rimini or Ravenna, but, I +beseech you, take care of yourself. + +Not a word from you--what on earth have I done? To think only of you, +to love only Josephine, to live only for my wife, to enjoy happiness +only with my dear one--does this deserve such harsh treatment from +her? My dear, I beg you, think often of me, and write me every day. + +You are ill, or else you do not love me! Do you think, then, that I +have a heart of stone? and do my sufferings concern you so little? You +must know me very ill! I cannot believe it! You to whom nature has +given intelligence, tenderness, and beauty, you who alone can rule my +heart, you who doubtless know only too well the unlimited power you +hold over me! + +Write to me, think of me, and love me.--Yours ever, for life. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _March 16th.--Bonaparte defeats Archduke Charles on the + Tagliamento._ + + _March 25th.--Bonaparte writes the Directory from Goritz that "up + till now Prince Charles has manoeuvred worse than Beaulieu and + Wurmser."_ + + _March 29th.--Klagenfurt taken by Massena._ + + _April 1st.--Laybach by Bernadotte._ + + _April 17th.--Preliminaries of peace at Leoben signed by + Bonaparte._ + + _April 18th._--Hoche crosses the Rhine at Neuwied. + + _April 21st_.--Moreau at Kehl. + + _April 23rd._--Armistice of two Rhine armies follows preliminaries + of Leoben. + + _May 16th.--Augereau enters Venice._ + + _June 28th._--French capture Corfu, and 600 guns. + + _July 8th._--Death of Edmund Burke, aged sixty-eight. + + _July 18th._--Talleyrand becomes French Minister of Foreign + Affairs. + + _September 4th._--Day of 18th Fructidor at Paris. Coup d'État _of + Rewbell, Larévellière-Lépeaux, and Barras, secretly aided by + Bonaparte, who has sent them Augereau to command Paris_. + + _September 18th._--Death of Lazare Hoche, aged twenty-nine, + _probably poisoned by the Directory, which has recalled + Moreau, retired Bernadotte, and will soon launch Bonaparte on + the seas, so that he may find failure and Bantry Bay at Aboukir_ + (Montgaillard). + + _September 30th._--National bankruptcy admitted in France, _the + sixth time in two centuries_. + + _October 17th.---Treaty of Campo-Formio; Bonaparte called + thereupon by Talleyrand "General Pacificator."_ + + _November 16th._--Death of Frederick William II., _King of + Prussia, aged fifty-three_; _succeeded by his son, Frederick + William III., aged twenty-seven_. + + _December 1st.--Bonaparte Minister Plenipotentiary at Congress of + Rastadt, and_ + + _December 5th.--Arrives at Paris._ + + _December 10th.--Bonaparte presented to the Directory by + Talleyrand._ + + _December 27th.--Riots at Rome: Joseph Bonaparte (ambassador) + insulted; General Duphot (engaged to Joseph's sister-in-law, + Desirée) killed._ + + + + +SERIES C + +THE MARENGO CAMPAIGN, 1800 + +LETTERS OF THE FIRST CONSUL BONAPARTE TO HIS WIFE + + + _3rd Outlaw._ "By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar, + This fellow were a king for our wild faction! + + _1st Outlaw._ "We'll have him; sirs, a word. + + _Speed._ "Master, be one of them, + It is an honourable kind of thievery." + + _The Two Gentlemen of Verona_, + Act iv., Scene I. + + + + +SERIES C + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 223-225.) + + + LETTER PAGE + + Christmas Day, 1799 223 + + No. 3. Ivrea, May 29th 224 + _M.'s_ 224 + _Cherries_ 224 + + No. 4. _Milan_ 224 + + + + +THE CAMPAIGN OF MARENGO, 1800. + + +EVENTS OF 1798. + + NAPOLEONIC HISTORY.--_May 20th._--_Napoleon sails from Toulon for + Egypt._ + + _June 11th.--Takes Malta; sails for Egypt (June 20th)._ + + _July 4th.--Captures Alexandria._ + + _July 21st.--Defeats Mamelukes at Battle of the Pyramids, and + enters Cairo the following day._ + + _August 1st.--French Fleet destroyed by Nelson at the Battle of + the Nile._ + + _October 7th.--Desaix defeats Mourad Bey at Sedyman (Upper + Egypt)._ + + * * * * * + + GENERAL HISTORY.--_January 4th._--Confiscation of all English + merchandise in France. Commencement of Continental system. + + _January 5th._--Directory fail to float a loan of 80 millions + (francs), and + + _January 28th._--Forthwith invade Switzerland, ostensibly to + defend the Vaudois, under a sixteenth-century treaty, really to + revolutionise the country, and seize upon the treasure of Berne. + + _February 15th._--Republic proclaimed at Rome. French occupy the + Vatican, and + + _February 20th._--Drive Pope Pius VI. into exile to the convent of + Sienna. + + _March 5th._--Capture of Berne by General Brune. + + _April 13th._--Bernadotte, ambassador, attacked at the French + Embassy in Vienna. + + _May 19th._--Fitzgerald, a leader in the Irish rebellion, + arrested. + + _August 22nd._--General Humbert and 1100 French troops land at + Killala, County Mayo. + + _September 8th._--Humbert and 800 men taken by Lord Cornwallis at + Ballinamack. + + _September 12th._--Turkey declares war with France, and forms + alliance with England and Russia. + + _November 19th._--Wolfe-Tone commits suicide. + + _December 5th._--Macdonald defeats Mack and 40,000 Neapolitans at + Civita Castellana. + + _December 9th._--Joubert occupies Turin. + + _December 15th._--French occupy Rome. + + _December 29th._--Coalition of Russia, Austria, and England + against France. + + +EVENTS OF 1799. + + NAPOLEONIC HISTORY.--_January 23rd._--_Desaix defeats Mourad Bey + at Samhoud (Upper Egypt). February 3rd.--Desaix defeats Mourad Bey + at the Isle of Philae (near Assouan)--furthest limit of the Roman + Empire. Napoleon crosses Syrian desert and takes El Arish + (February 20th) and Gaza (February 25th), captures Jaffa (March + 7th) and Sour, formerly Tyre (April 3rd). Junot defeats Turks and + Arabs at Nazareth (April 8th), and Kléber defeats them at Mount + Tabor (April 16th). Napoleon invests Acre but retires (May 21st), + re-enters Cairo (June 14th), annihilates Turkish army at Aboukir + (July 25th); secretly sails for France (August 23rd), lands at + Frejus (October 9th), arrives at Paris (October 13th); dissolves + the Directory (November 9th) and Council of Five Hundred (November + 10th), and is proclaimed First Consul (December 24th)._ + + * * * * * + + GENERAL HISTORY.--_January 10th._--Championnet occupies Capua. + + _January 20th._--Pacification of La Vendée by General Hédouville. + + _January 23rd._--Championnet occupies Naples. + + _March 3rd._--Corfu taken from the French by a Russo-Turkish + force. + + _March 7th._--Massena defeats the Austrians, and conquers the + country of the Grisons. + + _March 25th._--Archduke Charles defeats Jourdan at Stockach. + + _March 30th._--Kray defeats French (under Schérer) near Verona, + + _April 5th._--And again at Magnano. + + _April 14th._--Suwarrow takes command of Austrian army at Verona; + + _April 22nd._--Defeats French at Cassano, with heavy loss. + + _April 28th._--French plenipotentiaries, returning from Radstadt, + murdered by men in Austrian uniforms--Montgaillard thinks by + creatures of the Directory. + + _May 4th._--Capture of Seringapatam by General Baird. + + _May 12th._--Austro-Russian army checked at Bassignana. + + _May 16th._--Sièyes becomes one of the Directory. + + _May 20th._--Suwarrow takes Brescia, + + _May 24th._--And Milan (citadel). + + _June 5th._--Massena defeated at Zurich by Archduke Charles; and + Macdonald (_June 19th_) by Suwarrow at the Trebbia. + + _June 18th._--Gohier, Roger-Ducos, and Moulin replace Treilhard, + Laréveillère-Lépeaux, and Merlin on the Directory. + + _June 20th._--Turin surrenders to Austro-Russians. + + _June 22nd._--Turkey, Portugal, and Naples join the coalition + against France. + + _July 14th._--French carry their prisoner, Pope Pius VI., to + Valence, where he dies (_August 29th_). + + _July 22nd._--Alessandria surrenders to Austro-Russians. + + _July 30th._--Mantua, after 72 days' siege, surrenders to Kray. + + _August 15th._--French defeated at Novi by Suwarrow. French lose + Joubert and 20,000 men. + + _August 17th._--French, under Lecombe, force the St. Gothard. + + _August 27th._--English army disembark at the Helder. + + _August 30th._--Dutch fleet surrendered to the British Admiral. + + _September 19th._--Brune defeats Duke of York at Bergen. + + _September 25th._--Massena defeats allies at Zurich, who lose + 16,000 men and 100 guns. "Massena saves France at Zurich, as + Villars saved it at Denain."--_Montgaillard._ + + _October 6th._--Brune defeats Duke of York at Kastrikum. + + _October 7th._--French take Constance. + + _October 16th._--Saint-Cyr, without cavalry or cannon, defeats + Austrians at Bosco. + + _October 18th._--Capitulation at Alkmaar by Duke of York to + General Brune. "The son of George III. capitulates at Alkmaar as + little honourably as the son of George II. had capitulated at + Kloster-Seven in 1757."--_Montgaillard._ + + _November 4th._--Melas defeats French at Fossano. + + _November 13th._--Ancona surrendered to the Austrians by Monnier, + after a six months' siege. + + _November 24th._--Moreau made commander of the armies of the Rhine + (being in disgrace, has served as a volunteer in Italy most of + this year); Massena sent to the army of Italy. + + _December 5th._--Coni, the key of Piedmont, surrenders to the + Austrians. + + _December 14th._--Death of George Washington. + + _December 15th._--Battle of Montefaccio, near Genoa. Saint-Cyr + defeats Austrians. + + +EVENTS OF 1800. + + _February 11th._--Bank of France constituted. + + _February 20th._--Kléber defeats Turks at Heliopolis. + + _May 3rd._--Battle of Engen. Moreau defeats Kray, who loses 10,000 + men, and-- + + _May 5th._--Again defeats Austrians at Moeskirch. + + _May 6th.--Napoleon leaves Paris._ + + _May 8th.--Arrives at Auxonne, and on the 9th at Geneva, from + thence moves to Lausanne (May 12th), where he is delighted with + reception accorded to the French troops, and hears of Moreau's + victory at Bibernach (May 11th). On the 14th he hears of Desaix's + safe arrival at Toulon from Egypt, together with Davoust, and + orders the praises of their past achievements to be sung in the_ + Moniteur. _The same day writes Massena that in Genoa a man like + himself (Massena) is worth 20,000. On the 16th is still at + Lausanne._ + + +No. 1. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT PARIS. + + _Lausanne, May 15, 1800._ + +I have been at Lausanne since yesterday. I start to-morrow. My health +is fairly good. The country round here is very beautiful. I see no +reason why, in ten or twelve days, you should not join me here; you +must travel incognito, and not say where you are going, because I want +no one to know what I am about to do. You can say you are going to +Plombières. + +I will send you Moustache,[16] who has just arrived. + +My very kindest regards to Hortense. Eugène will not be here for eight +days; he is _en route_. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 2. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT PARIS. + + _Torre di Garofolo, May 16, 1800._ + +I start immediately to spend the night at Saint-Maurice. I have not +received a single letter from you; that is not well. I have written +you by every courier. + +Eugène may arrive the day after to-morrow. I have rather a cold, but +it will have no ill effects. + +My very kindest regards to you, my good little Josephine, and to all +who belong to you. + + BONAPARTE. + + _May 17th-19th.--At Martigny, "struggling against ice, snow-storms, + and avalanches," and astonishing the great St. Bernard "with the + passage of our 'pieces of 8,' and especially of our limbers--a new + experience for it." On May 20th he climbed the St. Bernard on a + mule, and descended it on a sledge. On May 21st he is at Aosta, + hoping to be back in Paris within a fortnight. His army had passed + the mountain in four days. On May 27th he is at Ivrea, taken by + Lannes on the 24th._ + + +No. 3.[17] + +[_From Tennant's Tour, &c._, vol. ii.] + + 11 P.M. + +I hardly know which way to turn. In an hour I start for Vercelli. +Murat ought to be at Novaro to-night. The enemy is thoroughly +demoralised; he cannot even yet understand us. I hope within ten days +to be in the arms of my Josephine, who is always very good when she is +not crying and not flirting. Your son arrived this evening. I have had +him examined; he is in excellent health. Accept a thousand tender +thoughts. I have received M.'s letter. I will send her by the next +courier a box of excellent cherries. + +We are here--within two months for Paris.--Yours entirely, + + N. B. + +_To Madame Bonaparte._ (Address not in Bonaparte's writing.) + + * * * * * + + _June 1st._--First experiments with vaccination at Paris, with + fluid sent from London. + + _On June 2nd Napoleon enters Milan, where he spends a week._ + + +No. 4. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT PARIS. + + _Milan._ + +I am at Milan, with a very bad cold. I can't stand rain, and I have +been wet to the skin for several hours, but all goes well. I don't +persuade you to come here. I shall be home in a month. I trust to +find you flourishing. I am just starting for Pavia and Stradella. We +are masters of Brescia, Cremona, and Placentia. + +Kindest regards. Murat has borne himself splendidly. + + * * * * * + + _June 5th._--Massena gives up Genoa, but leaves with all the + honours of war. + + _June 7th._--Lannes takes Pavia, 350 cannon, and 10,000 muskets. + + _June 9th.--Battle of Montebello. Bonaparte defeats Austrians, who + lose 8000 men._ + + _June 14th.--Bonaparte wins Marengo, but loses Desaix--"the man I + loved and esteemed the most." In his bulletin he admits the battle + at one time was lost, until he cried to his troops "Children, + remember it is my custom to sleep upon the battlefield." He + mentions the charges of Desaix and Kellermann, and especially + eulogises the latter--a fact interesting on account of the false + statements made of his ignoring it. In the bulletin of June 21st + he blames the "punic faith" of Lord Keith at Genoa, a criticism + the Admiral repaid with usury fifteen years later._ + + _June 14th._--Assassination of Kléber, in Egypt. + + _June 16th.--Convention of Alessandria between Bonaparte and + Melas; end of the "Campaign of Thirty Days."_ + + _June 19th._--Moreau defeats Kray at Hochstedt, and occupies Ulm. + + _June 23rd._--Genoa re-entered by the French. + + _June 26th.--Bonaparte leaves Massena in command of the Army of + Reserve, now united with the Army of Italy._ + + _July 3rd.--The First Consul is back in Paris unexpectedly--not + wishing triumphal arches or such-like "colifichets" In spite of + which the plaudits he receives are very dear to him, "sweet as the + voice of Josephine."_ + + _September 5th._--Vaubois surrenders Malta to the English, after + two years' blockade. + + _September 15th._--Armistice between France and Austria in + Germany. + + _September 30th._--Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between + France and U.S.--agreed that the flag covers the goods. + + _October 3rd._--To facilitate peace King George renounces his + title of King of France. + + _November 12th._--Rupture of Armistice between France and + Austria. + + _December 3rd._--Moreau wins the battle of Hohenlinden (Austrian + loss, 16,000 men, 80 guns; French 3000). + + _December 20th._--Moreau occupies Lintz (100 miles from Vienna). + + _December 24th.--Royalist conspirators fail to kill Bonaparte with + an infernal machine._ + + _December 25th._--Armistice at Steyer between Moreau and Archduke + Charles (sent for by the Austrians a fortnight before as their + last hope). + + +FOOTNOTES + + [16] Bonaparte's courier. + + [17] The date of this letter is May 29, 1800. See Notes. + + + + +SERIES D + + "The peace of Amiens had always been regarded from the side of + England as an armed truce: on the side of Napoleon it had a very + different character.... A careful reader must admit that we were + guilty of a breach of faith in not surrendering Malta. The promise + of its surrender was the principal article of the treaty." + + _England and Napoleon in 1803._ + + (Edited for the R. Hist. S. by Oscar Browning, 1887.) + + + + +SERIES D + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 225-231.) + + + LETTER PAGE + Date 225 + + No. 1. _The blister_ 225 + _Some plants_ 225 + _If the weather is as bad_ 226 + _Malmaison, without you_ 228 + + No. 2. _The fat Eugène_ 228 + + No. 3. _Your letter has come_ 229 + _Injured whilst shooting a boar_ 229 + "_The Barber of Seville_" 229 + + No. 4. _The Sèvres Manufactory_ 230 + + No. 5. _Your lover, who is tired of being alone_ 230 + _General Ney_ 231 + + + + +JOSEPHINE'S TWO VISITS TO PLOMBIÈRES, + +1801 AND 1802. + + +EVENTS OF 1801. + + _January 1st._--Legislative Union of Great Britain and Ireland. + + _January 3rd._--French under Brune occupy Verona, and + + _January 8th._--Vicenza. + + _January 11th._--Cross the Brenta. + + _January 16th._---Armistice at Treviso between Brune and the + Austrian General Bellegarde. + + _February 9th._--Treaty of Luneville, by which the Thalweg of the + Rhine became the boundary of Germany and France. + + _March 8th._--English land at Aboukir. + + _March 21st._--Battle of Alexandria (Canopus). Menou defeated by + Abercromby, with loss of 2000. + + _March 24th._--The Czar Paul is assassinated. + + _March 28th._--Treaty of Peace between France and Naples, who + cedes Elba and Piombino. + + _April 2nd._--Nelson bombards Copenhagen. + + _May 23rd._--General Baird lands at Kosseir on the Red Sea with + 1000 English and 10,000 Sepoys. + + _June 7th._--French evacuate Cairo. + + _July 1st._--Toussaint-Louverture elected Life-Governor of St. + Domingo. Slavery abolished there. The new ruler declares, "I am + the Bonaparte of St. Domingo, and the Colony cannot exist without + me;" and heads his letters to the First Consul, "From the First of + the Blacks to the First of the Whites." + + _July 15th.--Concordat between Bonaparte and the Pope, signed at + Paris by Bonaparte, ratified by the Pope (August 15th)._ + + _August 4th._--Nelson attacks Boulogne flotilla and is repulsed. + + _August 15th._--Attacks again, and suffers severely. + + _August 31st._--Menou capitulates to Hutchinson at Alexandria. + + _September 29th._--Treaty of Peace between France and Portugal; + boundaries of French Guiana extended to the Amazon. + + _October 1st._--Treaty between France and Spain, who restores + Louisiana. Preliminaries of Peace between France and England + signed in London. + + _October 8th._--Treaty of Peace between France and Russia. + + _October 9th._--And between France and Turkey. + + _December 14th._--Expedition sent out to St. Domingo by the French + under General Leclerc. + + +No. 1. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Paris the "27" ..., 1801._ + +The weather is so bad here that I have remained in Paris. Malmaison, +without you, is too dreary. The fête has been a great success; it has +rather tired me. The blister they have put on my arm gives me constant +pain. + +Some plants have come for you from London, which I have sent to your +gardener. If the weather is as bad at Plombières as it is here, you +will suffer severely from floods. + +Best love to "Maman" and Hortense. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + +EVENTS OF 1802. + + _January 4th.--Louis Bonaparte marries Hortense Beauharnais, both + unwilling._ + + _January 9th.--The First Consul, with Josephine, leaves for Lyons, + where,_ + + _January 25th.--He remodels the Cisalpine Republic as the Italian + Republic, under his Presidency._ + + _March 25th._--Treaty of Amiens signed in London. French lose only + Ceylon and Trinidad. Malta to be restored to the Order of Knights, + reconstituted. + + _May 7th._--Toussaint surrenders to Leclerc. + + _May 19th._--Institution of the Legion of Honour. + + +No. 2. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Malmaison, June 19, 1802._ + +I have as yet received no news from you, but I think you must already +have begun to take the waters. It is rather dull for us here, although +your charming daughter does the honours of the house to perfection. +For the last two days I have suffered slightly from my complaint. The +fat Eugène arrived yesterday evening; he is very hale and hearty. + +I love you as I did the first hour, because you are kind and sweet +beyond compare. + +Hortense told me that she was often writing you. + +Best wishes, and a love-kiss.--Yours ever, + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 3. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Malmaison, June 23, 1802._ + +_My Good Little Josephine_,--Your letter has come. I am sorry to see +you have been poorly on the journey, but a few days' rest will put you +right. I am very fairly well. Yesterday I was at the Marly hunt, and +one of my fingers was very slightly injured whilst shooting a boar. + +Hortense is usually in good health. Your fat son has been rather +unwell, but is getting better. I think the ladies are playing "The +Barber of Seville" to-night. The weather is perfect. + +Rest assured that my truest wishes are ever for my little +Josephine.--Yours ever, + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 4. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Malmaison, June 27, 1802._ + +Your letter, dear little wife, has apprised me that you are out of +sorts. Corvisart tells me that it is a good sign that the baths are +having the desired effect, and that your health will soon be +re-established. But I am most truly grieved to know that you are in +pain. + +Yesterday I went to see the Sèvres manufactory at St. Cloud. + +Best wishes to all.--Yours for life, + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _June 29th.--Pope withdraws excommunication from Talleyrand._ + + +No. 5. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Malmaison, July 1, 1802._ + +Your letter of June 29th has arrived. You say nothing of your health +nor of the effect of the baths. I see that you expect to be home in a +week; that is good news for your lover, who is tired of being alone! + +You ought to have seen General Ney, who started for Plombières; he +will be married on his return. + +Yesterday Hortense played Rosina in "The Barber of Seville" with her +usual skill. + +Rest assured of my love, and that I await your return impatiently. +Without you everything here is dreary. + + BONAPARTE. + + * * * * * + + _August 2nd.--Napoleon Bonaparte made First Consul for life._ + "_The conduct and the language of Bonaparte represents at once + Augustus, Mahomet, Louis XI., Masaniello_" (Montgaillard, _an + avowed enemy_). + + _September 22nd._--Opening of the Ourcq Waterworks for the supply + of Paris. + + _September 25th.--Mass celebrated at St. Cloud for the first time. + In this month Napoleon annexes Piedmont, and the next sends Ney to + occupy Switzerland._ + + _October 11th.--Birth of Napoleon Charles, son of Louis Bonaparte + and Hortense._ + + _October 29th.--Napoleon and Josephine visit Normandy, and, + contrary to expectation, receive ovations everywhere. They return + to Paris, November 14th._ + + +EVENTS OF 1803. + + _February 19th._--New constitution imposed by France on + Switzerland. + + _April 14th.--Bank of France reorganised by Bonaparte; it alone + allowed to issue notes._ + + _April 27th._--Death of Toussaint-Louverture at Besançon. + + _April 30th._--France sells Louisiana to U.S. for £4,000,000 (15 + million dollars). + + _May 22nd.--France declares war against England, chiefly + respecting Malta. England having seized all French ships in + British harbours previous to war being declared, Napoleon seizes + all British tourists in France._ + + _May 31st.--His soldiers occupy Electorate of Hanover._ + + _June 14th.--He visits North of France and Belgium, accompanied by + Josephine, and returns to Paris August 12th._ + + _September 27th._--Press censorship established in France. + + _November 30th._--French evacuate St. Domingo. + + + + +SERIES E + +1804 + + +"Everywhere the king of the earth found once more, to put a bridle on +his pride, the inevitable lords of the sea."--BIGNON, v. 130. + + + + +SERIES E + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 232-237.) + + + LETTER PAGE + + No. 1. _Madame_ 232 + _Pont de Bricques_ 232 + _The wind having considerably freshened_ 232 + + No. 2. _The waters_ 233 + _All the vexations_ 233 + _Eugène has started for Blois_ 234 + + No. 3. _Aix-la-Chapelle_ 234 + + No. 4. _During the past week_ 235 + _The day after to-morrow_ 235 + _Hortense_ 235 + _I am very well satisfied_ 235 + + No. 5. Its authenticity 236 + _Arras, August 29th_ 236 + _I am rather impatient to see you_ 236 + + No. 6. _T._ 237 + _B._ 237 + + + + +LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO +THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE DURING HIS +JOURNEY ALONG THE COAST, 1804. + + +EVENTS OF 1804. + + _February 15th._--The conspiracy of Pichegru. Moreau arrested, + Pichegru (_February 28th_), and Georges Cadoudal (_March 9th_). + + _March 21st._--Duc D'Enghien shot at Vincennes. + + _April 6th._--Suicide of Pichegru. + + _April 30th.--Proposal to make Bonaparte Emperor._ + + _May 4th.--Tribune adopts the proposal._ + + _May 18th.--The First Consul becomes the Emperor Napoleon._ + + _May 19th.--Napoleon confers the dignity of Marshal of the Empire + on Berthier, Murat, Moncey, Jourdan, Massena, Augereau, + Bernadotte, Soult, Brune, Lannes, Mortier, Ney, Davoust, + Bessières, Kellermann, Lefebvre, Perignon, Serrurier._ + + _July 14th._--Inauguration of the Legion of Honour. + + +No. 1. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE. + + _Pont-de-Bricques, July 21, 1804._ + +_Madame and dear Wife_,--During the four days that I have been away +from you I have always been either on horseback or in a conveyance, +without any ill effect on my health. + +M. Maret tells me that you intend starting on Monday; travelling by +easy stages, you can take your time and reach the Spa without tiring +yourself. + +The wind having considerably freshened last night, one of our +gunboats, which was in the harbour, broke loose and ran on the +rocks about a league from Boulogne. I believed all lost--men and +merchandise; but we managed to save both. The spectacle was +grand: the shore sheeted in fire from the alarm guns, the sea +raging and bellowing, the whole night spent in anxiety to save +these unfortunates or to see them perish! My soul hovered between +eternity, the ocean, and the night. At 5 A.M. all was calm, +everything saved; and I went to bed with the feeling of having +had a romantic and epic dream--a circumstance which might have +reminded me that I was all alone, had weariness and soaked garments +left me any other need but that of sleep. + + NAPOLEON. + + [_Correspondence of Napoleon I., No. 7861, + communicated by M. Chambry._] + + +No. 2. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. + + _Boulogne, August 3, 1804._ + +_My Dear_,--I trust soon to learn that the waters have done you much +good. I am sorry to hear of all the vexations you have undergone. +Please write me often. My health is very good, although I am rather +tired. I shall be at Dunkirk in a very few days, and shall write you +from there. + +Eugène has started for Blois. + +_Je te couvre de baisers._ + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 3. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. + + _Calais, August 6, 1804._ + +_My Dear_,--I arrived at Calais at midnight; I expect to start +to-night for Dunkirk. I am in very fair health, and satisfied with +what I see. I trust that the waters are doing you as much good as +exercise, camp, and seascape are doing me. + +Eugène has set off for Blois. Hortense is well. Louis is at +Plombières. + +I am longing to see you. You are always necessary to my happiness. My +very best love. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 4. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. + + _Ostend, August 14, 1804._ + +_My Dear_,--I have had no letter from you for several days; yet I +should be more comfortable if I knew that the waters were efficacious, +and how you spend your time. During the past week I have been at +Ostend. The day after to-morrow I shall be at Boulogne for a somewhat +special fête. Advise me by the courier what you intend to do, and how +soon you expect to end your baths. + +I am very well satisfied with the army and the flotillas. Eugène is +still at Blois. I hear no more of Hortense than if she were on the +Congo. I am writing to scold her. + +My best love to all. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 5. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. + + _Arras, Wednesday, August 29, 1804._ + +_Madame and dear Wife_,--I have just reached Arras. I shall stay +there to-morrow. I shall be at Mons on Friday, and on Sunday at +Aix-la-Chapelle. I am as well satisfied with my journey as with the +army. I think I shall pass through Brussels without stopping +there; thence I shall go to Maestricht. I am rather impatient to see +you. I am glad to hear you have tried the waters; they cannot fail +to do you good. My health is excellent. Eugène is well, and is with +me. + +Very kindest regards to every one. + + BONAPARTE. + + [_Translated from a Letter in the Collection of Baron Heath, + Philobiblon Society, vol. xiv._] + + * * * * * + + _October 2nd._--Sir Sydney Smith attacks flotilla at Boulogne + unsuccessfully. + + +No. 6. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT ST. CLOUD. + + _Trèves, October 6, 1804._ + +_My Dear,_--I arrive at Trèves the same moment that you arrive at St. +Cloud. I am in good health. Do not grant an audience to T----, and +refuse to see him. Receive B---- only in general company, and do not +give him a private interview. Make promises to sign marriage contracts +only after I have signed them.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _December 1st.--Plebiscite confirms election of Napoleon as + Emperor, by 3,500,000 votes to 2000._ + + _December 2nd.--Napoleon crowns himself Emperor, and Josephine + Empress, in the presence and with the benediction of the Pope._ + + GENERAL EVENTS.--_October 8th._--The negro Dessalines crowned + Emperor of St. Domingo, under title of James I. + + _December 12th._--Spain declares war against England. + + + + +SERIES F + +CAMPAIGN OF AUSTERLITZ, 1805. + + "To convey an idea of the brilliant campaign of 1805 ... I should, + like the almanack-makers, be obliged to note down a victory for + every day."--BOURRIENNE, vol. ii. 323. + + "Si jamais correspondence de mari à femme a été intime et + fréquente, si jamais continuité et permanence de tendresse a été + marquée, c'est bien dans ces lettres écrites, chaque jour presque, + par Napoléon à sa femme durant la campagne de l'an XIV."--F. + MASSON, _Joséphine, Impératrice et Reine_, 1899, p. 427. + + + + +SERIES F + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 237-243.) + + + LETTER PAGE + + No. 1. _To Josephine_ 237 + _Strasburg_ 237 + _Stuttgard_ 237 + _I am well placed_ 237 + + No. 2. _Louisburg_ 238 + _In a few days_ 238 + _A new bride_ 238 + _Electress_ 238 + + No. 3. _I have assisted at a marriage_ 238 + + No. 5. The abbey of Elchingen 238 + + No. 6. _Spent the whole of to-day indoors_ 238 + _Vicenza_ 238 + + No. 7. _Elchingen_ 239 + _Such a catastrophe_ 239 + + No. 9. _Munich_ 239 + _Lemarois_ 239 + _I was grieved_ 239 + _Amuse yourself_ 239 + _Talleyrand has come_ 240 + + No. 10. _We are always in forests_ 240 + _My enemies_ 240 + + No. 11. Lintz 240 + + No. 12. Schoenbrunn 241 + + No. 13. _They owe everything to you_ 241 + + No. 14. _Austerlitz_ 241 + _December 2nd_ 241 + + No. 17. _A long time since I had news of you_ 241 + + No. 19. _I await events_ 242 + _I, for my part, am sufficiently busy_ 242 + + + + +LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO +THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, DURING THE +AUSTERLITZ CAMPAIGN, 1805. + + +EVENTS OF 1805. + + _March 13th.--Napoleon proclaimed King of Italy._ + + _May 26th.--Crowned at Milan._ + + _June 8th.--Prince Eugène named Viceroy of Italy._ + + _June 23rd.--Lucca made a principality, and given to Elisa + Bonaparte._ + + _July 22nd._--Naval battle between Villeneuve and Sir Robert + Calder, which saves England from invasion. + + _August 16th.--Napoleon breaks up camp of Boulogne._ + + _September 8th._--Third Continental Coalition (Russia, Austria, + and England against France). Austrians cross the Inn, and invade + Bavaria. + + _September 21st._--Treaty of Paris between France and Naples, + which engages to take no part in the war. + + _September 23rd._--_Moniteur_ announces invasion of Bavaria by + Austria. + + _September 24th.--Napoleon leaves Paris._ + + _September 27th.--Joins at Strasburg his Grand Army(160,000 + strong)._ + + _October 1st.--Arrives at Ettlingen._ + + _October 2nd.--Arrives at Louisbourg. Hostilities commence._ + + +No. 1. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT STRASBURG. + + _Imperial Headquarters, Ettlingen_, + + _October 2, 1805_, 10 A.M. + +I am well, and still here. I am starting for Stuttgard, where I shall +be to-night. Great operations are now in progress. The armies of +Wurtemberg and Baden have joined mine. I am well placed for the +campaign, and I love you. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 2. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT STRASBURG. + + _Louisbourg, October 4, 1805, Noon._ + +I am at Louisbourg. I start to-night. There is as yet nothing new. My +whole army is on the march. The weather is splendid. My junction with +the Bavarians is effected. I am well. I trust in a few days to have +something interesting to communicate. + +Keep well, and believe in my entire affection. There is a brilliant +Court here, a new bride who is very beautiful, and upon the whole some +very pleasant people, even our Electress, who appears extremely kind, +although the daughter of the King of England. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 3. + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT STRASBURG. + + _Louisbourg, October 5, 1805._ + +I continue my march immediately. You will, my dear, be five or six +days without hearing from me; don't be uneasy, it is connected with +operations now taking place. All goes well, and just as I could wish. + +I have assisted at a marriage between the son of the Elector and a +niece of the King of Prussia. I wish to give the young princess a +wedding present to cost 36,000 to 40,000 francs. Please attend to +this, and send it to the bride by one of my chamberlains, when they +shall come to rejoin me. This matter must be attended to immediately. + +Adieu, dear, I love you and embrace you. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _October 6th-7th.--French cross the Danube and turn Mack's army._ + + _October 8th.--Battle of Wertingen. (Murat defeats the Austrians.)_ + + _October 9th.--Battle of Gunzburg. (Ney defeats Mack.)_ + + +No. 4. + + _October 10th.--French enter Augsbourg._ + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT STRASBURG. + + _Augsbourg, Thursday, October 10, 1805_, + + 11 A.M. + +I slept last night[18] with the former Elector of Trèves, who is very +well lodged. For the past week I have been hurrying forward. The +campaign has been successful enough so far. I am very well, although +it rains almost every day. Events crowd on us rapidly. I have sent to +France 4000 prisoners, 8 flags, and have 14 of the enemy's cannon. + +Adieu, dear, I embrace you. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _October 11th.--Battle of Hasslach. Dupont holds his own against + much superior forces._ + + +No. 5. + + _October 12th.--French enter Munich._ + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT STRASBURG. + + _October 12, 1805_, 11 P.M. + +My army has entered Munich. On one side the enemy is beyond the Inn; I +hold the other army, 60,000 strong, blocked on the Iller, between Ulm +and Memmingen. The enemy is beaten, has lost its head, and everything +points to a most glorious campaign, the shortest and most brilliant +which has been made. In an hour I start for Burgau-sur-l'Iller. + +I am well, but the weather is frightful. It rains so much that I +change my clothes twice a day. + +I love and embrace you. + + NAPOLEON. + + _October 14th.--Capture of Memmingen and 4OOO Austrians by + Soult._ + + _October 15th.--Battle of Elchingen. Ney defeats Laudon._ + + _October 17th.--Capitulation of Ulm._ + + +No. 6. + + _October 19th.--Werneck and 8000 men surrender to Murat._ + +TO JOSEPHINE, AT STRASBURG. + + _Abbaye d'Elchingen, October 19, 1805._ + +_My dear Josephine_,--I have tired myself more than I ought. Soaked +garments and cold feet every day for a week have made me rather ill, +but I have spent the whole of to-day indoors, which has rested me. + +My design has been accomplished; I have destroyed the Austrian army by +marches alone; I have made 60,000 prisoners, taken 120 pieces of +cannon, more than 90 flags, and more than 30 generals. I am about to +fling myself on the Russians; they are lost men. I am satisfied with +my army. I have only lost 1500 men, of whom two-thirds are but +slightly wounded. + +Prince Charles is on his way to cover Vienna. I think Massena should +be already at Vicenza. + +The moment I can give my thoughts to Italy, I will make Eugène win a +battle. + +Very best wishes to Hortense. + +Adieu, my Josephine; kindest regards to every one. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _October 20th.--Mack and his army defile before Napoleon._ + + +No. 7. + + _October 21st._--Battle of Trafalgar; Franco-Spanish fleet + destroyed after a five hours' fight. "The result of the battle of + Trafalgar compensates, for England, the results of the operations + of Ulm. It has been justly observed that this power alone, of all + those who fought France from 1793 to 1812, never experienced a + check in her political or military combinations without seeing + herself compensated forthwith by a signal success in some other + part of the world" (_Montgaillard_). + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Elchingen, October 21, 1805, Noon._ + +I am fairly well, my dear. I start at once for Augsbourg. I have made +33,000 men lay down their arms, I have from 60,000 to 70,000 +prisoners, more than 90 flags, and 200 pieces of cannon. Never has +there been such a catastrophe in military annals! + +Take care of yourself. I am rather jaded. The weather has been fine +for the last three days. The first column of prisoners files off for +France to-day. Each column consists of 6000 men. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 8. + + _October 25th._--The Emperor of Russia and King of Prussia swear, + at the tomb of the Great Frederick, to make implacable war on + France (Convention signed November 3rd). + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Augsburg, October 25, 1805._ + +The two past nights have thoroughly rested me, and I am going to start +to-morrow for Munich. I am sending word to M. de Talleyrand and M. +Maret to be near at hand. I shall see something of them, and I am +going to advance upon the Inn in order to attack Austria in the heart +of her hereditary states. I should much have liked to see you; but do +not reckon upon my sending for you, unless there should be an +armistice or winter quarters. + +Adieu, dear; a thousand kisses. Give my compliments to the ladies. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 9. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Munich, Sunday, October 27, 1805._ + +I received your letter per Lemarois. I was grieved to see how +needlessly you have made yourself unhappy. I have heard particulars +which have proved how much you love me, but you should have more +fortitude and confidence. Besides, I had advised you that I should be +six days without writing you. + +To-morrow I expect the Elector. At noon I start to support my advance +on the Inn. My health is fair. You need not think of crossing the +Rhine for two or three weeks. You must be cheerful, amuse yourself, +and hope that before the end of the month[19] we shall meet. + +I am advancing against the Russian army. In a few days I shall have +crossed the Inn. + +Adieu, my dear; kindest regards to Hortense, Eugène, and the two +Napoleons. + +Keep back the wedding present a little longer. + +Yesterday I gave a concert to the ladies of this court. The precentor +is a superior man. + +I took part in the Elector's pheasant-shoot; you see by that that I am +not so tired. M. de Talleyrand has come. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _October 28th._--Grand Army cross the Inn. Lannes occupies + Braunau. + + _October 28th to October 29th-30th.--Battle of Caldiero._--Massena + with 55,000 men attacks Archduke Charles entrenched with 70,000; + after two days' fight French repulsed at this place, previously + disastrous to their arms. + + +No. 10. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Haag, November 3, 1805_, 10 P.M. + +I am in full march; the weather is very cold, the earth covered with a +foot of snow. This is rather trying. Luckily there is no want of wood; +here we are always in forests. I am fairly well. My campaign proceeds +satisfactorily; my enemies must have more anxieties than I. + +I wish to hear from you and to learn that you are not worrying +yourself. + +Adieu, dear; I am going to lie down. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _November 4th._--Combat of Amstetten. Lannes and Murat drive back + the Russians. Davoust occupies Steyer. Army of Italy takes + Vicenza. + + +No. 11. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Tuesday, November 5, 1805._ + +I am at Lintz. The weather is fine. We are within seventy miles of +Vienna. The Russians do not stand; they are in full retreat. The house +of Austria is at its wit's end, and in Vienna they are removing all +the court belongings. It is probable that something new will occur +within five or six days. I much desire to see you again. My health is +good. + +I embrace you. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _November 7th._--Ney occupies Innsbruck. + + _November 9th._--Davoust defeats Meerfeldt at Marienzell. + + _November 10th._--Marmont arrives at Leoben. + + _November 11th._---Battle of Diernstein; Mortier overwhelmed by + Russians, but saved by Dupont. + + _November 13th._--Vienna entered and bridge over the Danube + seized. Massena crosses the Tagliamento. + + _November 14th._--Ney enters Trent. + + +No. 12. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _November 15, 1805_, 9 P.M. + +I have been at Vienna two days, my dear, rather fagged. I have not yet +seen the city by day; I have traversed it by night. To-morrow I +receive the notables and public bodies. Nearly all my troops are +beyond the Danube, in pursuit of the Russians. + +Adieu, Josephine; as soon as it is possible I will send for you. My +very best love. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 13. + + _November 16th._--Jellachich surrenders to Augereau at Feldkirch + with 7000 men. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Vienna, November 16, 1805._ + +I am writing to M. d'Harville, so that you can set out and make your +way to Baden, thence to Stuttgard, and from there to Munich. At +Stuttgard you will give the wedding present to the Princess Paul. If +it costs fifteen to twenty thousand francs, that will suffice; the +rest will do for giving presents at Munich to the daughters of the +Electress of Bavaria. All that Madame de Serent[20] has advised you is +definitely arranged. Take with you the wherewithal to make presents to +the ladies and officers who will wait upon you. Be civil, but receive +full homage; they owe everything to you, and you owe nothing save +civility. The Electress of Wurtemberg is daughter of the King of +England. She is an excellent woman; you should be very kind to her, +but yet without affectation. + +I shall be very glad to see you, the moment circumstances permit me. I +start to join my vanguard. The weather is frightful; it snows heavily. +Otherwise my affairs go excellently. + +Adieu, my dear. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _November 19th.--French occupy Brunn, and Napoleon establishes his + headquarters at Wischau._ + + _November 24th._--Massena occupies Trieste. + + _November 28th._--Army of Italy joins troops of the Grand Army at + Klagenfurt. + + _December 2nd._--Battle of the Three Emperors (Austerlitz). French + forces 80,000; allies 95,000. + + +No. 14. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Austerlitz, December 3, 1805._ + +I have despatched to you Lebrun from the field of battle. I have +beaten the Russian and Austrian army commanded by the two Emperors. I +am rather fagged. I have bivouacked eight days in the open air, +through nights sufficiently keen. To-night I rest in the château of +Prince Kaunitz, where I shall sleep for the next two or three hours. +The Russian army is not only beaten, but destroyed. + +I embrace you. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _December 4th.--Haugwitz, the Prussian Minister, congratulates + Napoleon on his victory. "Voilà!" replied the Emperor; "un + compliment dont la fortune a changé l'addresse."_ + + +No. 15. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MUNICH. + + _Austerlitz, December 5, 1805._ + +I have concluded a truce. The Russians have gone. The battle of +Austerlitz is the grandest of all I have fought. Forty-five flags, +more than 150 pieces of cannon, the standards of the Russian Guard, 20 +generals, 30,000 prisoners, more than 20,000 slain--a horrible sight. + +The Emperor Alexander is in despair, and on his way to Russia. +Yesterday, at my bivouac, I saw the Emperor of Germany. We conversed +for two hours; we have agreed to make peace quickly. + +The weather is not now very bad. At last behold peace restored to the +Continent; it is to be hoped that it is going to be to the world. The +English will not know how to face us. + +I look forward with much pleasure to the moment when I can once more +be near you. My eyes have been rather bad the last two days; I have +never suffered from them before. + +Adieu, my dear. I am fairly well, and very anxious to embrace you. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 16. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MUNICH. + + _Austerlitz, December 7, 1805._ + +I have concluded an armistice; within a week peace will be made. I am +anxious to hear that you reached Munich in good health. The Russians +are returning; they have lost enormously--more than 20,000 dead and +30,000 taken. Their army is reduced by three-quarters. Buxhowden, +their general-in-chief, was killed. I have 3000 wounded and 700 to 800 +dead. + +My eyes are rather bad; it is a prevailing complaint, and scarcely +worth mentioning. + +Adieu, dear. I am very anxious to see you again. + +I am going to sleep to-night at Vienna. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 17. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MUNICH. + + _Brunn, December 10, 1805._ + +It is a long time since I had news of you. Have the grand fêtes at +Baden, Stuttgard, and Munich made you forget the poor soldiers, who +live covered with mud, rain, and blood? + +I shall start in a few days for Vienna. + +We are endeavouring to conclude peace. The Russians have gone, and are +in flight far from here; they are on their way back to Russia, well +drubbed and very much humiliated. + +I am very anxious to be with you again. + +Adieu, dear. + +My bad eyes are cured. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _December 15th.--Treaty with Prussia._ + + +No. 18. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MUNICH. + + _December 19, 1805._ + +_Great Empress_,--Not a single letter from you since your departure +from Strasburg. You have gone to Baden, Stuttgard, Munich, without +writing us a word. This is neither very kind nor very affectionate. + +I am still at Brunn. The Russians are gone. I have a truce. In a few +days I shall see what I may expect. Deign from the height of your +grandeur to concern yourself a little with your slaves. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 19. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MUNICH. + + _Schönbrunn, December 20, 1805._ + +I got your letter of the 16th. I am sorry to learn you are in pain. +You are not strong enough to travel two hundred and fifty miles at +this time of the year. I know not what I shall do; I await events. I +have no will in the matter; everything depends on their issue. Stay at +Munich; amuse yourself. That is not difficult when you have so many +kind friends and so beautiful a country. I, for my part, am +sufficiently busy. In a few days my decision will be made. + +Adieu, dear. Kindest and most affectionate regards. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _December 27th.[21]--Peace of Presburg._ + + _December 31st.--Napoleon arrives outside Munich, and joins + Josephine the next morning._ + + +FOOTNOTES + + [18] _J'ai couché aujourd'hui_--_i.e._ a few hours' morning sleep. + + [19] The month _Brumaire--i.e._ before November 21st. + + [20] Countess de Serent, the Empress's lady-in-waiting. + + [21] _VI. Nivose_, which for the year 1805 was December 27 (see Harris + Nicolas' "Chronology of History"). Haydn, Woodward, Bouillet, + all have December 26th; Alison and _Biographie Universelle_ + have December 27th; but, as usual, the "Correspondence of + Napoleon I." is taken here as the final court of appeal. + + + + +SERIES G + +"Battles then lasted a few hours, campaigns a few days." + + --BIGNON, _On Friedland_ (vol. vi. 292). + + + + +SERIES G + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 243-264.) + + + LETTER PAGE + + No. 1. _Princess of Baden_ 244 + _Hortense_ 244 + _The Grand Duke_ 244 + _Florence_ 244 + + No. 2. _Bamberg_ 244 + _Eugène_ 244 + _Her husband_ 245 + + No. 3. _Erfurt_ 245 + _If she wants to see a battle_ 245 + + No. 4. _I nearly captured him and + the Queen_ 246 + _I have bivouacked_ 246 + + No. 5. _Fatigues, bivouacs + have made me fat_ 246 + _The great M. Napoleon_ 247 + + No. 7. _Potsdam_ 247 + + No. 8. _You do nothing but cry_ 247 + + No. 9_a_. _Madame Tallien_ 247 + + No. 10. _The bad things I say + about women_ 248 + + No. 11. _Lubeck_ 250 + + No. 13. _Madame L._ 250 + + No. 17. _December 2nd_ 250 + + No. 18. _Jealousy_ 250 + + No. 19. _Desir de femme est un feu + qui dévore_ 251 + + No. 23. _I am dependent on events_ 251 + + No. 26. _The fair ones of Great + Poland_ 251 + _A wretched barn_ 252 + _Such things become common + property_ 252 + + No. 27. _Warsaw, January 3rd_ 252 + + No. 28. _Be cheerful--gai_ 253 + + No. 29. _Roads unsafe and detestable_ 253 + + No. 35. _I hope that you are at Paris_ 254 + _T._ 254 + + No. 36. _Paris_ 254 + + No. 38. Arensdorf 254 + + No. 39. _The Battle of Preussich-Eylau_ 254 + + No. 40. _Corbineau_ 256 + _Dahlmann_ 256 + + No. 41. _Young Tascher_ 256 + + No. 42. Napoleon's Correspondence 256 + + No. 43. _I am still at Eylau_ 257 + _This country is covered + with dead and wounded_ 257 + + No. 50. _Osterode_ 257 + _It is not as good as the + great city_ 258 + _I have ordered what you + wish for Malmaison_ 258 + + No. 54. _Minerva_ 259 + + No. 55. The first use of _Vous_ 259 + + No. 56. _Dupuis_ 260 + + No. 58. _M. de T._ 260 + + No. 60. _Marshal Bessières_ 260 + + No. 63. Date 260 + + No. 67. _Sweet, pouting, and capricious_ 260 + + No. 68. _Madame_ ---- 261 + _Measles_ 261 + + No. 69. _I trust I may hear you + have been rational_ 261 + + No. 71. _May 20th_ 262 + + No. 74. _I am vexed with Hortense_ 262 + + No. 78. _Friedland_ 263 + + No. 79. _Tilsit_ 264 + + + + + LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO + THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE DURING THE + CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRUSSIA AND RUSSIA, + 1806-7. + + +1806. + + _January 1st.--The Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Wurtemberg + created Kings by France._ + + _January 23rd._--Death of William Pitt, aged 47. + + _February 15th.--Joseph Bonaparte enters Naples, and on_ + + _March 10th is declared King of the Two Sicilies._ + + _April 1st.--Prussia seizes Hanover._ + + _June 5th.--Louis Bonaparte made King of Holland._ + + _July 6th.--Battle of Maida (Calabria. English defeat General + Reynier. French loss 4000; English 500)._ + + _July 12th.--Napoleon forms Confederation of the Rhine, with + himself as Chief and Protector._ + + _July 18th.--Gaeta surrenders to Massena._ + + _August 6th.--Francis II., Emperor of Germany, becomes Emperor of + Austria as Francis I._ + + _August 15th.--Russia refuses to ratify peace preliminaries signed + by her ambassador at Paris on July 25th._ + + _September 13th._--Death of Charles James Fox, aged 57. + + +No. 1. + + _October 5th.--Proclamation by the Prince of the Peace against + France (germ of Spanish War)._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _October 5, 1806._ + +It will be quite in order for the Princess of Baden to come to +Mayence. I cannot think why you weep; you do wrong to make yourself +ill. Hortense is inclined to pedantry; she loves to air her views. She +has written me; I am sending her a reply. She ought to be happy and +cheerful. Pluck and a merry heart--that's the recipe. + +Adieu, dear. The Grand Duke has spoken to me about you; he saw you at +Florence at the time of the retreat. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 2. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Bamberg, October 7, 1806._ + +I start this evening, my dear, for Cronach. The whole of my army is +advancing. All goes well. My health is perfect. I have only received +as yet one letter from you. I have some from Eugène and from Hortense. +Stephanie should now be with you. Her husband wishes to make the +campaign; he is with me. + +Adieu. A thousand kisses and the best of health. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _October 8th.--Prussia, assisted by Saxony, Russia, and England, + declares war against France._ + + _October 9th.--Campaign opens. Prussians defeated at Schleitz._ + + _October 10th.--Lannes defeats them at Saalfeld. Prince Louis of + Prussia killed; 1000 men and 30 guns taken._ + + _October 11th.--French peace negotiations with England broken + off._ + + +No. 3. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Gera_, _October 13, 1806_, 2 A.M. + +_My Dear_,--I am at Gera to-day. My affairs go excellently well, and +everything as I could wish. With the aid of God, they will, I believe, +in a few days have taken a terrible course for the poor King of +Prussia, whom I am sorry for personally, because he is a good man. +The Queen is at Erfurt with the King. If she wants to see a battle, +she shall have that cruel pleasure. I am in splendid health. I have +already put on flesh since my departure; yet I am doing, in person, +twenty and twenty-five leagues a day, on horseback, in my carriage, in +all sorts of ways. I lie down at eight, and get up at midnight. I +fancy at times that you have not yet gone to bed.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _October 14th.--Battles of Jena and Auerstadt._ + + +No. 4. + + _October 15th.--Napoleon at Weimar, He releases 6000 Saxon + prisoners, which soon causes peace with Saxony._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Jena_, _October 15, 1806_, 3 A.M. + +_My Dear_,--I have made excellent manoeuvres against the Prussians. +Yesterday I won a great victory. They had 150,000 men. I have made +20,000 prisoners, taken 100 pieces of cannon, and flags. I was in +presence of the King of Prussia, and near to him; I nearly captured +him and the Queen. For the past two days I have bivouacked. I am in +excellent health. + +Adieu, dear. Keep well, and love me. + +If Hortense is at Mayence, give her a kiss; also to Napoleon and to +the little one. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 5. + + _October 16th.--Soult routs Kalkreuth at Greussen; Erfurt and + 16,000 men capitulate to Murat._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Weimar_, _October 16, 1806_, 5 P.M. + +M. Talleyrand will have shown you the bulletin, my dear; you will see +my successes therein. All has happened as I calculated, and never was +an army more thoroughly beaten and more entirely destroyed. I need +only add that I am very well, and that fatigue, bivouacs, and +night-watches have made me fat. + +Adieu, dear. Kindest regards to Hortense and to the great M. +Napoleon.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _October 17th.--Bernadotte defeats Prussian reserve at Halle._ + + _October 18th.--Davoust takes Leipsic, and an enormous stock of + English merchandise._ + + _October 19th.--Napoleon at Halle._ + + _October 20th.--Lannes takes Dessau, and Davoust Wittenberg._ + + _October 21st.--Napoleon at Dessau._ + + +No. 6. + + _October 23rd.--Napoleon makes Wittenberg central depôt for his + army._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Wittenberg, October 23, 1806, Noon._ + +I have received several of your letters. I write you only a line. My +affairs prosper. To-morrow I shall be at Potsdam, and at Berlin on the +25th. I am wonderfully well, and thrive on hard work. I am very glad +to hear you are with Hortense and Stephanie, _en grande compagnie_. So +far, the weather has been fine. + +Kind regards to Stephanie, and to everybody, not forgetting M. +Napoleon. + +Adieu, dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 7. + + _October 24th.--Lannes occupies Potsdam._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Potsdam, October 24, 1806._ + +_My Dear_,--I have been at Potsdam since yesterday, and shall remain +there to-day. I continue satisfied with my undertakings. My health is +good; the weather very fine. I find Sans-Souci very pleasant. + +Adieu, dear. Best wishes to Hortense and to M. Napoleon. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _October 25th.--Marshal Davoust enters Berlin; Bernadotte occupies + Brandenburg._ + + _October 28th.--Prince Hohenlohe surrenders at Prenzlau to Murat + with 16,000 men, including the Prussian Guard._ + + _October 30th.--Stettin surrenders with 5000 men and 150 cannon._ + + +No. 8. + + _November 1st.--Anklam surrenders, with 4000 men, to General + Becker._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _November 1, 1806_, 2 A.M. + +Talleyrand has just arrived and tells me, my dear, that you do nothing +but cry. What on earth do you want? You have your daughter, your +grandchildren, and good news; surely these are sufficient reasons for +being happy and contented. + +The weather here is superb; there has not yet fallen during the whole +campaign a single drop of water. I am very well, and all goes +excellently. + +Adieu, dear; I have received a letter from M. Napoleon; I do not +believe it is from him, but from Hortense. Kindest regards to +everybody. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _November 2nd.--Kustrin surrenders, with 4000 men and 90 guns, to + Davoust._ + + +No. 9. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Berlin, November 2, 1806._ + +Your letter of October 26th to hand. We have splendid weather here. +You will see by the bulletin that we have taken Stettin--it is a very +strong place. All my affairs go as well as possible, and I am +thoroughly satisfied. One pleasure is alone wanting--that of seeing +you, but I hope that will not long be deferred. + +Kindest regards to Hortense, Stephanie, and to the little Napoleon. + +Adieu, dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 9A. + +From the Memoirs of Mademoiselle d'Avrillon (vol. i. 128). + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Berlin, Monday, Noon._ + +_My Dear_,--I have received your letter. I am glad to know that you +are in a place which pleases me, and especially to know that you are +very well there. Who should be happier than you? You should live +without a worry, and pass your time as pleasantly as possible; that, +indeed, is my intention. + +I forbid you to see Madame Tallien, under any pretext whatever. I will +admit of no excuse. If you desire a continuance of my esteem, if you +wish to please me, never transgress the present order. She may +possibly come to your apartments, to enter them by night; forbid your +porter to admit her. + + * * * * * + +I shall soon be at Malmaison. I warn you to have no lovers there that +night; I should be sorry to disturb them. Adieu, dear; I long to see +you and assure you of my love and affection. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 10. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _November 6, 1806_, 9 P.M. + +Yours to hand, in which you seem annoyed at the bad things I say about +women; it is true that I hate intriguing women more than anything. I +am used to kind, gentle, persuasive women; these are the kind I like. +If I have been spoilt, it is not my fault, but yours. Moreover, you +shall learn how kind I have been to one who showed herself sensible +and good, Madame d'Hatzfeld. When I showed her husband's letter to her +she admitted to me, amid her sobs, with profound emotion, and frankly, +"Ah! it is indeed his writing!" While she was reading, her voice went +to my heart; it pained me. I said, "Well, madame, throw that letter on +the fire, I shall then have no longer the power to punish your +husband." She burnt the letter, and seemed very happy. Her husband now +feels at ease; two hours later he would have been a dead man. You see +then how I like kind, frank, gentle women; but it is because such +alone resemble you. + +Adieu, dear; my health is good. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _November 6th and 7th.--Blucher and his army (17,000 men) + surrender at Lubeck to Soult, Murat, and Bernadotte._ + + _November 8th.--Magdeburg surrenders to Ney, with 20,000 men, + immense stores, and nearly 800 cannon._ + + +No. 11. + + _November 9th.--Napoleon levies a contribution of 150 million + francs on Prussia and her allies._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Berlin, November 9, 1806._ + +_My Dear_,--I am sending good news. Magdeburg has capitulated, and on +November 7th I took 20,000 men at Lubeck who escaped me last week. The +whole Prussian army, therefore, is captured; even beyond the Vistula +there does not remain to Prussia 20,000 men. Several of my army corps +are in Poland. I am still at Berlin. I am very fairly well. + +Adieu, dear; heartiest good wishes to Hortense, Stephanie, and the two +little Napoleons.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _November 10th.--Davoust occupies Posen. Hanover occupied by + Marshal Mortier._ + + +No. 12. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Berlin, November 16, 1806._ + +I received your letter of November 11th. I note with satisfaction that +my convictions give you pleasure. You are wrong to think flattery was +intended; I was telling you of yourself as I see you. I am grieved to +think that you are tired of Mayence. Were the journey less long, you +might come here, for there is no longer an enemy, or, if there is, he +is beyond the Vistula; that is to say, more than three hundred miles +away. I will wait to hear what you think about it. I should also be +delighted to see M. Napoleon. + +Adieu, my dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + +I have still too much business here for me to return to Paris. + + * * * * * + + _November 17th.--Suspension of arms signed at Charlottenburg._ + + _November 19th.--French occupy Hamburg._ + + _November 20th.--French occupy Hameln._ + + _November 21st.--French occupy Bremen. Berlin decree. Napoleon + interdicts trade with England._ + + +No. 13. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _November 22, 1806_, 10 P.M. + +Your letter received. I am sorry to find you in the dumps; yet you +have every reason to be cheerful. You are wrong to show so much +kindness to people who show themselves unworthy of it. Madame L---- +is a fool; such an idiot that you ought to know her by this time, and +pay no heed to her. Be contented, happy in my friendship, and in the +great influence you possess. In a few days I shall decide whether to +summon you hither or send you to Paris. + +Adieu, dear; you can go at once, if you like, to Darmstadt, or to +Frankfort; that will make you forget your troubles. + +Kindest regards to Hortense. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _November 25th.--Napoleon leaves Berlin._ + + +No. 14. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Kustrin, November 26, 1806._ + +I am at Kustrin, making a tour and spying out the land a little; I +shall see in a day or two whether you should come. You can keep ready. +I shall be very pleased if the Queen of Holland be of the party. The +Grand Duchess of Baden must write to her husband about it. + +It is 2 A.M. I am just getting up; it is the usage of war. + +Kindest regards to you and to every one. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 15. + + _November 27th.--Napoleon arrives at Posen._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Meseritz, November 27, 1806_, 2 A.M. + +I am about to make a tour in Poland. This is the first town there. +To-night I shall be at Posen, after which I shall send for you to come +to Berlin, so that you can arrive there the same day as I. My health +is good, the weather rather bad; it has rained for the past three +days. My affairs prosper. The Russians are in flight. + +Adieu, dear; kindest regards to Hortense, Stephanie, and the little +Napoleons. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _November 28th.--Murat enters Warsaw. French occupy Duchies of + Mecklenburg._ + + +No. 16. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Posen, November 29, 1806, Noon._ + +I am at Posen, capital of Great Poland. The cold weather has set in; I +am in good health. I am about to take a circuit round Poland. My +troops are at the gates of Warsaw. + +Adieu, dear; very kindest regards, and a hearty embrace. + + +No. 17. + + _December 2nd.--Glogau surrenders to Vandamme._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Posen, December 2, 1806._ + +To-day is the anniversary of Austerlitz. I have been to a city ball. +It is raining; I am in good health. I love you and long for you. My +troops are at Warsaw. So far the cold has not been severe. All these +fair Poles are Frenchwomen at heart; but there is only one woman +for me. Would you know her? I could draw her portrait very well; +but I should have to flatter it too much for you to recognise +yourself;--yet, to tell the truth, my heart would only have nice +things to say to you. These nights are long, all alone.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 18. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + +_December 3, 1806, Noon._ + +Yours of November 26th received. I notice two things in it. You say I +do not read your letters: it is an unkind thought. I take your bad +opinion anything but kindly. You tell me that perhaps it is a mere +phantasy of the night, and you add that you are not jealous. I found +out long ago that angry persons always assert that they are not angry; +that those who are afraid keep on repeating that they have no fear; +you therefore are convinced of jealousy. I am delighted to hear it! +Nevertheless, you are wrong; I think of nothing less, and in the +desert plains of Poland one thinks little about beauties.... + +I had yesterday a ball of the provincial nobility--the women +good-looking enough, rich enough, dowdy enough, although in Paris +fashions. + +Adieu, dear; I am in good health.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 19. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Posen, December 3, 1806_, 6 P.M. + +Yours of November 27th received, from which I see that your little +head is quite turned. I am reminded of the verse-- + + "Désir de femme est un feu qui dévore." + +Still you must calm yourself. I wrote you that I was in Poland; that, +when we were established in winter quarters, you could come; you will +have to wait a few days. The greater one becomes, the less one can +consult one's wishes--being dependent on events and circumstances. You +can come to Frankfort or Darmstadt. I am hoping to send for you in a +few days; that is, if circumstances will permit. The warmth of your +letter makes me realise that you, like other pretty women, know no +bounds. What you will, must be; but, as for me, I declare that of all +men I am the greatest slave; my master has no pity, and this master is +the nature of things. + +Adieu, dear; keep well. The person that I wished to speak to you about +is Madame L----, of whom every one is speaking ill; they assure me +that she is more Prussian than French woman. I don't believe it, but I +think her an idiot who talks nothing but trash. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _December 6th.--Thorn (on the Vistula) occupied by Ney._ + + +No. 20. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + +_Posen, December 9, 1806._ + +Yours of December 1st received. I see with pleasure that you are more +cheerful; that the Queen of Holland wishes to come with you. I long to +give the order; but you must still wait a few days. My affairs +prosper. + +Adieu, dear; I love you and wish to see you happy. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 21. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + +_Posen, December 10, 1806_, 5 P.M. + +An officer has just brought me a rug, a gift from you; it is somewhat +short and narrow, but I thank you for it none the less. I am in fair +health. The weather is very changeable. My affairs prosper pretty +well. I love you and long for you much. + +Adieu, dear; I shall write for you to come with at least as much +pleasure as you will have in coming.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + +A kiss to Hortense, Stephanie, and Napoleon. + + * * * * * + + _December 11th.--Davoust forces the passage of the Bug._ + + +No. 22. + + _December 12th.--Treaty of peace and alliance between France and + Saxony signed at Posen._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Posen, December 12th, 1806_, 7 P.M. + +_My Dear_,--I have not received any letters from you, but know, +nevertheless, that you are well. My health is good, the weather very +mild; the bad season has not begun yet, but the roads are bad in a +country where there are no highways. Hortense will come then with +Napoleon; I am delighted to hear it. I long to see things shape +themselves into a position to enable you to come. + +I have made peace with Saxony. The Elector is King and one of the +confederation. + +Adieu, my well-beloved Josephine.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + +A kiss to Hortense, Napoleon, and Stephanie. + +Päer, the famous musician, his wife, a virtuoso whom you saw at Milan +twelve years ago, and Brizzi are here; they give me a little music +every evening. + + +No. 23. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _December 15, 1806_, 3 P.M. + +_My Dear_,--I start for Warsaw. In a fortnight I shall be back; I hope +then to be able to send for you. But if that seems a long time, I +should be very glad if you would return to Paris, where you are +wanted. You well know that I am dependent on events. All my affairs go +excellently. My health is very good; I am as well as possible. + +Adieu, dear. I have made peace with Saxony.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _December 17th._--Turkey declares war on Russia. (_So Montgaillard; + but Napoleon refers to it in the thirty-ninth bulletin, dated + December 7th, while Haydn dates it January 7th._) + + +No. 24. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Warsaw, December 20, 1806_, 3 P.M. + +I have no news from you, dear. I am very well. The last two days I +have been at Warsaw. My affairs prosper. The weather is very mild, and +even somewhat humid. It has as yet barely begun to freeze; it is +October weather. + +Adieu, dear; I should much have liked to see you, but trust that in +five or six days I shall be able to send for you. + +Kindest regards to the Queen of Holland and to her little +Napoleons.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _December 22nd.--Napoleon crosses the Narew, and the next day + defeats Russians at Czarnowo; also_ + + _December 24th.--At Nasielsk._ + + _December 26th.--Ney defeats Lestocq at Soldau; Lannes defeats + Beningsen at Pultusk_; + + _December 28th.--And Augereau defeats Buxhowden at Golymin._ + + +No. 25. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Golymin, December 29, 1806_, 5 A.M. + +I write you only a line, my dear. I am in a wretched barn. I have +beaten the Russians, taken thirty pieces of cannon, their baggage, +and 6000 prisoners; but the weather is frightful. It is raining; we +have mud up to our knees. + +In two days I shall be at Warsaw, whence I shall write you.--Yours +ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 26. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Pultusk, December 31, 1806._ + +I have had a good laugh over your last letters. You idealise the fair +ones of Great Poland in a way they do not deserve. I have had for two +or three days the pleasure of hearing Päer and two lady singers, who +have given me some very good music. I received your letter in a +wretched barn, having mud, wind, and straw for my only bed. To-morrow +I shall be at Warsaw. I think all is over for this year. The army is +entering winter quarters. I shrug my shoulders at the stupidity of +Madame de L----; still you should show her your displeasure, and +counsel her not to be so idiotic. Such things become common property, +and make many people indignant. + +For my part, I scorn ingratitude as the worst fault in a human heart. +I know that instead of comforting you, these people have given you +pain. + +Adieu, dear; I am in good health. I do not think you ought to go to +Cassel; that place is not suitable. You may go to Darmstadt. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 27. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Warsaw, January 3, 1807._ + +_My Dear_,--I have received your letter. Your grief pains me; but one +must bow to events. There is too much country to travel between +Mayence and Warsaw; you must, therefore, wait till circumstances +allow me to come to Berlin, in order that I may write you to come +thither. It is true that the enemy, defeated, is far away; but I have +many things here to put to rights. I should be inclined to think that +you might return to Paris, where you are needed. Send away those +ladies who have their affairs to look after; you will be better +without people who have given you so much worry. + +My health is good; the weather bad. I love you from my heart. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _January 5th.--Capture of Breslau, with 7000 men, by Vandamme and + Hédouville._ + + +No. 28. + + _January 7th.--English Orders in Council against Berlin Decree._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Warsaw, January 7, 1807._ + +_My Dear_,--I am pained by all that you tell me; but the season being +cold, the roads very bad and not at all safe, I cannot consent to +expose you to so many fatigues and dangers. Return to Paris in order +to spend the winter there. Go to the Tuileries; receive, and lead the +same life as you are accustomed to do when I am there; that is my +wish. Perhaps I shall not be long in rejoining you there; but it is +absolutely necessary for you to give up the idea of making a journey +of 750 miles at this time of the year, through the enemy's country, +and in the rear of the army. Believe that it costs me more than you to +put off for some weeks the pleasure of seeing you, but so events and +the success of my enterprise order it. + +Adieu, my dear; be cheerful, and show character. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 29. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Warsaw, January 8, 1807._ + +_My Dear_,--I received your letter of the 27th with those of M. +Napoleon and Hortense, which were enclosed with it. I had begged you +to return to Paris. The season is too inclement, the roads unsafe and +detestable; the distances too great for me to permit you to come +hither, where my affairs detain me. It would take you at least a month +to come. You would arrive ill; by that time it might perhaps be +necessary to start back again; it would therefore be folly. Your +residence at Mayence is too dull; Paris reclaims you; go there, it is +my wish. I am more vexed about it than you. I should have liked to +spend the long nights of this season with you, but we must obey +circumstances. + +Adieu, dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 30. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Warsaw, January 11, 1807._ + +Your letter of the 27th received, from which I note that you are +somewhat uneasy about military events. Everything is settled, as I +have told you, to my satisfaction; my affairs prosper. The distance is +too great for me to allow you to come so far at this time of year. I +am in splendid health, sometimes rather wearied by the length of the +nights. + +Up to the present I have seen few people here. + +Adieu, dear. I wish you to be cheerful, and to give a little life to +the capital. I would much like to be there.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + +I hope that the Queen has gone to the Hague with M. Napoleon. + + +No. 31. + + _January 16th.--Capture of Brieg by the French._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _January 16, 1807._ + +MY DEAR,--I have received your letter of the 5th of January; all that +you tell me of your unhappiness pains me. Why these tears, these +repinings? Have you then no longer any fortitude? I shall see you +soon. Never doubt my feelings; and if you wish to be still dearer to +me, show character and strength of mind. I am humiliated to think that +my wife can distrust my destinies. + +Adieu, dear. I love you, I long to see you, and wish to learn that you +are content and happy. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 32. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Warsaw, January 18, 1807._ + +I fear that you are greatly grieved at our separation and at your +return to Paris, which must last for some weeks longer. I insist on +your having more fortitude. I hear you are always weeping. Fie! how +unbecoming it is! Your letter of January 7th makes me unhappy. Be +worthy of me; assume more character. Cut a suitable figure at Paris; +and, above all, be contented. + +I am very well, and I love you much; but, if you are always crying, I +shall think you without courage and without character. I do not love +cowards. An empress ought to have fortitude. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 33. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Warsaw, January 19, 1807._ + +_My Dear_,--Your letter to hand. I have laughed at your fear of fire. +I am in despair at the tone of your letters and at what I hear. I +forbid you to weep, to be petulant and uneasy; I want you to be +cheerful, lovable, and happy. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 34. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _Warsaw, January 23, 1807._ + +Your letter of January 15th to hand. It is impossible to allow women +to make such a journey as this--bad roads, miry and unsafe. Return to +Paris; be cheerful and content there. Perhaps even I shall soon be +there. I have laughed at what you say about your having taken a +husband to be with him. I thought, in my ignorance, that the wife was +made for the husband, the husband for his country, his family, and +glory. Pardon my ignorance; one is always learning from our fair +ladies. + +Adieu, my dear. Think how much it costs me not to send for you. Say to +yourself, "It is a proof how precious I am to him." + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 35. + + _January 25th.--Russians defeated at Mohrungen by Bernadotte._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE. + + _January 25, 1807._ + +I am very unhappy to see you are in pain. I hope that you are at +Paris; you will get better there. I share your griefs, and do not +groan. For I could not risk losing you by exposing you to fatigues and +dangers which befit neither your rank nor your sex. + +I wish you never to receive T---- at Paris; he is a black sheep. You +would grieve me by doing otherwise. + +Adieu, my dear. Love me, and be courageous. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 36. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Warsaw, January 26, 1807, Noon._ + +_My Dear_,--I have received your letter. It pains me to see how you +are fretting yourself. The bridge of Mayence neither increases nor +decreases the distance which separates us. Remain, therefore, at +Paris. I should be vexed and uneasy to know that you were so miserable +and so isolated at Mayence. You must know that I ought, that I can, +consider only the success of my enterprise. If I could consult my +heart I should be with you, or you with me; for you would be most +unjust if you doubted my love and entire affection. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 37. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Willemberg, February 1, 1807, Noon._ + +Your letter of the 11th, from Mayence, has made me laugh. + +To-day, I am a hundred miles from Warsaw; the weather is cold, but +fine. + +Adieu, dear; be happy, show character. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 38. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + +_My Dear_,--Your letter of January 20th has given me pain; it is too +sad. That's the fault of not being a little more devout! You tell me +that your glory consists in your happiness. That is narrow-minded; one +should say, my glory consists in the happiness of others. It is not +conjugal; one should say, my glory consists in the happiness of my +husband. It is not maternal; one should say, my glory consists in the +happiness of my children. Now, since nations--your husband, your +children--can only be happy with a certain amount of glory, you must +not make little of it. Fie, Josephine! your heart is excellent and +your arguments weak. You feel acutely, but you don't argue as well. + +That's sufficient quarrelling. I want you to be cheerful, happy in +your lot, and that you should obey, not with grumbling and tears, but +with gaiety of heart and a little more good temper. + +Adieu, dear; I start to-night to examine my outposts. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _February 5th.--Combats of Bergfriede, Waltersdorf, and Deppen; + Russians forced back._ + + _February 6th.--Combat of Hof. Murat victorious._ + + _February 8th.--Battle of Eylau; retreat of Russians._ + + +No. 39. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Eylau, February 9, 1807_, 3 A.M. + +_My Dear_,--Yesterday there was a great battle; the victory has +remained with me, but I have lost many men. The loss of the enemy, +which is still more considerable, does not console me. To conclude, I +write you these two lines myself, although I am very tired, to tell +you that I am well and that I love you.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 40. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Eylau, February 9, 1807_, 6 P.M. + +_My Dear_,--I write you a line in order that you may not be uneasy. +The enemy has lost the battle, 40 pieces of cannon, 10 flags, 12,000 +prisoners; he has suffered frightfully. I have lost many: 1600 killed, +3000 or 4000 wounded. + +Your cousin Tascher conducts himself well; I have summoned him near me +with the title of orderly officer. + +Corbineau has been killed by a shell; I was singularly attached to +that officer, who had much merit; I am very unhappy about him. My +mounted guard has covered itself with glory. Dahlman is dangerously +wounded. + +Adieu, dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 41. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Eylau, February 11, 1807_, 3 A.M. + +_My Dear_,--I write you a line; you must have been very anxious. I +have beaten the enemy in a fight to be remembered, but it has cost +many brave lives. The bad weather that has set in forces me to take +cantonments. + +Do not afflict yourself, please; all this will soon be over, and the +happiness of seeing you will make me promptly forget my fatigues. +Besides, I have never been in better health. + +Young Tascher, of the 4th Regiment, has behaved well; he has had a +rough time of it. I have summoned him near me; I have made him an +orderly officer--there's an end to his troubles. This young man +interests me. + +Adieu, dear; a thousand kisses. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 42. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Preussich-Eylau, February 12, 1807._ + +I send you a letter from General Darmagnac. He is a very good soldier, +who commanded the 32nd. He is much attached to me. If this Madame de +Richmond be well off, and it is a good match, I shall see this +marriage with pleasure. Make this known to both of them. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 43. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Eylau, February 14, 1807._ + +_My Dear_,--I am still at Eylau. This country is covered with dead and +wounded. It is not the bright side of warfare; one suffers, and the +mind is oppressed at the sight of so many victims. My health is good. +I have done as I wished, and driven back the enemy, while making his +projects fail. + +You are sure to be uneasy, and that thought troubles me. Nevertheless, +calm yourself, my dear, and be cheerful.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + +Tell Caroline and Pauline that the Grand Duke and the Prince[22] are +in excellent health. + + * * * * * + + _February 16th.--Savary defeats Russians at Ostrolenka._ + + +No. 44. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Eylau_, _February 17, 1807_, 3 A.M. + +Your letter to hand, informing me of your arrival at Paris. I am very +glad to know you are there. My health is good. + +The battle of Eylau was very sanguinary, and very hardly contested. +Corbineau was slain. He was a very brave man. I had grown very fond of +him. + +Adieu, dear; it is as warm here as in the month of April; everything +is thawing. My health is good. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 45. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Landsberg_, _February 18, 1807_, 3 A.M. + +I write you two lines. My health is good. I am moving to set my army +in winter quarters. + +It rains and thaws as in the month of April. We have not yet had one +cold day. + +Adieu, dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 46. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Liebstadt_, _February 20, 1807_, 2 A.M. + +I write you two lines, dear, in order that you may not be uneasy. My +health is very good, and my affairs prosper. + +I have again put my army into cantonments. + +The weather is extraordinary; it freezes and thaws; it is wet and +unsettled. + +Adieu, dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 47. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Liebstadt_, _February 21, 1807_, 2 A.M. + +Your letter of the 4th February to hand; I see with pleasure that your +health is good. Paris will thoroughly re-establish it by giving you +cheerfulness and rest, and a return to your accustomed habits. + +I am wonderfully well. The weather and the country are vile. My affairs +are fairly satisfactory. It thaws and freezes within twenty-four hours; +there can never have been known such an extraordinary winter. + +Adieu, dear; I love you, I think of you, and wish to know that you are +contented, cheerful, and happy.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 48. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Liebstadt, February 21, 1807, Noon._ + +_My Dear_,--Your letter of the 8th received; I see with pleasure that +you have been to the opera, and that you propose holding receptions +weekly. Go occasionally to the theatre, and always into the Royal box. +I notice also with pleasure the banquets you are giving. + +I am very well. The weather is still unsettled; it freezes and thaws. + +I have once more put my army into cantonments in order to rest them. + +Never be doleful, love me, and believe in my entire affection. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 49. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Osterode_, _February 23, 1807_, 2 P.M. + +_My Dear_,--Your letter of the 10th received. I am sorry to see you +are a little out of sorts. + +I have been in the country for the past month, experiencing frightful +weather, because it has been unsettled, and varying from cold to warm +within a week. Still, I am very well. + +Try and pass your time pleasantly; have no anxieties, and never doubt +the love I bear you. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _February 26th.--Dupont defeats Russians at Braunsberg._ + + +No. 50. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Osterode, March 2, 1807._ + +_My Dear_,--It is two or three days since I wrote to you; I reproach +myself for it; I know your uneasiness. I am very well; my affairs +prosper. I am in a wretched village, where I shall pass a considerable +time; it is not as good as the great city! I again assure you, I was +never in such good health; you will find me very much stouter. + +It is spring weather here; the snow has gone, the streams are +thawing--which is what I want. + +I have ordered what you wish for Malmaison; be cheerful and happy; it +is my will. + +Adieu, dear; I embrace you heartily.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _March 9th._--The Grand Sanhedrim, which assembled at Paris on + February 9, terminates its sittings. + + +No. 51. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Osterode_, _March 10, 1807_, 4 P.M. + +_My Dear_,--I have received your letter of the 25th. I see with +pleasure that you are well, and that you sometimes make a pilgrimage +to Malmaison. + +My health is good, and my affairs prosper. + +The weather has become rather cold again. I see that the winter has +been very variable everywhere. + +Adieu, dear; keep well, be cheerful, and never doubt my affection,--Yours +ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 52. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Osterode, March 11, 1807._ + +_My Dear_,--I received your letter of the 27th. I am sorry to see from +it that you are ill; take courage. My health is good; my affairs +prosper. I am waiting for fine weather, which should soon be here. I +love you and want to know that you are content and cheerful. + +A great deal of nonsense will be talked of the battle of Eylau; the +bulletin tells everything; our losses are rather exaggerated in it +than minimised.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 53. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Osterode_, _March 13, 1807_, 2 P.M. + +_My Dear_,--I learn that the vexatious tittle-tattle that occurred in +your salon at Mayence has begun again; make people hold their tongues. +I shall be seriously annoyed with you if you do not find a remedy. You +allow yourself to be worried by the chatter of people who ought to +console you. I desire you to have a little character, and to know how +to put everybody into his (or her) proper place. + +I am in excellent health. My affairs here are good. We are resting a +little, and organising our food supply. + +Adieu, dear; keep well. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 54. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Osterode, March 15, 1807._ + +I received your letter of the 1st of March, from which I see that you +were much upset by the catastrophe of Minerva at the opera. I am very +glad to see that you go out and seek distractions. + +My health is very good. My affairs go excellently. Take no heed of all +the unfavourable rumours that may be circulated. Never doubt my +affection, and be without the least uneasiness.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 55. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + Osterode, March 17, 1807. + +_My Dear_,--It is not necessary for you to go to the small plays and +into a private box; it ill befits your rank; you should only go to the +four great theatres, and always into the Royal box. Live as you would +do if I were at Paris. + +My health is very good. The cold weather has recommenced. The +thermometer has been down to 8°.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 56. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Osterode_, _March 17, 1807_, 10 P.M. + +I have received yours of March 5th, from which I see with pleasure +that you are well. My health is perfect. Yet the weather of the past +two days has been cold again; the thermometer to-night has been at +10°, but the sun has given us a very fine day. + +Adieu, dear. Very kindest regards to everybody. + +Tell me something about the death of that poor Dupuis; have his +brother told that I wish to help him. + +My affairs here go excellently.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 57. + + _March 25th.--Abolition of slave trade in Great Britain by + Parliament._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _March 25, 1807._ + +I have received your letter of March 13th. If you really wish to +please me, you must live exactly as you live when I am at Paris. Then +you were not in the habit of visiting the second-rate theatres or +other places. You ought always to go into the Royal box. As for your +home life: hold receptions there, and have your fixed circles of +friends; that, my dear, is the only way to deserve my approbation. +Greatness has its inconveniences; an Empress cannot go where a private +individual may. + +Very best love. My health is good. My affairs prosper. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 58. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Osterode_, _March 27, 1807_, 7 P.M. + +_My Dear_,--Your letter pains me. There is no question of your dying. +You are in good health, and you can have no just ground for grief. + +I think you should go during May to St. Cloud; but you must spend the +whole month of April at Paris. + +My health is good. My affairs prosper. + +You must not think of travelling this summer; nothing of that sort is +feasible. You ought not to frequent inns and camps. I long as much as +you for our meeting and for a quiet life. + +I can do other things besides fight; but duty stands first and +foremost. All my life long I have sacrificed everything to my +destiny--peace of mind, personal advantage, happiness. + +Adieu, dear. See as little as possible of that Madame de P----. She +is a woman who belongs to the lowest grade of society; she is +thoroughly common and vulgar. + + NAPOLEON. + +I have had occasion to find fault with M. de T----. I have sent him to +his country house in Burgundy. I wish no longer to hear his name +mentioned. + + +No. 59. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Osterode, April 1, 1807._ + +_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] Eugène 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 château, after the style of Bessières', 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 château, 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. Cambacères will make the proclamation. + + +No. 78. + + _June 16th.--Königsberg 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. +Königsberg, 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 Borghèse 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 Abrantès, 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 Borghèse. + + [23] Eugène'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 + _Eugène_ 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 Eugène 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."--_Mémoires 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 +(_à 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._ + +_My Dear_,--A son has been born to Hortense;[28] I am highly +delighted. I am not surprised that you tell me nothing of it, since +your letter is dated the 21st, and the child was only born on the +20th,[29] during the night. + +You can start on the 26th, sleep at Mont de Marsan, and arrive here on +the 27th. Have your best dinner-service sent on here on the 25th, in +the evening. I have made arrangements for you to have a little house +in the country, next to the one I have. My health is good. + +I am waiting for Charles IV. and his wife. + +Adieu, dear. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _April 30th.--Charles IV. and the Queen arrive at Bayonne._ + + _May 1st.--Ferdinand gives back the crown to his father._ + + _May 2nd.--Murat subdues insurrection at Madrid._ + + _May 5th.--Treaty of Bayonne; Charles IV. and Ferdinand (May 6) + surrender to Napoleon their rights to the Spanish crown._ + + _May 13th.--Spanish Junta ask for Joseph Bonaparte to be their + king._ + + _June 6th.--King Joseph proclaimed King of Spain and the Indies by + Napoleon, in an imperial decree, dated Bayonne._ + + _June 7th.--French, under Dupont, sacked Cordova._ + + _June 9th.--Emperor of Austria calls out his militia._ + + _June 15th.--French fleet at Cadiz surrender to the Spanish._ + + _July 4th.--English cease hostilities with Spain, and recognise + Ferdinand VII._ + + _July 7th.--Spanish new constitution sworn to by Joseph and by the + Junta._ + + _July 9th.--Commences the siege of Saragossa._ + + _July 14th.--Bessières defeats 40,000 Spaniards at Medina de Rio + Seco._ + + _July 15th.--Murat declared King of Naples._ + + _July 20th.--Joseph enters Madrid._ Mahmoud deposed by his younger + brother at Constantinople. + + _July 22nd.--Dupont capitulates at Baylen--"the only stain on + French arms for twenty years (1792-1812)."_--Montgaillard. + + _July 30th.--French protest against Austrian armaments._ + + _August 1st.--Wellington landed in Portugal._ + + _August 21st.--Battle of Vimiera, creditable to Junot._ + + _August 25th.--Spanish troops reoccupy Madrid._ + + _August 30th.--Convention of Cintra. French only hold Barcelona, + Biscay, Navarre, and Alava, in the whole of Spain._ + + _September 8th.--Convention of Paris (Prussia and France); + Prussian army not to exceed 40,000 men._ + + +FOOTNOTES + + [28] Charles Louis Napoleon, afterwards Napoleon III. + + [29] At 17 Rue Lafitte. + + + + +SERIES J + + + "When he shows as seeking quarter, with paws like hands in prayer, + _That_ is the time of peril--the time of the truce of the Bear!" + + --KIPLING. + + + + +SERIES J + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 269-273.) + + + LETTER PAGE + + No. 1. _I have rather a cold_ 270 + _I am pleased with the Emperor_ 270 + + No. 2. _Shooting over the battlefield of Jena_ 271 + _The Weimar ball_ 271 + _A few trifling ailments_ 271 + + No. 3. _I am pleased with Alexander_ 272 + _He ought to be with me_ 272 + _Erfurt_ 273 + + + + +LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO +THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE DURING HIS +STAY AT ERFURT, 1808. + + +No. 1. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD. + + _Erfurt, September 29, 1808._ + +I have rather a cold. I have received your letter, dated Malmaison. I +am well pleased with the Emperor and every one here. + +It is an hour after midnight, and I am tired. + +Adieu, dear; take care of yourself. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 2. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD. + + _October 9, 1808._ + +_My Dear_,--I have received your letter. I note with pleasure that you +are well. I have just been shooting over the battlefield of Jena. We +had breakfast (_déjeuné_) at the spot where I bivouacked on the night +of the battle. + +I assisted at the Weimar ball. The Emperor Alexander dances; but not +I. Forty years are forty years. + +My health is really sound, in spite of a few trifling ailments. + +Adieu, dear; I hope to see you soon.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 3. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD. + +_My Dear_,--I write you seldom; I am very busy. Conversations which +last whole days, and which do not improve my cold. Still all goes +well. I am pleased with Alexander; he ought to be with me. If he were +a woman, I think I should make him my sweetheart. + +I shall be back to you shortly; keep well and let me find you plump +and rosy. + +Adieu, dear. + + NAPOLEON. + + + + +SERIES K + + +"The winter campaign commenced on the 1st of November 1808, and +terminated on the 1st of March 1809, to the advantage of the +French, who, for that reason, denominate it the _Imperial Campaign_. +The Spaniards were long before they could recover from the terror +caused by the defeat of their armies, the capture of Madrid, the +surrender of Saragossa, and the departure of the English from +Corunna."--_Sarrazin's History of the War in Spain and Portugal_, +1815. + + + + +SERIES K + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 273-278.) + + + LETTER PAGE + + No. 5. Aranda 273 + + No. 6. Madrid 273 + _Parisian weather_ 273 + + No. 8. _Kourakin_ 274 + + No. 9. _The English_ appear to have received reinforcements 274 + + No. 10. _Benavente_ 274 + _The English flee panic-stricken_ 274 + _The weather_ 274 + _Lefebvre_ 275 + + No. 11. _Your letters_ 275-6 + + No. 12. _The English are in utter rout_ 276 + + Nos. 13 & 14. Valladolid 277 + _Eugène has a daughter_ 277 + _They are foolish in Paris_ 277 + + + + +LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO +THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE DURING THE +SPANISH CAMPAIGN, 1808 AND 1809. + + + _October 29th.--English enter Spain._ + + _October 31st.--Blake defeated by Lefebvre at Tornosa._ + + +No. 1. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _November 3, 1808._ + +I arrived to-night[30] with considerable trouble. I had ridden several +stages at full speed. Still, I am well. + +To-morrow I start for Spain. + +My troops are arriving in force. + +Adieu, dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _November 4th.--Napoleon enters Spain._ + + +No. 2. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Tolosa, November 5, 1808._ + +I am at Tolosa. I am starting for Vittoria, where I shall be in a few +hours. I am fairly well, and I hope everything will soon be +completed. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 3. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Vittoria, November 7._ + +_My Dear_,--I have been the last two days at Vittoria. I am in good +health. My troops are arriving daily; the Guard arrived to-day. + +The King is in very good health. I am very busy. + +I know that you are in Paris. Never doubt my affection. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _November 10th._--Battle of Burgos. _Soult and Bessières defeat + Spaniards, who lose 3000 killed and 3000 prisoners, and 20 + cannon._ + + _November 12th._--Battle of Espinosa. _Marshal Victor defeats La + Romana and Blake, who lose 20,000 men and 50 cannon._ + + +No. 4. + + _November 14th._--Third revolution at Constantinople. _Mahmoud IV. + assassinated (November 15th)._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Burgos, November 14, 1808._ + +Matters here are progressing at a great rate. The weather is very +fine. We are successful. My health is very good. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _November 23rd.--Battle of Tudela. Castaños and Palafox + defeated, with loss of 7000 men and 30 cannon, by Marshal + Lannes. "The battle of Tudela makes the pendant of that of + Espinosa."_--NAPOLEON. + + +No. 5. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _November 26, 1808._ + +I have received your letter. I trust that your health be as good as +mine is, although I am very busy. All goes well here. + +I think you should return to the Tuileries on December 21st, and from +that date give a concert daily for eight days.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + +Kind regards to Hortense and to M. Napoleon. + + * * * * * + + _December 3rd.--French voluntarily evacuate Berlin._ + + _December 4th.--Surrender of Madrid. Napoleon abolishes the + Inquisition and feudal rights._ ("_He regards the taking of a + capital as decisive for the submission of a whole kingdom; thus in + 1814 will act his adversaries, pale but judicious imitators of his + strategy._"--Montgaillard.) + + +No. 6. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _December 7, 1808._ + +Your letter of the 28th to hand. I am glad to see that you are well. +You will have seen that young Tascher has distinguished himself, which +has pleased me. My health is good. + +Here we are enjoying Parisian weather of the last fortnight in May. We +are hot, and have no fires; but the nights are rather cool. + +Madrid is quiet. All my affairs prosper. + +Adieu, dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + +Kind regards to Hortense and to M. Napoleon. + + +No. 7. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Chamartin, December 10, 1808._ + +_My Dear_,--Yours to hand, in which you tell me what bad weather you +are having in Paris; here it is the best weather imaginable. Please +tell me what mean these alterations Hortense is making; I hear she is +sending away her servants. Is it because they have refused to do what +was required? Give me some particulars. Reforms are not desirable. + +Adieu, dear. The weather here is delightful. All goes excellently, and +I pray you to keep well. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 8. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _December 21, 1808._ + +You ought to have been at the Tuileries on the 12th. I trust you may +have been pleased with your rooms. + +I have authorised the presentation of Kourakin to you and the family; +be kind to him, and let him take part in your plays. + +Adieu, dear. I am well. The weather is rainy; it is rather cold. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 9. + + _December 22nd.--Napoleon quits Madrid._ + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Madrid, December 22, 1808._ + +I start at once to outmanoeuvre the English, who appear to have +received reinforcements and wish to look big. + +The weather is fine, my health perfect; don't be uneasy. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 10. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Benavento, December 31, 1808._ + +_My Dear_,--The last few days I have been in pursuit of the English, +but they flee panic-stricken. They have pusillanimously abandoned the +remnant of La Romana's army in order not to delay its retreat a single +half day. More than a hundred waggons of their baggage have already +been taken. The weather is very bad. + +Lefebvre[31] has been captured. He took part in a skirmish with 300 of +his chasseurs; these idiots crossed a river by swimming and threw +themselves in the midst of the English cavalry; they killed several, +but on their return Lefebvre had his horse wounded; it was swimming, +the current took him to the bank where the English were; he was taken. +Console his wife. + +Adieu, dear. Bessières, with 10,000 cavalry, is at Astorga. + + NAPOLEON. + +A happy New Year to everybody. + + +No. 11. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _January 3, 1809._ + +_My Dear_,--I have received your letters of the 18th and 21st. I am +close behind the English. + +The weather is cold and rigorous, but all goes well. + +Adieu, dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + +A happy New Year, and a very happy one, to my Josephine. + + +No. 12. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _Benavento, January 5, 1809._ + +_My Dear_,--I write you a line. The English are in utter rout; I have +instructed the Duke of Dalmatia to pursue them closely (_l'épee dans +les reins_). I am well; the weather bad. + +Adieu, dear. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 13. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _January 8, 1809._ + +I have received yours of the 23rd and 26th. I am sorry to see you have +toothache. I have been here two days. The weather is what we must +expect at this season. The English are embarking. I am in good +health. + +Adieu, dear. + +I am writing Hortense. Eugène has a daughter. + +Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 14. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS. + + _January 9, 1809._ + +Moustache brings me your letter of 31st December. I see from it, dear, +that you are sad and have very gloomy disquietudes. Austria will not +make war on me; if she does, I have 150,000 men in Germany and as many +on the Rhine, and 400,000 Germans to reply to her. Russia will not +separate herself from me. They are foolish in Paris; all goes well. + +I shall be at Paris the moment I think it worth while. I advise you to +beware of ghosts; one fine day, at two o'clock in the morning. + +But adieu, dear; I am well, and am yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [30] At Bayonne. + + [31] General Lefebvre--Desnouettes. + + + + +SERIES L + + +"Berthier, incapable of acting a principal part, was surprised, and +making a succession of false movements that would have been fatal to +the French army, if the Emperor, journeying night and day, had not +arrived at the very hour when his lieutenant was on the point of +consummating the ruin of the army. But then was seen the supernatural +force of Napoleon's genius. In a few hours he changed the aspect of +affairs, and in a few days, maugre their immense number, his enemies, +baffled and flying in all directions, proclaimed his mastery in an art +which, up to that moment, was imperfect; for never, since troops first +trod a field of battle, was such a display of military genius made by +man."--NAPIER. + + + + +SERIES L + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 278-295.) + + + LETTER PAGE + + Napoleon's position in Europe 278 + + No. 1. _Donauwerth_ 281 + The Ratisbon proclamation, and first successes of + the campaign up to April 23rd 281-2 + + No. 2. _May 6th_ 282 + _The ball that touched me_ 283 + + No. 3. Baron Marbot's foray; and memories of Richard + Coeur de Lion 284 + + No. 4. _Schoenbrunn_ 284-5 + _May 12th_ 285 + + No. 5. _Ebersdorf_ 286 + _Eugène... has completely performed the task_ 287 + + No. 6. _May 29th_ 288 + + No. 7. _I have ordered the two princes_ 288-9 + _The Duke of Montebello_ 289 + _Thus everything ends_ 289 + + No. 9. _Eugène won a battle_ 290 + + No. 11. _Wagram_ 290 + _Lasalle_ 291 + _I am sunburnt_ 291 + + No. 12. _A surfeit of bile_ 291 + _Wolkersdorf_ 291 + + No. 16. _My affairs follow my wishes_ 292 + + No. 17. _August 21st_ 292 + + No. 18. _Comedians_ 292 + _Women ... not having been presented_ 293 + + No. 19. _All this is very suspicious_ 293 + + No. 20. _Krems_ 293 + _My health has never been better_ 293 + + No. 23. _October 14th_ 294 + + No. 24. _Stuttgard_ 295 + + + + +LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE DURING THE +AUSTRIAN CAMPAIGN, 1809. + + +EVENTS OF 1809. + + _January 7th._--King and Queen of Prussia visit Alexander at St. + Petersburg. + + _January 12th._--Cayenne and French Guiana captured by Spanish and + Portuguese South Americans. + + _January 13th._--Combat of Alcazar. Victor defeats Spaniards. + + _January 14th._--Treaty of Alliance between England and Spain. + + _January 16th._--Battle of Corunna. Moore killed; Baird wounded. + + _January 17th._--English army sails for England. + + _January 22nd._--King Joseph returns to Madrid. + + _January 27th._--Soult takes Ferrol (retaken by English, June + 22nd). + + _February 21st._--Lannes takes Saragossa. + + _February 23rd._--English capture Martinique. + + _March 4th._--Madison made President of United States. + + _March 29th._--Soult fights battle of Oporto. Spaniards lose + 20,000 men and 200 guns. Gustavus Adolphus abdicates throne of + Sweden. + + _April 9th._--Austrians under Archduke Charles cross the Inn, + enter Bavaria, and take Munich. _Napoleon receives this news April + 12th, and reaches Strasburg April 15th._ + + _April 15th._--Eugène defeated on the Tagliamento. + + _April 16th._--And at Sacile. + + _April 19th._--Combat of Pfafferhofen. Oudinot repulses Austrians, + while Davoust wins the Battle of Thann. _Napoleon joins the + army._ + + _April 20th._--Battle of Abensberg. Archduke Louis defeated. + Austrians take Ratisbon, and 1800 prisoners. Poles defeated by + Archduke Ferdinand at Baszy. + + _April 21st._--Combat of Landshut; heavy Austrian losses. + Austrians under Archduke Ferdinand take Warsaw. + + _April 22nd.--Battle of Eckmühl. Napoleon defeats Archduke + Charles._ + + _April 23rd._--French take Ratisbon. + + _April 25th._--King of Bavaria re-enters Munich. + + _April 26th._--French army crosses the Inn. + + _April 28th-30th._--French force the Salza, and cut in two the + main Austrian army--"One of the most beautiful manoeuvres of + modern tactics" (_Montgaillard_). + + _April 29th._--Combat of Caldiero. Eugène defeats Archduke John. + + _May 3rd._--Russia declares war on Austria, and enters Galicia. + + _May 4th._--Combat of Ebersberg. Massena defeats Austrians, but + loses a large number of men. + + +No. 1. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Donauwoerth, April 17, 1809._ + +I arrived here yesterday at 4 A.M.; I am just leaving it. Everything +is under way. Military operations are in full activity. Up to the +present, there is nothing new. + +My health is good.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 2. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Enns, May 6, 1809, Noon._ + +_My Dear_,--I have received your letter. The ball that touched me has +not wounded me; it barely grazed the tendon Achilles. + +My health is very good. You are wrong to be uneasy. + +My affairs here go excellently.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + +Kind regards to Hortense and the Duke de Berg.[32] + + * * * * * + + _May 8th._--Eugène crosses the Piave, and defeats Archduke John. + + +No. 3. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Saint-Polten, May 9, 1809._ + +_My Dear_,--I write you from Saint-Polten. To-morrow I shall be before +Vienna; it will be exactly a month to the day after the Austrians +crossed the Inn, and violated peace. + +My health is good, the weather splendid, and the soldiery very +cheerful; there is wine here. + +Keep well.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _May 13th._--French occupy Vienna, after a bombardment of + thirty-six hours. + + _May 17th._--Roman States united to the French Empire. + + _May 18th._--French occupy Trieste. + + _May 19th._--Lefebvre occupies Innsbruck. + + _May 20th._--Eugène reaches Klagenfurt. + + _May 21st-22nd._--Battle of Essling. A drawn battle, unfavourable + to the French, who lose Marshal Lannes, three generals killed, and + 500 officers and 18,000 men wounded. The Archduke admits a loss of + 4200 killed and 16,000 wounded. + + _May 22nd._--Meerveldt with 4000 men surrenders at Laybach to + Macdonald. + + _May 25th._--Eugène reaches Leoben in Styria, and captures most of + the corps of Jellachich. + + _May 26th._--Eugène joins the army of Germany, at Bruck in + Styria. + + +No. 4. + + _May 12th._--Soult evacuates Portugal. Wellington crosses the + Douro, and enters Spain. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Schoenbrunn, May 12, 1809._ + +I am despatching the brother of the Duchess of Montebello to let you +know that I am master of Vienna, and that everything here goes +perfectly. My health is very good. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 5. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Ebersdorf, May 27, 1809._ + +I am despatching a page to tell you that Eugène has rejoined me with +all his army; that he has completely performed the task that I +entrusted him with; and has almost entirely destroyed the enemy's army +opposed to him. + +I send you my proclamation to the army of Italy, which will make you +understand all this. + +I am very well.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + +_P.S._--You can have this proclamation printed at Strasburg, and have +it translated into French and German, in order that it may be +scattered broadcast over Germany. Give a copy of the proclamation to +the page who goes on to Paris. + + * * * * * + + _May 28th._--Hofer defeats Bavarians at Innsbruck. + + +No. 6. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Ebersdorf_, _May 29, 1809_, 7 P.M. + +_My Dear_,--I have been here since yesterday; I am stopped by the +river. The bridge has been burnt; I shall cross at midnight. +Everything here goes as I wish it, viz., very well. + +The Austrians have been overwhelmed (_frappès de la foudre_). + +Adieu, dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 7. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Ebersdorf May 31, 1809._ + +Your letter of the 26th to hand. I have written you that you can go to +Plombières. I do not care for you to go to Baden; it is not necessary +to leave France. I have ordered the two princes to re-enter +France.[33] + +The loss of the Duke of Montebello, who died this morning, has grieved +me exceedingly. Thus everything ends!! + +Adieu, dear; if you can help to console the poor Maréchale, do +so.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _June 1st._--Archduke Ferdinand evacuates Warsaw. + + _June 6th._--Regent of Sweden proclaimed King as Charles XIII. + + +No. 8. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT STRASBURG. + + _Schoenbrunn, June 9, 1809._ + +I have received your letter; I see with pleasure that you are going to +the waters at Plombières, they will do you good. + +Eugène is in Hungary with his army. I am well, the weather very fine. +I note with pleasure that Hortense and the Duke of Berg are in +France. + +Adieu, dear.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _June 10th._--Union of the Papal States to France promulgated in + Rome. + + _June 11th.--Napoleon and all his abettors excommunicated._ + + _June 14th._--Eugène, aided by Macdonald and Lauriston, defeats + Archduke Ferdinand at Raab. + + +No. 9. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Schoenbrunn, June 16, 1809._ + +I despatch a page to tell you that, on the 14th, the anniversary of +Marengo, Eugène won a battle against the Archduke John and the +Archduke Palatine, at Raab, in Hungary; that he has taken 3000 men, +many pieces of cannon, 4 flags, and pursued them a long way on the +road to Buda-Pesth. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _June 18th._--Combat of Belchite. Blake defeated by Suchet near + Saragossa. + + +No. 10. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Schoenbrunn, June 19, 1809, Noon._ + +I have your letter, which tells me of your departure for Plombières. I +am glad you are making this journey, because I trust it may do you +good. + +Eugène is in Hungary, and is well. My health is very good, and the +army in fighting trim. + +I am very glad to know that the Grand Duke of Berg is with you. + +Adieu, dear. You know my affection for my Josephine; it never +varies.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _July 4th-5th._--French cross Danube, and win battle of + Enzersdorff. + + _July 5th-6th._--Pope Pius VII. carried off from Rome by order of + Murat; eventually kept at Savona. + + _July 6th.--Battle of Wagram._ The most formidable artillery + battle ever fought up to this date (900 guns in action). The + Austrians had 120,000 men, with more guns and of larger calibre + than those of the French. + + +No. 11. + + _July 7th._--St. Domingo surrenders to the English. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Ebersdorf_, _July 7, 1809_, 5 A.M. + +I am despatching a page to bring you the good tidings of the victory +of Enzersdorf, which I won on the 5th, and that of Wagram, which I won +on the 6th. + +The enemy's army flies in disorder, and all goes according to my +prayers (_voeux_). + +Eugène is well. Prince Aldobrandini is wounded, but slightly. + +Bessières has been shot through the fleshy part of his thigh; the +wound is very slight. Lasalle was killed. My losses are full heavy, +but the victory is decisive and complete. We have taken more than 100 +pieces of cannon, 12 flags, many prisoners. + +I am sunburnt. + +Adieu, dear. I send you a kiss. Kind regards to Hortense. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 12. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Wolkersdorf_, _July 9, 1809_, 2 A.M. + +_My Dear_,--All goes here as I wish. My enemies are defeated, beaten, +utterly routed. They were in great numbers; I have wiped them out. +To-day my health is good; yesterday I was rather ill with a surfeit of +bile, occasioned by so many hardships, but it has done me much good. + +Adieu, dear. I am in excellent health. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _July 12th._--Armistice of Znaim. Archduke Charles resigns his + command. + + +No. 13. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _In the Camp, before Znaim, July 13, 1809._ + +I send you the suspension of arms concluded yesterday with the +Austrian General. Eugène is on the Hungary side, and is well. Send a +copy of the suspension of arms to Cambacérès, in case he has not yet +received one. + +I send you a kiss, and am very well. + + NAPOLEON. + +You may cause this suspension of arms to be printed at Nancy. + + * * * * * + + _July 14th._--English seize Senegal. Oudinot, Marmont, Macdonald + made Marshals. + + +No. 14. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Schoenbrunn, July 17, 1809._ + +_My Dear_,--I have sent you one of my pages. You will have learnt the +result of the battle of Wagram, and, later, of the suspension of arms +of Znaim. + +My health is good. Eugène is well, and I long to know that you, as +well as Hortense, are the same. + +Give a kiss for me to Monsieur, the Grand Duke of Berg. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 15. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Schoenbrunn, July 24, 1809._ + +I have just received yours of July 18th. I note with pleasure that the +waters are doing you good. I see no objection to you going back to +Malmaison after you have finished your treatment. + +It is hot enough here in all conscience. My health is excellent. + +Adieu, dear. Eugène is at Vienna, in the best of health.--Yours ever, + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _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 PLOMBIÈRES. + + _Schoenbrunn, August 7, 1809._ + +I see from your letter that you are at Plombières, 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 Plombières; 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 Eugène 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 Oçana. + + +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] Boispréau, 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'Élysée_ 302-3 + + No. 20. _Bessières' 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._ + +Eugène 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 Estève.[37] I have allowed £4000 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 Estève to send £8000 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 £16,000 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 Eugène, 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 + Officialité, 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 +Elysée-Napoléon. + +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 Elysée, 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 Eugène 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 Elysée. 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 ELYSÉE-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 +Bessières' 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 ELYSÉE-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 +Bessières, 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 Eugène_ 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 château 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. + + _Compiègne, 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 +Eugène 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 CHÂTEAU NAVARRE. + + _Compiègne, April 28, 1810._ + +_My Dear_,--I have just received two letters from you. I am writing to +Eugène. 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. + +Eugène 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. + +_My Dear_,--I have your letter. Eugène will give you tidings of my +journey and of the Empress. I am very glad that you are going to the +waters. I trust they may do you good. + +I wish very much to see you. If you are at Malmaison at the end of the +month, I will come to see you. I expect to be at St. Cloud on the 30th +of the month. My health is very good ... it only needs to hear that +you are contented and well. Let me know in what name you intend to +travel. + +Never doubt the whole truth of my affection for you; it will last as +long as I. You would be very unjust if you doubted it. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _July 1st.--Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland, abdicates in favour + of his son._ + + +No. 4. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT THE WATERS OF AIX, IN SAVOY. + + _Rambouillet, July 8, 1810._ + +_My Dear_,--I have your letter of July 8th. You will have seen Eugène, +and his presence will have done you good. I learn with pleasure that +the waters are beneficial to you. The King of Holland has just +abdicated the throne, while leaving the Regency, according to the +Constitution, in the hands of the Queen. He has quitted Amsterdam and +left the Grand Duke of Berg behind. + +I have reunited Holland to France, which has, however, the advantage +of setting the Queen at liberty, and that[38] unfortunate girl is +coming to Paris with her son the Grand Duke of Berg--that will make +her perfectly happy. + +My health is good. I have come here to hunt for a few days. I shall +see you this autumn with pleasure. Never doubt my friendship; I never +change. + +Keep well, be cheerful, and believe in the truth of my attachment. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _July 9th._--Holland incorporated with the French Empire. + + _July 10th._--Ney takes Ciudad Rodrigo, after twenty-five days + open trenches. + + +No. 5. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT THE WATERS OF AIX, IN SAVOY. + + _St. Cloud, July 20, 1810._ + +_My Dear_,--I have received your letter of July 14th, and note with +pleasure that the waters are doing you good, and that you like Geneva. +I think that you are doing well to go there for a few weeks. + +My health is fairly good. The conduct of the King of Holland has +worried me. + +Hortense is shortly coming to Paris. The Grand Duke of Berg is on his +way; I expect him to-morrow. + +Adieu, dear. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 6. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT THE WATERS OF AIX, IN SAVOY. + + _Trianon, August 10, 1810._ + +Your letter to hand. I was pained to see what a risk you had run. For +an inhabitant of the isles of the ocean to die in a lake would have +been a fatality indeed! + +The Queen is better, and I hope her health will be re-established. Her +husband is in Bohemia, apparently not knowing what to do. + +I am fairly well, and beg you to believe in my sincere attachment. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _August 21st._--Swedes elect Marshal Bernadotte Crown Prince of + Sweden. + + _August 27th._--Massena takes Almeida. + + +No. 7. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT THE WATERS OF AIX, IN SAVOY. + + _St. Cloud, September 14, 1810._ + +_My Dear_,--I have your letter of September 9th. I learn with pleasure +that you keep well. There is no longer the slightest doubt that the +Empress has entered on the fourth month of her pregnancy; she is well, +and is much attached to me. The young Princes Napoleon are very well; +they are in the Pavillon d'Italie, in the Park of St. Cloud. + +My health is fairly good. I wish to learn that you are happy and +contented. I hear that one of your _entourage_ has broken a leg while +going on the glacier. + +Adieu, dear. Never doubt the interest I take in you and the affection +that I bear towards you. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _September 27th.--Battle of Busaco._ Like Ebersburg, another of + Massena's expensive and unnecessary frontal attacks. He loses 5000 + men, but next day turns the position of Wellington, who continues + to retire. + + +No. 8. + +TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON. + + _Paris, this Friday._ + +_My Dear_,--Yours to hand. I am sorry to see that you have been ill; I +fear it must be this bad weather. + +Madame de la T---- is one of the most foolish women of the Faubourg. I +have borne her cackle for a very long time; I am sick of it, and have +ordered that she does not come again to Paris. There are five or six +other old women that I equally wish to send away from Paris; they are +spoiling the young ones by their follies. + +I will name Madame de Makau Baroness since you wish it, and carry out +your other commissions. + +My health is pretty good. The conduct of B---- appears to me very +ridiculous. I trust to hear that you are better. + +Adieu, dear. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 9. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT GENEVA. + + _Fontainebleau, October 1, 1810._ + +I have received your letter. Hortense, whom I have seen, will have +told you what I think. Go to see your son this winter; come back to +the waters of Aix next year, or, still better, wait for the spring at +Navarre. I would advise you to go to Navarre at once, if I did not +fear you would get tired of it. In my view, the only suitable places +for you this winter are either Milan or Navarre; after that, I approve +of whatever you may do, for I do not wish to vex you in anything. + +Adieu, dear. The Empress is as I told you in my last letter. I am +naming Madame de Montesquiou governess of the Children of France. Be +contented, and do not get excited; never doubt my affection for you. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _October 6th._--Wellington reaches the lines of Torres Vedras. + + _November 9th._--Opening of St. Quentin Canal at Paris. + + +No. 10. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT NAVARRE. + + _Fontainebleau, November 14, 1810._ + +_My Dear_,--I have received your letter. Hortense has spoken to me +about it. I note with pleasure that you are contented. I hope that you +are not very tired of Navarre. + +My health is very good. The Empress progresses satisfactorily. I will +do the various things you ask regarding your household. Take care of +your health, and never doubt my affection for you. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 11. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT NAVARRE. + +I have your letter. I see no objection to the marriage of Mackau with +Wattier, if he wishes it; this general is a very brave man. I am in +good health. I hope to have a son; I shall let you know immediately. + +Adieu, dear. I am very glad that Madame d'Arberg[39] has told you +things which please you. When you see me, you will find me with my old +affection for you. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _December 3rd._--English take Mauritius. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [38] So _Collection Didot_, followed by Aubenas. St. Amand has "ton + infortunée fille." + + [39] Josephine's chief maid-of-honour. + + + + +SERIES O + + +1811 + + "Nun steht das Reich gesichert, wie gegründet, + Nun fühlt er froh im Sohne sich gegründet. + + * * * * * + + Und sei durch Sie dies letzte Glück beschieden-- + Der alles wollen kann, will auch den Frieden." + + --GOETHE (_Ihro der Kaiserin von Frankreich Majestät_). + + + + +SERIES O + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 311-312.) + + + LETTER PAGE + + No. 1. _The New Year_ 311 + _More women than men_ 311 + _Keep well_ 311 + + No. 2. Birth of the King of Rome 311 + _Eugène_ 311 + + No. 4. _As fat as a good Normandy farmeress_ 312 + + +No. 1. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT NAVARRE. + + _Paris, January 8th, 1811._ + +I have your New Year's letter. I thank you for its contents. I note +with pleasure that you are well and happy. I hear that there are more +women than men at Navarre. + +My health is excellent, though I have not been out for a fortnight. +Eugène appears to have no fears about his wife; he gives you a +grandson. + +Adieu, dear; keep well. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _February 19th._--Soult defeats Spaniards at the Gébora, near + Badajoz. + + _February 28th._--French occupy Duchy of Oldenburg, to complete + the line of the North Sea blockade against England. This + occupation embitters the Emperor of Russia and his family. + + _March 10th._--Mortier captures Badajoz after a siege of 54 days. + + _March 20th._--Birth of the _King of Rome_--"a pompous title + buried in the tomb of the Ostrogoths." + + +No. 2. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT NAVARRE. + + _Paris, March 22nd, 1811._ + +_My Dear_,--I have your letter. I thank you for it. + +My son is fat, and in excellent health. I trust he may continue to +improve. He has my chest, my mouth, and my eyes. I hope he may fulfil +his destiny. I am always well pleased with Eugène; he has never given +me the least anxiety. + + NAPOLEON. + + _April 4th._--Battle of Fuentes d'Onoro. Massena attacks English, + and is repulsed. + + _June 18th._--Wellington raises siege of Badajoz, and retires on + Portugal. + + _June 29th._--French storm Tarragona, whereupon Suchet created + Marshal. + + +No. 3. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT MALMAISON. + + _Trianon, August 25th, 1811._ + +I have your letter. I see with pleasure that you are in good health. I +have been for some days at Trianon. I expect to go to Compiègne. My +health is very good. + +Put some order into your affairs. Spend only £60,000, and save as much +every year; that will make a reserve of £600,000 in ten years for your +grandchildren. It is pleasant to be able to give them something, and +be helpful to them. Instead of that, I hear you have debts, which +would be really too bad. Look after your affairs, and don't give to +every one who wants to help himself. If you wish to please me, let me +hear that you have accumulated a large fortune. Consider how ill I +must think of you, if I know that you, with £125,000 a year, are in +debt. + +Adieu, dear; keep well. + + NAPOLEON. + + +No. 4. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT MALMAISON. + + _Friday_, 8 A.M., 1811. + +I send to know how you are, for Hortense tells me you were in bed +yesterday. I was annoyed with you about your debts. I do not wish you +to have any; on the contrary, I wish you to put a million aside every +year, to give to your grandchildren when they get married. + +Nevertheless, never doubt my affection for you, and don't worry any +more about the present embarrassment. + +Adieu, dear. Send me word that you are well. They say that you are as +fat as a good Normandy farmeress. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _October 25th-26th._--Battle of Murviedro and capture of Sagunto: + Blake and O'Donnell heavily defeated by Suchet. + + _December 20th._--Senatus Consultus puts 120,000 conscripts (born + in 1792) at disposal of Government for 1812. + + _December 26th._--Suchet defeats Spanish, and crosses Guadalaviar. + + + + +SERIES P + + +1812 + + "'Tis the same landscape which the modern Mars saw + Who march'd to Moscow, led by Fame, the siren! + To lose by one month's frost, some twenty years + Of conquest, and his guard of grenadiers." + + --BYRON (_Don Juan_, canto x. stanza 58). + + + + +SERIES P + +(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 312-315.) + + + LETTER PAGE + + No. 1. Konigsberg 312 + + No. 2. _Gumbinnen_ 313 + + +1812. + + Montgaillard sums up his tirade against Napoleon for the Russian + campaign by noting that it took the Romans _ten_ years to conquer + Gaul, while Napoleon "would not give _two_ to the conquest of that + vast desert of Scythia which forced Darius to flee, Alexander to + draw back, Crassus to perish; where Julian terminated his career, + where Valerian covered himself with shame, and which saw the + disasters of Charles XII." + + _January 9th._--Suchet captures Valencia, 18,000 Spanish troops, + and 400 cannon. The marshal is made Duke of Albuféra. + + _January 15th._--Imperial decree ordains 100,000 acres to be put + under cultivation of beetroot, for the manufacture of indigenous + sugar. + + _January 19th._--Taking of Ciudad Rodrigo by Wellington. + + _January 26th._--French, under General Friand, occupy Stralsund + and Swedish Pomerania. + + _February 24th._--Treaty of alliance between France and Prussia; + the latter to support France in case of a war with Russia. + + _March 13th._--Senatus Consultus divides the National Guards into + three bans, to include all capable men not already in military + service. They are not to serve outside France. A hundred cohorts, + each 970 strong, of the first ban (men between 20 and 26), put at + disposal of Government. + + _March 14th._--Treaty between France and Austria; reciprocal help, + in need, of 30,000 men and 60 guns. The integrity of European + Turkey mutually guaranteed. + + _March 26th._--Treaty between Russia and Sweden. Bernadotte is + promised Norway by Alexander. + + _April 7th._--The English take Badajoz by assault. "The French + General, Philippon, with but 3000 men, has been besieged thrice + within thirteen months by armies of 50,000 men" (_Montgaillard_). + + _April 24th._--Alexander leaves St. Petersburg, to take command of + his Grand Army. + + _May 9th.--Napoleon leaves Paris for Germany._ + + _May 11th._--Assassination of English Prime Minister, Perceval. + + _May 17th-28th.--Napoleon at Dresden; joined there by the Emperor + and Empress of Austria, and a fresh_ "parterre _of kings"._ + + _May 28th._---Treaty of Bucharest, between Turkey and Russia. The + Pruth as boundary, and Servia restored to Turkey. This treaty, so + fatal to Napoleon, and of which he only heard in October, was + mainly the work of Stratford de Redcliffe, then aged twenty-five. + Wellington, thinking the treaty his brother's work, speaks of it + as "the most important service that ever fell to the lot of any + individual to perform." + + +No. 1. + + _June 12th._--Suchet defeats an Anglo-Spanish army outside + Tarragona. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT MALMAISON. + + _June 12th, 1812._ + +_My Dear_,--I shall always receive news from you with great interest. + +The waters will, I hope, do you good, and I shall see you with much +pleasure on your return. + +Never doubt the interest I feel in you. I will arrange all the matters +of which you speak. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _June 16th._--Lord Liverpool Prime Minister of England. + + _June 18th._--United States declares war against England + concerning rights of neutrals. + + _June 19th._--The captive Pope (Pius VII.) brought to Fontainebleau. + + +No. 2. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT MALMAISON. + + _Gumbinnen, June 20th, 1812._ + +I have your letter of June 10th. I see no obstacle to your going to +Milan, to be near the Vice-Reine. You will do well to go _incognito_. +You will find it very hot. + +My health is very good. Eugène is well, and is doing good work. Never +doubt the interest I have in you, and my friendship. + + NAPOLEON. + + * * * * * + + _June 22nd.--Napoleon from his headquarters, Wilkowyszki, declares + war against Russia. His army comprised 550,000 men and 1200 + cannon, and he held sway at this epoch over 85,000,000 souls--half + the then population of Europe._ + + _June 24th._--French cross the Niemen, over 450,000 strong.[40] Of + these 20,000 are Italians, 80,000 from Confederation of the Rhine, + 30,000 Poles, 30,000 Austrians, and 20,000 Prussians. The Russian + army numbers 360,000. + + _June 28th._--French enter Wilna, the old capital of Lithuania. + _Napoleon remains here till July 16th, establishing a provisional + government, and leaving his Foreign Minister, Maret, there._ + + _July 12th._--Americans invade Canada. + + _July 18th._--Treaty of peace between England and Sweden; and + between Russia and the Spanish Regency at Cadiz. + + _July 22nd._--_Battle of Salamanca_ (Arapiles). Marmont defeated + by Wellington, and badly wounded. French lose nearly 8000 men and + 5000 prisoners; English loss, 5200. The Spanish Regency had + decided to submit to Joseph Bonaparte, but this battle deters + them. French retire behind the Douro. + + _July 23rd._--Combat of Mohilow, on the Dneiper. Davoust defeats + Bagration. + + _July 28th._--French enter Witepsk. + + _August 1st._--Treaty of alliance between Great Britain and + Russia. English fleet henceforward guards the Gulf of Riga. Combat + of Obaiarzma, on the bank of the Drissa. Marshal Oudinot defeats + Wittgenstein. Russians lose 5000 men and 14 guns. + + _August 9th._--Battle of Brownstown (near Toronto). Americans + defeated; surrender August 16th with 2500 men and 33 guns to + General Brock. + + _August 12th._--Wellington enters Madrid. + + _August 17th-18th.--Battle and capture of Smolensk. Napoleon + defeats Barclay de Tolly; Russians lose 12,000, French less than + half._ + + _August 18th._--Battle of Polotsk, fifty miles from Witepsk, down + the Dwina. St. Cyr defeats Wittgenstein's much larger army, and + takes 20 guns. (St. Cyr made marshal for this battle, August + 27th.) + + _August 19th._--Combat of Volontino-Cova, beyond Smolensk. Ney + defeats Russians. + + _August 27th._--Norway guaranteed Sweden in lieu of Finland by + Russia. + + _August 28th._--Interview at Abo, in Finland, between Alexander, + Bernadotte, and Lord Cathcart (English ambassador). Decided that + Sweden shall join the crusade against France, and that Moreau be + imported from U.S.A. to command another army. + + _August 29th._--Viazma, burnt by Russians, entered by the French. + + _September 7th._--Battle of Borodino (_La Moskowa_). Nearly all + the Russian generals are present: Barclay de Tolly, Beningsen, + Bagration (who is killed), all under Kutusoff. Russians lose + 30,000 men, French 20,000, including many generals who had + survived all the campaigns of the Revolution. The French, hungry + and soaked in rain, have no energy to pursue. + + _September 14th._--Occupation of Moscow; fired by emissaries of + Rostopchin, its late governor. Of 4000 stone houses only 200 + remain, of 8000 wooden ones 500. Over 20,000 sick and wounded + burnt in their beds. Fire lasts till September 20th. + + _September 18th._--Russian Army of the Danube under Admiral + Tschitchagow joins the Army of Reserve. + + _September 26th._--Russian troops from Finland disembark at Riga. + + _September 30th.--Napoleon finds a copy of Treaty of Bucharest at + Moscow._ + + _October 11th._--Admiral Tschitchagow with 36,000 men reaches + Bresc, on the Bug, threatening the French communications with + Warsaw. + + _October 17th-19th._--Second combat of Polotsk. Wittgenstein again + defeated by St. Cyr, who is wounded. + + _October 18th._--Combat of Winkowo; Kutusoff defeats Murat. + Americans defeated at Queenston Heights, on the Niagara, and lose + 900 men. + + _October 19th._--Commencement of the Retreat from Moscow. + + _October 22nd._--Burgos captured by Wellington. + + _October 23rd._--Conspiracy of Malet at Paris; Cambacérès to the + rescue. Evacuation of Moscow by Mortier after forty days' + occupation. The French army now retreating has only half its + original strength, and the best cavalry regiments boast only 100 + horses. + + _October 24th.--Battle of Malo-Jaroslavitz. Eugène with 17,000_ + _men defeats Kutusoff with 60,000; but Napoleon finds the enemy + too strong and too tenacious to risk the fertile Kaluga route._ + + _November 3rd._--Battle of Wiazma. Rearguard action, in which Ney + and Eugène are distinguished. + + _November 9th.--Napoleon reaches Smolensk and hears of Malet + conspiracy._ + + _November 14th._--Evacuation of Smolensk. + + _November 16th._--Russian Army (of the Danube) takes Minsk, and + cuts off the French from the Niemen. + + _November 16th-19th._--Combat of Krasnoi, twenty-five miles west + of Smolensk. Kutusoff with 30,000 horse and 70,000 foot tries to + stop the French, who have only 25,000 effective combatants. + Magnificent fighting by Ney with his rearguard of 6000. + + _November 21st._--Russians seize at Borizow the bridges over the + Beresina, which are + + _November 23rd._--Retaken by Oudinot. + + _November 26th-28th._--French cross the Beresina, but lose 20,000 + prisoners and nearly all their cannon (150). + + _November 29th.--Napoleon writes Maret he has heard nothing of + France or Spain for fifteen days._ + + _December 3rd._--Twenty-ninth bulletin dated Malodeczna, fifty + miles west of Borisow. + + _December 5th.--Napoleon reaches Smorgoni, and starts for + France._ + + _December 10th._--Murat, left in command, evacuates Wilna. French + retreat in utter rout; "It is not General Kutusoff who routed the + French, it is General Morosow" (the frost), said the Russians. + + _December 14th.--Napoleon reaches Dresden, and_ + + _December 18th.--Paris._ + + _December 19th._--Evacuation of Kovno and passage of the Niemen. + + _December 20th.--Napoleon welcomed by the Senate in a speech by + the naturalist Lacépède: "The absence of your Majesty, sire, is + always a national calamity."_ + + _December 30th._--Defection of the Prussian General York and + Convention of Taurogen, near Tilsit, between Russia and Prussia. + This defection is the signal for the uprising of Germany from the + Oder to the Rhine, from the Baltic to the Julienne Alps. + + +1813. + + _January 5th._--Konigsberg occupied by the Russians. + + _January 13th._--Senatus Consultus calls up 250,000 conscripts. + + _January 22nd._--Americans defeated at Frenchtown, near Detroit, + and lose 1200 men. + + _January 25th.--Concordat at Fontainebleau between Napoleon and + Pope Pius VII., with advantageous terms for the Papacy. The Pope, + however, soon breaks faith._ + + _January 28th.--Murat deserts the French army for Naples, and + leaves Posen. "Your husband is very brave on the battlefield, but + he is weaker than a woman or a monk when he is not face to face + with an enemy. He has no moral courage"_ (_Napoleon to his sister + Caroline, January 24, 1813._ Brotonne, 1032). _Replaced by Eugène + (Napoleon's letter dated January 22nd)._ + + _February 1st._--Proclamation of Louis XVIII. to the French people + (dated London). + + _February 8th._--Warsaw surrenders to Russia. + + _February 10th._--Proclamation of Emperor Alexander calling on the + people of Germany to shake off the yoke of "one man." + + _February 28th._--Sixth Continental Coalition against France. + Treaty signed between Russia and Prussia at Kalisch. + + _March 3rd._--New treaty between England and Sweden at Stockholm: + Sweden to receive a subsidy of a million sterling and the island + of Guadaloupe in return for supporting the Coalition with 30,000 + men. + + _March 4th._--Cossacks occupy Berlin. Madison inaugurated + President U.S.A. + + _March 9th._--Eugène removes his headquarters to Leipsic. + + _March 12th._--French evacuate Hamburg. + + _March 21st._--Russians and Prussians take new town of Dresden. + + _April 1st._--France declares war on Prussia. + + _April 10th._--_Death of Lagrange, mathematician_; _greatly bemoaned + by Napoleon, who considered his death as a "presentiment"_ + (D'Abrantès). + + _April 14th._--Swedish army lands in Germany. + + _April 15th.--Napoleon leaves Paris; arrives Erfurt (April 25th)._ + Americans take Mobile. + + _April 16th._--Thorn (garrisoned by 900 Bavarians) surrenders to + the Russians. Fort York (now Toronto) and + + _April 27th._--Upper Canada taken by the Americans. + + _May 1st._--Death of the Abbé Delille, poet. Opening of campaign. + French forces scattered in Germany, 166,000 men; Allies' forces + ready for action, 225,000 men. Marshal Bessières killed by a + cannon-ball at Poserna. + + _May 2nd.--Napoleon with 90,000 men defeats Prussians and Russians + at Lutzen (Gross-Goerschen) with 110,000; French loss, 10,000. + Battle won_ _chiefly by French artillery. Emperor of Russia and + King of Prussia present._ + + _May 8th.--Napoleon and the French reoccupy Dresden._ + + _May 18th._--Eugène reaches Milan, and enrols an Italian army + 47,000 strong. + + _May 19th-21st.--Combats of Konigswartha, Bautzen, Hochkirch, + Würschen. Napoleon defeats Prussians and Russians; French loss, + 12,000; Allies, 20,000._ + + _May 23rd.--Duroc (shot on May 22nd) dies. "Duroc," said the + Emperor, "there is another life. It is there you will go to await + me, and there we shall meet again some day."_ + + _May 27th._--Americans capture Fort George (Lake Ontario) and + + _May 29th._--Defeat English at Sackett's Harbour. + + _May 30th._--French re-enter Hamburg and + + _June 1st._--Occupy Breslau. British frigate _Shannon_ captures + _Chesapeake_ in fifteen minutes outside Boston harbour. + + _June 4th.--Armistice of Plesswitz, between Napoleon and the + Allies._ + + _June 6th._--Americans (3500) surprised at Burlington Heights by + 700 British. + + _June 15th.--Siege of Tarragona raised by Suchet; English + re-embark, leaving their artillery. "If I had had two marshals + such as Suchet, I should not only have conquered Spain, but I + should have kept it"_ (_Napoleon in_ Campan's Memoirs). + + _June 21st._--Battle of Vittoria; total rout of the French under + Marshal Jourdan and King Joseph. In retreat the army is much more + harassed by the guerillas than by the English. + + _June 23rd._--Admiral Cockburn defeated at Craney Island by + Americans. + + _June 24th._--Five hundred Americans surrender to two hundred + Canadians at Beaver's Dams. + + _June 25th._--Combat of Tolosa. Foy stops the advance of the + English right wing. + + _June 30th.--Convention at Dresden. Napoleon accepts the mediation + of Austria; armistice prolonged to August 10th._ + + _July 1st._--Soult sent to take chief command in Spain. + + _July 10th._--Alliance between France and Denmark. + + _July 12th.--Congress of Prague. Austria, Prussia, and Russia + decide that Germany must be independent, and the French Empire + bounded by the Rhine and the Alps; "but to reign over 36,000,000 + men did not appear to Napoleon a sufficiently great destiny"_ + (Montgaillard). _Congress breaks up July 28th._ + + _July 26th._--Moreau arrives from U.S., and lands at Gothenburg. + + _July 31st._--Soult attacks Anglo-Spanish army near Roncesvalles + in order to succour Pampeluna. Is repulsed, with loss of 8000 + men. + + _August 12th._--Austria notifies its adhesion to the Allies. + + _August 15th.--Jomini, the Swiss tactician, turns traitor and + escapes to the Allies. He advises them of Napoleon's plans to + seize Berlin and relieve Dantzic [see letter to Ney, No. 19,714, + 20,006, and especially 20,360 (August 12th) in_ Correspondence]. + _On August 16th Napoleon writes to Cambacérès: "Jomini, Ney's + chief of staff, has deserted. It is he who published some volumes + on the campaigns and who has been in the pay of Russia for a long + time. He has yielded to corruption. He is a soldier of little + value, yet he is a writer who has grasped some of the sound + principles of war."_ + + _August 17th.--Renewal of hostilities in Germany. Napoleon's army, + 280,000, of whom half recruits who had never seen a battle; the + Allies 520,000, excluding militia. In his counter-manifesto to + Austria, dated Bautzen, Napoleon declares "Austria, the enemy of + France, and cloaking her ambition under the mask of a mediation, + complicated everything.... But Austria, our avowed foe, is in a + truer guise, and one perfectly obvious. Europe is therefore much + nearer peace; there is one complication the less."_ + + _August 18th._--Suchet, having blown up fortifications of + Tarragona, evacuates Valentia. + + _August 21st._--Opening of the campaign in Italy. Eugène, with + 50,000 men, commands the Franco-Italian army. + + _August 23rd._--Combats of Gross-Beeren and Ahrensdorf, near + Berlin. Bernadotte defeats Oudinot with loss of 1500 men and 20 + guns. Berlin is preserved to the Allies. Oudinot replaced by Ney. + Lauriston defeats Army of Silesia at Goldberg with heavy loss. + + _August 26th-27th.--Battle of Dresden.--Napoleon marches a hundred + miles in seventy hours to the rescue. With less than 100,000 men + he defeats the Allied Army of 180,000 under Schwartzenberg, + Wittgenstein, and Kleist. Austrians lose 20,000 prisoners and 60 + guns. Moreau is mortally wounded (dies September 1st)._ Combat of + the Katzbach, in Silesia. Blucher defeats Macdonald with heavy + loss, who loses 10,000 to 12,000 men in his retreat. + + _August 30th._--Combat of Kulm. Vandamme enveloped in Bohemia, and + surrenders with 12,000 men. + + _August 31st._--Combat of Irun. Soult attacks Wellington to save + San Sebastian, but is repulsed. Graham storms San Sebastian. + + _September 6th._--Combat of Dennewitz (near Berlin). Ney routed by + Bulow and Bernadotte; loses his artillery, baggage, and 12,000 + men. + + _September 10th_--Americans capture the English flotilla on Lake + Erie. + + _September 12th._--Combat of Villafranca (near Barcelona). Suchet + defeats English General Bentinck. + + _October 7th._--Wellington crosses the Bidassoa into France. "It + is on the frontier of France itself that ends the enterprise of + Napoleon on Spain. The Spaniards have given the first conception + of a people's war versus a war of professionals. For it would be a + mistake to think that the battles of Salamanca (July 22nd, 1812) + and Vittoria (June 21st, 1813) forced the French to abandon the + Peninsula.... It was the daily losses, the destruction of man by + man, the drops of French blood falling one by one, which in five + years aggregated a death-roll of 150,000 men. As to the English, + they appeared in this war only as they do in every world-crisis, + to gather, in the midst of general desolation, the fruits of their + policy, and to consolidate their plans of maritime despotism, of + exclusive commerce" (Montgaillard). + + _October 15th._--Bavarian army secedes and joins the Austrians. + + _October 16th-19th.--Battles of Leipsic._ _Allied army_ 330,000 + men (_Schwartzenberg_, _Bernadotte_, _Blucher_, _Beningsen_), + _Napoleon_ 175,000. _Twenty-six battalions and ten squadrons of + Saxon and Wurtemberg men leave Napoleon and turn their guns + against the French. Napoleon is not defeated, but determines to + retreat. The rearguard (20,000 men) and 200 cannon taken. + Poniatowski drowned; Reynier and Lauriston captured._ + + _October 20th._--Blucher made Field-Marshal. + + _October 23rd._--French army reach Erfurt. + + _October 30th.--Combat of Hanau. Napoleon defeats Wrede with heavy + loss._ + + _October 31st._--Combat and capture of Bassano by Eugène. English + capture Pampeluna. + + _November 2nd.--Napoleon arrives at Mayence (where typhus carries + off 40,000 French), and is_ + + _November 9th.--At St. Cloud._ + + _November 10th._--Wellington defeats Soult at St. Jean de Luz. + + _November 11th._--Surrender of Dresden by Gouvion St. Cyr; its + French soldiers to return under parole to France. Austrians refuse + to ratify the convention, and 1700 officers and 23,000 men remain + prisoners of war. + + _November 14th.--Napoleon addresses the Senate: "All Europe + marched with us a year ago; all Europe marches against us to-day. + That is because the world's opinion is directed either by France + or England."_ + + _November 15th._--Eugène defeats Austrians at Caldiero. + Senatus-Consultus puts 300,000 conscripts at disposal of + government. + + _November 24th._--Capture of Amsterdam by Prussian General Bulow. + + _December 1st._--Allies declare at Frankfort that they are at war + with the Emperor and not with France. + + _December 2nd._--Bulow occupies Utrecht. Holland secedes from the + French Empire. + + _December 5th._--Capture of Lubeck by the Swedes, and surrender of + Stettin (7000 prisoners), Zamosk (December 22nd), Modlin (December + 25th), and Torgau (December 26th, with 10,000 men). + + _December 8th-13th._--Soult defends the passage of the Nive--costly + to both sides. Murat (now hostile to Napoleon) enters Ancona. + + _December 9th-10th._--French evacuate Breda. + + _December 11th.--Treaty of Valençay between Napoleon and his + prisoner Ferdinand VII., who is to reign over Spain, but not to + cede Minorca or Ceuta (now in their power} to the English._ + + _December 15th._--Denmark secedes from French alliance. + + _December 21st._--Allies, 100,000 strong, cross the Rhine in ten + divisions (Bâle to Schaffhausen). Jomini is said to have + contributed to this violation of Swiss territory. + + _December 24th._--Final evacuation of Holland by the French. + + _December 28th._--Austrians capture Ragusa. + + _December 31st.--Napoleon, having trouble with his Commons, + dissolves the Corps Législatif._ Austrians capture Geneva. Blucher + crosses the Rhine at Mannheim and Coblentz. Exclusive of Landwehr + and levies en masse, there are now a million trained men in arms + against Napoleon. + + * * * * * + +1814. + + "The Allied Powers having proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon was + the sole obstacle to the re-establishment of the Peace of Europe, + the Emperor Napoleon, faithful to his oath, declares that he + renounces, for himself and his heirs, the thrones of France and + Italy, and that there is no personal sacrifice, even that of life + itself, that he will not be ready to make for the sake of + France."--(_Act of Abdication._) + + * * * * * + + _January 1st._--Capitulation of Danzic, which General Rapp had + defended for nearly a year, having lost 20,000 (out of 30,000) men + by fever. Russians, who had promised to send the French home, + break faith, following the example of Schwartzenberg at Dresden. + + _January 2nd._--Russians take Fort Louis (Lower Rhine); and + + _January 3rd._--Austrians Montbéliard; and Bavarians Colmar. + + _January 6th._--General York occupies Trèves. Convention between + Murat and England and (January 11th) with Austria. Murat is to + join Allies with 30,000 men. + + _January 7th._--Austrians occupy Vesoul. + + _January 8th._--French Rentes 5 per cents. at 47.50. Wurtemberg + troops occupy Epinal. + + _January 10th._--General York reaches Forbach (on the Moselle). + + _January 15th._--Cossacks occupy Cologne. + + _January 16th._--Russians occupy Nancy. + + _January 19th._--Austrians occupy Dijon; Bavarians, Neufchâteau. + Murat's troops occupy Rome. + + _January 20th._--Capture of Toul by the Russians; and of Chambéry + by the Austrians. + + _January 21st._--Austrians occupy Châlons-sur-Saône. General York + crosses the Meuse. + + _January 23rd._--Pope Pius VII. returns to Rome. + + _January 25th._--General York and Army of Silesia established at + St. Dizier and Joinville on the Marne. Austrians occupy + Bar-sur-Aube. _Napoleon leaves Paris; and_ + + _January 26th.--Reaches Châlons-sur-Marne; and_ + + _January 27th.--Retakes St. Dizier in person._ + + _January 29th.--Combat of Brienne. Napoleon defeats Blucher._ + + _February 1st._--Battle of La Rothière, six miles north of + Brienne. French, 40,000; Allies, 110,000. Drawn battle, but French + retreat on Troyes; French evacuate Brussels. + + _February 4th._--Eugène retires upon the Mincio. + + _February 5th.--Cortes disavow Napoleon's treaty of Valençay with + Ferdinand VII._ Opening of Congress of Châtillon. General York + occupies Châlons-sur-Marne. + + _February 7th._--Allies seize Troyes. + + _February 8th._--Battle of the Mincio. Eugène with 30,000 + conscripts defeats Austrians under Bellegarde with 50,000 + veterans. + + _February 10th.--Combat of Champaubert. Napoleon defeats + Russians._ + + _February 11th.--Combat of Montmirail. Napoleon defeats Sacken. + Russians occupy Nogent-sur-Seine; and_ + + _February 12th.--Laon._ + + _February 14th.--Napoleon routs Blucher at Vauchamp. His losses, + 10,000 men; French loss, 600 men. In five days Napoleon has wiped + out the five corps of the Army of Silesia, inflicting a loss of + 25,000 men._ + + _February 17th.--Combat near Nangis. Napoleon defeats Austro-Russians + with loss of 10,000 men and 12 cannon._ + + _February 18th._--Combat of Montereau. Prince Royal of Wurtemberg + defeated with loss of 7000. + + _February 21st._--Comte d'Artois arrives at Vesoul. + + _February 22nd._--Combat of Méry-sur-Seine. Sacken defeated by + Boyer's Division, who fight in masks--it being Shrove Tuesday. + + _February 24th._--French re-enter Troyes. + + _February 27th._--Bulow captures La Fère with large stores. Battle + of Orthes (Pyrenees), Wellington with 70,000 defeats Soult + entrenched with 38,000. Foy badly wounded. + + _February 27th-28th._--Combats of Bar and Ferté-sur-Aube. Marshals + Oudinot and Macdonald forced to retire on the Seine. + + _March 1st._--Treaty of Chaumont--Allies against Napoleon. + + _March 2nd._--Bulow takes Soissons. + + _March 4th._--Macdonald evacuates Troyes. + + _March 7th.--Battle of Craonne between Napoleon (30,000 men) and + Sacken (100,000)._ Indecisive. + + _March 9th._--English driven from Berg-op-Zoom. + + _March 9th-10th.--Combat under Laon: depôt of Allied army. + Napoleon fails to capture it._ + + _March 12th._--Duc d'Angoulême arrives at Bordeaux. This town is + the first to declare for the Bourbons, and to welcome him as Louis + XVIII. + + _March 13th._--Ferdinand VII. set at liberty. + + _March 14th.--Napoleon retakes Rheims from the Russians._ + + _March 19th._--Rupture of Treaty of Châtillon. + + _March 20th._--Battle of Tarbes. Wellington defeats French. + + _March 20th-21st._--Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube. Indecisive. + + _March 21st._--Austrians enter Lyons. Augereau retires on Valence. + Had Eugène joined him with his 40,000 men he might have saved + France after Vauchamp. + + _March 25th._--Combat of Fère-Champenoise. Marmont and Mortier + defeated with loss of 9000 men. + + _March 26th.--Combat of St. Dizier. Napoleon defeats Russians, and + starts to save Paris._ + + _March 29th.--Allies outside Paris. Napoleon at Troyes (125 miles + off)._ + + _March 30th.--Battle of Paris._ The Emperor's orders disobeyed. + Heavy cannon from Cherbourg left outside Paris, also 20,000 + men. Clarke deserts to the Allies. Joseph runs away, leaving + Marmont permission to capitulate. After losing 5000 men (and + Allies 8000) Marmont evacuates Paris and retires. _Napoleon + reaches Fontainebleau in the evening, and hears the bad news._ + + _March 31st._--Emperor of Russia, King of Prussia, and 36,000 men + enter Paris. Stocks and shares advance. Emperor Alexander states, + "The Allied Sovereigns will treat no longer with Napoleon + Bonaparte, nor any of his family." + + _April 1st._--Senate, with Talleyrand as President, institute a + Provisional Government. + + _April 2nd._--Provisional Government address the army: "You are no + longer the soldiers of Napoleon; the Senate and the whole of + France absolve you from your oaths." They also declare Napoleon + deposed from the throne, and his family from the succession. + + _April 4th.--Napoleon signs a declaration of abdication in favour + of his son, but after two days' deliberation, and Marmont's + defection, Alexander insists on an absolute abdication._ + + _April 5th._--Convention of Chevilly. Marmont agrees to join the + Provisional Government, and disband his army under promise that + Allies will guarantee life and liberty to Napoleon Bonaparte. + Funds on March 29th at 45, now at 63.75. + + _April 6th._--New Constitution decreed by the Senate. The National + Guard ordered to wear the White Cockade in lieu of the Tricolor. + + _April 10th._--Battle of Toulouse. Hotly contested; almost a + defeat for Wellington. + + _April 11th.--Treaty of Paris between Napoleon and Allies + (Austria, Russia, and Prussia). Isle of Elba reserved for Napoleon + and his family, with a revenue of £200,000; the Duchies of Parma + and Placentia for Marie Louise and her son. England accedes to + this Treaty. Act of Abdication of the Emperor Napoleon._ + + _April 12th._--Count d'Artois enters Paris. + + _April 16th._--Convention between Eugène and Austrian General + Bellegarde. Emperor of Austria sees Marie Louise at the little + Trianon, and decides upon his daughter's return to Vienna. + + _April 18th._--Armistice of Soult and Wellington. + + _April 20th.--Napoleon leaves Fontainebleau, and bids adieu to his + Old Guard: "Do not mourn over my fate; if I have determined to + survive, it is in order still to dedicate myself to your glory; I + wish to write about the great things we have done together."_ + + _April 24th._--Louis XVIII. lands at Calais, and + + _May 3rd._---Enters Paris. + + _May 4th.---Napoleon reaches Elba._ + + _May 29th.--Death of Josephine, aged 51._ + + _May 30th.--Peace of Paris._ + + +FOOTNOTES + + [40] Averaged from early historians of the campaigns. Marbot gives the + numbers 155,400 French and 175,000 Allies. Allowing for the + secession of the Austrian and Prussian contingents and for + 30,000 prisoners, he gives the actual French death-roll by + February 1813 at 65,000. This is a minimum estimate. + + + + +NOTES + +_THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGNS, 1796-97_ + + + + +SERIES A + +(_The numbers correspond to the numbers of the Letters._) + + +No. 1. + +_Bonaparte made Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Italy._--Marmont's +account of how this came to pass is probably substantially correct, as +he has less interest in distorting the facts than any other writer as +well fitted for the task. The winter had rolled by in the midst of +pleasures--soirées at the Luxembourg, dinners of Madame Tallien, +"nor," he adds, "were we hard to please." "The Directory often +conversed with General Bonaparte about the army of Italy, whose +general--Schérer--was always representing the position as difficult, +and never ceasing to ask for help in men, victuals, and money. General +Bonaparte showed, in many concise observations, that all that was +superfluous. He strongly blamed the little advantage taken from the +victory at Loano, and asserted that, even yet, all that could be put +right. Thus a sort of controversy was maintained between Schérer and +the Directory, counselled and inspired by Bonaparte." At last when +Bonaparte drew up plans--afterwards followed--for the invasion of +Piedmont, Schérer replied roughly that he who had drawn up the plan of +campaign had better come and execute it. They took him at his word, +and Bonaparte was named General-in-Chief of the army of Italy (vol. i. +93). + +"_7 A.M._"--Probably written early in March. Leaving Paris on March +11th, Napoleon writes Letourneur, President of the Directory, of his +marriage with the "citoyenne Tascher Beauharnais," and tells him that +he has already asked Barras to inform them of the fact. "The +confidence which the Directory has shown me under all circumstances +makes it my duty to keep it advised of all my actions. It is a new +link which binds me to the fatherland; it is one more proof of my +fixed determination to find safety only in the Republic."[41] + + +No. 2. + +"_Our good Ossian._"--The Italian translation of Ossian by Cesarotti +was a masterpiece; better, in fact, than the original. He was a friend +of Macpherson, and had learnt English in order to translate his work. +Cesarotti lived till an advanced age, and was sought out in his +retirement in order to receive honours and pensions from the Emperor +Napoleon. + +"Our good Ossian" speaks, like Homer, of the joy of grief. + + +No. 4. + +"_Chauvet is dead._"--Chauvet is first mentioned in Napoleon's +correspondence in a letter to his brother Joseph, August 9, 1795. +Mdme. Junot, _Memoirs_, i. 138, tells us that Bonaparte was very fond +of him, and that he was a man of gentle manners and very ordinary +conversation. She declares that Bonaparte had been a suitor for the +hand of her mother shortly before his marriage with Josephine, and +that because the former rejected him, the general had refused a favour +to her son; this had caused a quarrel which Chauvet had in vain tried +to settle. On March 27th Bonaparte had written Chauvet from Nice that +every day that he delayed joining him, "takes away from my operations +one chance of probability for their success." + + +No. 5. + +St. Amand notes that Bonaparte begins to suspect his wife in this +letter, while the previous ones, especially that of April 3rd, show +perfect confidence. Napoleon is on the eve of a serious battle, and +has only just put his forces into fighting trim. On the previous day +(April 6th) he wrote to the Directory that the movement against Genoa, +of which he does not approve, has brought the enemy out of their +winter quarters almost before he has had time to make ready. "The army +is in a state of alarming destitution; I have still great difficulties +to surmount, but they are surmountable: misery has excused want of +discipline, and without discipline never a victory. I hope to have all +in good trim shortly--there are signs already; in a few days we shall +be fighting. The Sardinian army consists of 50,000 foot, and 5000 +horse; I have only 45,000 men at my disposal, all told. Chauvet, the +commissary-general, died at Genoa: it is a heavy loss to the army, he +was active and enterprising." + +Two days later Napoleon, still at Albenga, reports that he has found +Royalist traitors in the army, and complains that the Treasury had not +sent the promised pay for the men, "but in spite of all, we shall +advance." Massena, eleven years older than his new commander-in-chief, +had received him coldly, but soon became his right-hand man, always +genial, and full of good ideas. Massena's men are ill with too much +salt meat, they have hardly any shoes, but, as in 1800,[42] he has +never a doubt that Bonaparte will make a good campaign, and determines +to loyally support him. Poor Laharpe, so soon to die, is a man of a +different stamp--one of those, doubtless, of whom Bonaparte thinks +when he writes to Josephine, "Men worry me." The Swiss, in fact, was a +chronic grumbler, but a first-rate fighting man, even when his men +were using their last cartridges. + +"_The lovers of nineteen._"--The allusion is lost. Aubenas, who +reproduces two or three of these letters, makes a comment to this +sentence, "Nous n'avons pu trouver un nom à mettre sous cette +fantasque imagination" (vol. i. 317). + +"_My brother_," viz. Joseph.--He and Junot reached Paris in five days, +and had a great ovation. Carnot, at a dinner-party, showed Napoleon's +portrait next to his heart, because "I foresee he will be the saviour +of France, and I wish him to know that he has at the Directory only +admirers and friends." + + +No. 6. + +_Unalterably good._--"C'est Joseph peint d'un seul trait."--Aubenas +(vol. i. 320). + +"_If you want a place for any one, you can send him here. I will give +him one._"--Bonaparte was beginning to feel firm in the saddle, +while at Paris Josephine was treated like a princess. Under date +April 25th, Letourneur, as one of the Directory, writes him, "A vast +career opens itself before you; the Directory has measured the +whole extent of it." They little knew! The letter concludes by +expressing confidence that their general will never be reproached +with the shameful repose of Capua. In a further letter, bearing +the same date, Letourneur insists on a full and accurate account of +the battles being sent, as they will be necessary "for the history of +the triumphs of the Republic." In a private letter to the Directory +(No. 220, vol. i. of the _Correspondence_, 1858), dated Carru, April +24th, Bonaparte tells them that when he returns to camp, worn-out, +he has to work all night to put matters straight, and repress +pillage. "Soldiery without bread work themselves into an excess of +frenzy which makes one blush to be a man."[43]... "I intend to make +terrible examples. I shall restore order, or cease to command these +brigands. The campaign is not yet decided. The enemy is desperate, +numerous, and fights well. He knows I am in want of everything, and +trusts entirely to time; but I trust entirely to the good genius of +the Republic, to the bravery of the soldiers, to the harmony of the +officers, and even to the confidence they repose in me." + + +No. 7. + +Aubenas goes into ecstasies over this letter, "the longest, most +eloquent, and most impassioned of the whole series" (vol. i. 322). + +Facsimile of Letter dated April 24, 1796. + +_June 15._--Here occurs the first gap in the correspondence, but +his letters to the Directory between this date and the last letter +to Josephine extant (April 24) are full of interest, including his +conscientious disobedience at Cherasco, and the aura of his destiny +to "ride the whirlwind and direct the storm" which first inspired him +after Lodi. On April 28th was signed the armistice of Cherasco, by +which his rear was secured by three strong fortresses.[44] He writes +the Directory that Piedmont is at their mercy, and that in making the +armistice into a definite peace he trusts they will not forget the +little island of Saint-Pierre, which will be more useful in the +future than Corsica and Sardinia combined. He looks upon northern +Italy as practically conquered, and speaks of invading Bavaria +through the Tyrol. "Prodigious" is practically the verdict of the +Directory, and later of Jomini. "My columns are marching; Beaulieu +flees. I hope to catch him. I shall impose a contribution of some +millions on the Duke of Parma: he will sue for peace: don't be in a +hurry, so that I may have time to make him also contribute to the +cost of the campaign, by replenishing our stores and rehorsing our +waggons at his expense." Bonaparte suggests that Genoa should pay +fifteen millions indemnity for the frigates and vessels taken in the +port. Certain risks had to be run in invading Lombardy, owing to want +of horse artillery, but at Cherasco he secured artillery and horses. +When writing to the Directory for a dozen companies, he tells them +not to entrust the execution of this measure "to the men of the +bureaus, for it takes them ten days to forward an order." Writing to +Carnot on the same day he states he is marching against Beaulieu, +who has 26,000 foot out of 38,000 at commencement of campaign. +Napoleon's force is 28,000, but he has less cavalry. On May 1st, in a +letter dated Acqui to Citizen Faipoult, he asks for particulars of +the pictures, statues, &c., of Milan, Parma, Placentia, Modena, and +Bologna. On the same day Massena writes that his men are needing +shoes. On May 6th Bonaparte announces the capture of Tortona, "a very +fine fortress, which cost the King of Sardinia over fifteen +millions," while Cherasco has furnished him with twenty-eight guns. +Meanwhile Massena has taken possession of Alessandria, with all its +stores. On May 9th Napoleon writes to Carnot, "We have at last +crossed the Po. The second campaign is begun; Beaulieu ... has +fool-hardiness but no genius. One more victory, and Italy is ours." A +clever commissary-general is all he needs, and his men are growing +fat--with good meat and good wine. He sends to Paris twenty old +masters, with fine examples of Correggio and Michael-Angelo. It is +pleasant to find Napoleon's confidence in Carnot, in view of Barras' +insinuations that the latter had cared only for Moreau--his type +of Xenophon. In this very letter Napoleon writes Carnot, "I owe you +my special thanks for the care that you have kindly given to my wife; +I recommend her to you, she is a sincere patriot, and I love her to +distraction." He is sending "a dozen millions" to France, and hopes +that some of it will be useful to the army of the Rhine. Meanwhile, +and two days before Napoleon's letter to Carnot just mentioned, the +latter, on behalf of the Directory, suggests the division of his +command with the old Alsatian General Kellermann. The Directory's +idea of a gilded pill seems to be a prodigiously long letter. It is +one of those heart-breaking effusions that, even to this day, +emanate from board-rooms, to the dismay and disgust of their +recipients. After plastering him with sickening sophistries as to +his "sweetest recompense," it gives the utterly unnecessary +monition, "March! no fatal repose, there are still laurels to +gather"! Nevertheless, his plan of ending the war by an advance +through the Tyrol strikes them as too risky. He is to conquer the +Milanais, and then divide his army with Kellermann, who is to guard +the conquered province, while he goes south to Naples and Rome. As an +implied excuse for not sending adequate reinforcements, Carnot adds, +"The exaggerated rumours that you have skilfully disseminated as to +the numbers of the French troops in Italy, will augment the fear +of our enemies and almost double your means of action." The +Milanais is to be heavily mulcted, but he is to be prudent. If Rome +makes advances, his first demand should be that the Pope may order +immediate public prayers for the prosperity and success of the French +Republic! The sending of old masters to France to adorn her National +Galleries seems to have been entirely a conception of Napoleon's. He +has given sufficiently good reasons, from a patriotic point of view; +for money is soon spent, but a masterpiece may encourage Art among +his countrymen a generation later. The plunderers of the Parthenon of +1800 could not henceforward throw stones at him in this respect. But +his real object was to win the people of Paris by thus sending them +Glory personified in unique works of genius. + +The Directory, already jealous of his fame, endeavour to neutralise +the effect of his initiative by hearty concurrence, and write, "Italy +has been illumined and enriched by their possession, but the time is +now come when their reign should pass to France to stablish and +beautify that of Liberty." The despatch adds somewhat naïvely that the +effects of the vandalism committed during their own Republican orgies +would be obliterated by this glorious campaign, which should "join to +the splendour of military trophies the charm of beneficent and restful +arts." The Directory ends by inviting him to choose one or two artists +to select the most valuable pictures and other masterpieces. + +Meanwhile, the Directory's supineness in pushing on the war on the +Rhine is enabling the Austrians to send large reinforcements against +Napoleon. Bonaparte, who has recently suffered (Jomini, vol. viii. +113) from Kellermann's tardiness in sending reinforcements at an +important moment, replies to the letters of May 7th a week later, and +writes direct to Citizen Carnot from Lodi, as well as to the Executive +Directory. "On the receipt of the Directory's letter of the 7th your +wishes were fulfilled, and the Milanais is ours. I shall shortly +march, to carry out your intentions, on Leghorn and Rome; all that +will soon be done. I am writing the Directory relatively to their idea +of dividing the army. I swear that I have no thought beyond the +interest of my country. Moreover, you will always find me straight +(_dans la ligne droite_).... As it might happen that this letter to +the Directory may be badly construed, and since you have assured me +of your friendship, I take this opportunity of addressing you, begging +you to make what use of it your prudence and attachment for me may +suggest.... Kellermann will command the army as well as I, for no one +is more convinced than I am that the victories are due to the courage +and pluck of the army; but I think joining Kellermann and myself in +Italy is to lose everything. I cannot serve willingly with a man who +considers himself the first general in Europe; and, besides, I believe +one bad general is better than two good ones. War is like government: +it is an affair of tact. To be of any use, I must enjoy the same +confidence that you testified to me in Paris. Where I make war, here +or there, is a matter of indifference. To serve my country, to deserve +from posterity a page in our history, to give the Government proofs of +my attachment and devotion--that is the sum of my ambition. But I am +very anxious not to lose in a week the fatigues, anxieties, and +dangers of two months, and to find myself fettered. I began with a +certain amount of fame; I wish to continue worthy of you." To the +Directory he writes that the expeditions to Leghorn, Rome, and Naples +are small affairs, but to be safely conducted must have one general in +command. "I have made the campaign without consulting a soul; I should +have done no good if I had had to share my views with another. I have +gained some advantages over superior forces, and in utter want of +everything, because, certain of your confidence, my marches have been +as quick as my thoughts." He foretells disaster if he is shackled with +another general. "Every one has his own method of making war. General +Kellermann has more experience, and will do it better than I; but both +together will do it very badly." With Barras he knew eloquence was +useless, and therefore bribed him with a million francs. On May 10th +was gained the terrible battle of the Bridge of Lodi, where he won +promotion from his soldiers, and became their "little corporal," and +where he told Las Cases that he "was struck with the possibility of +becoming famous. It was then that the first spark of my ambition was +kindled." On entering Milan he told Marmont, "Fortune has smiled on me +to-day, only because I despise her favours; she is a woman, and the +more she does for me, the more I shall exact from her. In our day no +one has originated anything great; it is for me to give the example." + +On May 15th, thirty-five days after the commencement of the campaign, +he entered Milan, under a triumphal arch and amid the acclamations of +the populace. On the previous evening he was guilty of what Dr. +Johnson would have considered a fitting herald of his spoliation of +picture-galleries--the perpetration of a pun. At a dinner-table the +hostess observed that his youth was remarkable in so great a +conqueror, whereat he replied, "Truly, madam, I am not very old at +present--barely twenty-seven--but in less than twenty-four hours I +shall count many more, for I shall have attained Milan" (_mille +ans_). + +On May 22nd he returned to Lodi, but heard immediately that Lombardy +in general, and Pavia in particular, was in open revolt. He makes a +terrible example of Pavia, shooting its chief citizens, and, for the +only time, giving up a town to three hours' pillage. The Directory +congratulates him on these severe measures: "The laws of war and the +safety of the army render them legitimate in such circumstances." He +writes them that had the blood of a single Frenchman been spilt, he +would have erected a column on the ruins of Pavia, on which should +have been inscribed, "Here was the town of Pavia." + +On May 21st, Carnot replies to the letter from Lodi: "You appear +desirous, citizen general, of continuing to conduct the whole series +of military operations in Italy, at the actual seat of war. The +Directory has carefully considered your proposition, and the +confidence that they place in your talents and republican zeal has +decided this question in the affirmative.... The rest of the military +operations towards the Austrian frontier and round Mantua are +absolutely dependent on your success against Beaulieu. The Directory +feels how difficult it would be to direct them from Paris. It leaves +to you in this respect the greatest latitude, while recommending the +most extreme prudence. Its intention is, however, that the army shall +cross into the Tyrol only after the expedition to the south of +Italy." + +This was a complete victory for Bonaparte (Bingham calls it the +Directory's "abject apology"), and, as Scott points out, he now +"obtained an ascendency which he took admirable care not to +relinquish; and it became the sole task of the Directory, so far as +Italy was concerned, to study phrases for intimating their approbation +of the young general's measures." + +He had forged a sword for France, and he now won her heart by gilding +it. On May 16th the Directory had asked him to supply Kellermann with +money for the army of the Alps, and by May 22nd he is able to write +that six or eight million francs in gold, silver, ingots, or jewels is +lying at their disposal with one of the best bankers in Genoa, being +superfluous to the needs of the army. "If you wish it, I can have a +million sent to Bâle for the army of the Rhine." He has already helped +Kellermann, and paid his men. He also announces a further million +requisitioned from Modena. "As it has neither fortresses nor muskets, +I could not ask for them." + +Henceforth he lubricates the manifold wheels of French policy with +Italian gold, and gains thereby the approbation and gratitude of the +French armies and people. Meanwhile he does not neglect those who +might bear him a grudge. To Kellermann and to all the Directors he +sends splendid chargers. From Parma he has the five best pictures +chosen for Paris--the Saint Jerome and the Madonna della Scodella, +both by Correggio; the Preaching of St. John in the Desert, a Paul +Veronese, and a Van Dyck, besides fine examples of Raphael, Caracci, +&c. + +The Directory is anxious that he shall chastise the English at +Leghorn, as the fate of Corsica is somewhat dependent on it, whose +loss "will make London tremble." They secretly dread a war in the +Tyrol, forgetting that Bonaparte is a specialist in mountain fighting, +educated under Paoli. They remind him that he has not sent the plans +of his battles. "You ought not to lack draughtsmen in Italy. Eh! what +are your young engineer officers doing?" + +On May 31st Carnot writes to urge him to press the siege of Mantua, +reasserting that the reinforcements which Beaulieu has received will +not take from that army its sense of inferiority, and that ten +battalions of Hoche's army are on the way. It approves and confirms +the "generous fraternity" with which Bonaparte offers a million francs +to the armies on the Rhine. On June 7th he tells the Directory that +Rome is about to fulminate a bull against the French Royalists, but +that he thinks the expedition to Naples should be deferred, and also a +quarrel with Venice--at least till he has beaten his other enemies; it +is not expedient to tackle every one at once. On June 6th he thanks +Carnot for a kind letter, adding that the best reward to sweeten +labour and perils is the esteem of the few men one really admires. He +fears the hot weather for his men: "we shall soon be in July, when +every march will cost us 200 sick." The same day he writes General +Clarke that all is flourishing, but that the dog-star is coming on at +a gallop, and that there is no remedy against its malign influence. +"Luckless beings that we are! Our position with nature is merely +observation, without control." He holds that the only safe way to end +the campaign without being beaten is not to go to the south of Italy. +On the 9th he thanks Kellermann for the troops he sends, and their +excellent discipline. On the 11th--always as anxious to help his +generals as himself--he urges the Directory to press the Swiss +Government to refund La Harpe's property to his children. + +"_Presentiment of ill._"--Marmont tells us what this was. The glass of +his wife's portrait, which he always carried with him, was found to be +broken. Turning frightfully pale, he said to Marmont, "My wife is +either very ill, or unfaithful." She left Paris June 24th. Marmont +says, "Once at Milan, General Bonaparte was very happy, for at that +time he lived only for his wife.... Never love more pure, more true, +more exclusive, has possessed the heart of any man." + + +No. 8. + +Between June 15th and the renewal of Josephine's correspondence a +glance at the intervening dates will show that Bonaparte and his army +were not wasting time. The treaty with Rome was a masterpiece, as in +addition to money and works of art, he obtained the port of Ancona, +siege-guns with which to bombard Mantua, and best of all, a letter +from the Pope to the faithful of France, recommending submission to +the new government there. In consideration of this, and possibly +yielding to the religious sentiments of Josephine, he spared Rome his +presence--the only capital which he abstained from entering, when he +had, as in the present case, the opportunity. It was not, however, +until February 1797 that the Pope fulfilled his obligations under this +Treaty, and then under new compulsion. + +_Fortuné._--Josephine's dog (see note to Letter 2, Series B). + + +FOOTNOTES + + [41] No. 89 of Napoleon III.'s Correspondence of Napoleon I., vol. i., + the last letter signed Buonaparte; after March 24 we only find + Bonaparte. + + [42] Compelled to surrender Genoa, before Marengo takes place, he + swears to the Austrian general he will be back there in + fourteen days, and keeps his word. + + [43] Two days later he evidently feels this letter too severe, and + writes: "All goes well. Pillage is less pronounced. This first + thirst of an army destitute of everything is quenched. The poor + fellows are excusable; after having sighed for three years at + the top of the Alps, they arrive in the Promised Land, and wish + to taste of it." + + [44] Bingham, with his customary ill-nature, remarks that Bonaparte, + "in spite of the orders of the Directory, took upon himself to + sign the armistice." These orders, dated March 6th, were + intended for a novice, and no longer applicable to the + conqueror of two armies, and which a Despatch on the way, dated + April 25th, already modified. Jomini admits the wisdom of this + advantageous peace, which secured Nice and Savoy to France, and + gave her all the chief mountain-passes leading into Italy. + + + + +SERIES B + + +No. 1. + +_July 6, Sortie from Mantua of the Austrians._--According to Jomini +the French on this occasion were not successful (vol. viii. 162). In +one of his several letters to the Directory on this date is seen +Bonaparte's anxiety for reinforcements; the enemy has already 67,000 +men against his available 40,000. Meanwhile he is helping the +Corsicans to throw off the British yoke, and believes that the French +possession of Leghorn will enable the French to gain that island +without firing a shot. + + +No. 2. + +_Marmirolo._--On July 12th he writes to the Directory from Verona that +for some days he and the enemy have been watching each other. "Woe to +him who makes a false move." He indicates that he is about to make a +_coup de main_ on Mantua, with 300 men dressed in Austrian uniforms. +He is by no means certain of success, which "depends entirely on +luck--either on a dog[45] or a goose." He complains of much sickness +among his men round Mantua, owing to the heat and miasmata from the +marshes, but so far no deaths. He will be ready to make Venice +disgorge a few millions shortly, if the Directory make a quarrel in +the interim. + +On the 13th he was with Josephine, as he writes from Milan, but leaves +on the 14th, and on the 17th is preparing a _coup de_ _main_ with 800 +grenadiers, which, as we see from the next letter, fails. + +_Fortuné._--Arnault tells an anecdote of this lap-dog, which in 1794, +in the days of the Terror, had been used as a bearer of secret +despatches between Josephine in prison and the governess of her +children outside the grille. Henceforward Josephine would never be +parted from it. One day in June 1797 the dog was lying on the same +couch as its mistress, and Bonaparte, accosting Arnault and pointing +to the dog with his finger, said, "You see that dog there. He is my +rival. He was in possession of Madame's bed when I married her. I +wished to make him get out--vain hope! I was told I must resign +myself to sleep elsewhere, or consent to share with him. That was +sufficiently exasperating, but it was a question of taking or +leaving, and I resigned myself. The favourite was less accommodating +than I. I bear the proof of it in this leg." + +Not content with barking at every one, he bit not only men but other +dogs, and was finally killed by a mastiff, much to Bonaparte's secret +satisfaction; for, as St. Amand adds, "he could easily win battles, +accomplish miracles, make or unmake principalities, but could not show +a dog the door." + + +No. 3. + +"_The village of Virgil._"--Michelet (Jusqu'au 18 _Brumaire_) thinks +that here he got the idea of the Fête of Virgil, established a few +months later. In engravings of the hero of Italy we see him near the +tomb of Virgil, his brows shaded by a laurel crown. + + +No. 4. + +_Achille._--Murat. He had been appointed one of Bonaparte's +aides-de-camp February 29th, made General of Brigade after the Battle +of Lodi (May 10th); is sent to Paris after Junot with nine trophies, +and arrives there first. He flirts there outrageously with Josephine, +but does not escort her back to her husband. + + +No. 5. + +'_Will o' the wisp_,' _i.e._ _l'ardent_.--This word, according to +Ménage, was given by the Sieur de St. Germain to those lively young +sparks who, about the year 1634, used to meet at the house of Mr. +Marsh (M. de Marest), who was one of them. + + +No. 6. + +_The needs of the army._--Difficulties were accumulating, and Napoleon +was, as he admits at St. Helena, seriously alarmed. Wurmser's force +proves to be large, Piedmont is angry with the Republic and ready to +rise, and Venice and Rome would willingly follow its example; the +English have taken Porto-Ferrajo, and their skilful minister, Windham, +is sowing the seeds of discord at Naples. Although on July 20th he has +written a friend in Corsica that "all smiles on the Republic," he +writes Saliceti, another brother Corsican, very differently on August +1st. "Fortune appears to oppose us at present.... I have raised the +siege of Mantua; I am at Brescia with nearly all my army. I shall take +the first opportunity of fighting a battle with the enemy which will +decide the fate of Italy--if I'm beaten, I shall retire on the Adda; +if I win, I shall not stop in the marshes of Mantua.... Let the +citadels of Milan, Tortona, Alessandria, and Pavia be provisioned.... +We are all very tired; I have ridden five horses to death." Reading +between the lines of this letter to Josephine, it is evident that he +thinks she will be safer with him than at Milan--Wurmser having the +option of advancing _viâ_ Brescia on Milan, and cutting off the French +communications. The Marshal's fatal mistake was in using only half his +army for the purpose. This raising of the siege of Mantua (July 31st) +was heart-rending work for Bonaparte, but, as Jomini shows, he had no +artillery horses, and it was better to lose the siege train, +consisting of guns taken from the enemy, than to jeopardise the whole +army. Wurmser had begun his campaign successfully by defeating +Massena, and pushing back Sauret at Salo. "The Austrians," wrote +Massena, "are drunk with brandy, and fight furiously," while his men +are famished and can only hang on by their teeth. Bonaparte calls his +first war council, and thinks for a moment of retreat, but Augereau +insists on fighting, which is successfully accomplished while Wurmser +is basking himself among the captured artillery outside Mantua. +Bonaparte had been perfectly honest in telling the Directory his +difficulties, and sends his brother Louis to the Directory for that +purpose on the eve of battle. He is complimented in a letter from the +Directory dated August 12th--a letter probably the more genuine as +they had just received a further despatch announcing a victory. On +August 3rd Bonaparte won a battle at Lonato, and the next day Augereau +gained great laurels at Castiglione; in later years the Emperor often +incited Augereau by referring to those "fine days of Castiglione." +Between July 29th and August 12th the French army took 15,000 +prisoners, 70 guns, and wounded or killed 25,000, with little more +than half the forces of the Austrians. Bonaparte gives his losses at +7000, exclusive of the 15,000 sick he has in hospital; from July 31st +to August 6th he never changed his boots, or lay down in a bed. +Nevertheless, Jomini thinks that he showed less vigour in the +execution of his plans than in the earlier part of the campaign; but, +as an opinion _per contra_, we may note that the French grenadiers +made their "little Corporal" _Sergeant_ at Castiglione. Doubtless the +proximity of his wife at the commencement (July 31st) made him more +careful, and therefore less intrepid. On August 18th he wrote +Kellermann with an urgent request for troops. On August 17th Colonel +Graham, after hinting at the frightful excesses committed by the +Austrians in their retreat, adds in a postscript--"From generals to +subalterns the universal language of the army is that we must make +peace, as we do not know how to make war."[46] + +On August 13th Bonaparte sent to the Directory his opinion of most of +his generals, in order to show that he required some better ones. Some +of his criticisms are interesting:-- + + Berthier--"Talents, activity, courage, character; he has them + all." + + Augereau--"Much character, courage, firmness, activity; is + + accustomed to war, beloved by the soldiers, lucky in his + operations." + + Massena--"Active, indefatigable, has boldness, grasp, and + promptitude in making his decisions." + + Serrurier--"Fights like a soldier, takes no responsibility; + determined, has not much opinion of his troops, is often ailing." + + Despinois--"Flabby, inactive, slack, has not the genius for war, + is not liked by the soldiers, does not fight with his head; has + nevertheless good, sound political principles: would do well to + command in the interior." + + Sauret--"A good, very good soldier, not sufficiently enlightened + to be a general; unlucky." + +Of eight more he has little good to say, but the Directory in +acknowledging his letter of August 23rd remarks that he has forgotten +several officers, and especially the Irish general Kilmaine. + +About the same time Colonel Graham (Lord Lynedoch) was writing to the +British Government from Trent that the Austrians, despite their +defeats, were "undoubtedly brave fine troops, and an able chief would +put all to rights in a little time."[47] On August 18th he adds--"When +the wonderful activity, energy, and attention that prevail in the +French service, from the commander-in-chief downward, are compared to +the indecision, indifference, and indolence universal here, the +success of their rash but skilful manoeuvres is not surprising." + + +No. 7. + +_Brescia._--Napoleon was here on July 27th, meeting Josephine about +the date arranged (July 25th), and she returned with him. On July 29th +they were nearly captured by an Austrian ambuscade near Ceronione, and +Josephine wept with fright. "Wurmser," said Napoleon, embracing her, +"shall pay dearly for those tears." She accompanies him to Castel +Nova, and sees a skirmish at Verona; but the sight of wounded men +makes her leave the army, and, finding it impossible to reach Brescia, +she flees _viâ_ Ferrara and Bologna to Lucca. She leaves the French +army in dire straits and awaits news anxiously, while the Senate of +Lucca presents her with the oil kept exclusively for royalty. Thence +she goes _viâ_ Florence to Milan. By August 7th the Austrian army was +broken and in full retreat, and Bonaparte conducts his correspondence +from Brescia from August 11th to 18th. On the 25th he is at Milan, +where he meets his wife after her long pilgrimage, and spends four +days. By August 30th he is again at Brescia, and reminds her that he +left her "vexed, annoyed, and not well." From a letter to her aunt, +Madame de Renaudin, at this time, quoted by Aubenas, we can see her +real feelings: "I am fêted wherever I go; all the princes of Italy +give me fêtes, even the Grand Duke of Tuscany, brother of the Emperor. +Ah, well, I prefer being a private individual in France. I care not +for honours bestowed in this country. I get sadly bored. My health has +undoubtedly a great deal to do with making me unhappy; I am often out +of sorts. If happiness could assure health, I ought to be in the best +of health. I have the most amiable husband imaginable. I have no time +to long for anything. My wishes are his. He is all day long in +adoration before me, as if I were a divinity; there could not possibly +be a better husband. M. Serbelloni will tell you how he loves me. He +often writes to my children; he loves them dearly. He is sending +Hortense, by M. Serbelloni, a lovely repeater, jewelled and enamelled; +to Eugène a splendid gold watch." + + +No. 9. + +"_I hope we shall get into Trent by the 5th._"--He entered the city on +that day. In his pursuit of Wurmser, he and his army cover sixty miles +in two days, through the terrific Val Saguna and Brenta gorges, +brushing aside opposition by the way. + + +No. 12. + +"_One of these nights the doors will be burst open with a +bang._"--Apparently within two or three days, for Bonaparte is at +Milan on September 21st, and stays with his wife till October 12th. +On October 1st he writes to the Directory that his total forces are +only 27,900; and that the Austrians, within six weeks, will have +50,000. He asks for 26,000 more men to end the war satisfactorily: "If +the preservation of Italy is dear to you, citizen directors, send me +help." On the 8th they reply with the promise of 10,000 to 12,000, to +which he replies (October 11th) that if 10,000 have started only 5000 +will reach him. The Directory at this time are very poverty stricken, +and ask him once more to pay Kellermann's Army of the Alps, as being +"to some extent part of that which you command." This must have been +"nuts and wine" for the general who was to have been superseded by +Kellermann a few months earlier. On October 1st they advise him that +Wurmser's name is on the list of emigrants, and that if the Marshal +will surrender Mantua at once he need not be sent to Paris for trial. +If, however, Bonaparte thinks that this knowledge will make the old +Marshal more desperate, he is not to be told. Bonaparte, of course, +does not send the message. For some time these letters had been signed +by the President Lareveillère Lépeaux, but on September 19th there was +a charming letter from Carnot: "Although accustomed to unprecedented +deeds on your part, our hopes have been surpassed by the victory of +Bassano. What glory is yours, immortal Bonaparte! Moreau was about to +effect a juncture with you when that wretched _reculade_ of Jourdan +upset all our plans. Do not forget that immediately the armies go into +winter quarters on the Rhine the Austrians will have forces available +to help Wurmser." At Milan Bonaparte advises the Directory that he is +dealing with unpunished "fripponeries" in the commissariat department. +Here he receives from young Kellermann, afterwards the hero of +Marengo, a _précis_ of the condition of the Brescia fever-hospitals, +dated October 6th: "A wretched mattress, dirty and full of vermin, a +coarse sheet to each bed, rarely washed, no counterpanes, much +dilatoriness, such is the spectacle that the fever-hospitals of +Brescia present; it is heart-rending. The soldiers justly complain +that, having conquered opulent Italy at the cost of their life-blood, +they might, without enjoying comforts, at least find the help and +attention which their situation demands. Bread and rice are the only +passable foods, but the meat is hard. I beg that the general-in-chief +will immediately give attention to his companions in glory, who wish +for restored health only that they may gather fresh laurels." Thus +Bonaparte had his Bloemfontein, and perhaps his Burdett-Coutts. + +On October 12th he tells the Directory that Mantua will not fall till +February--the exact date of its capitulation. One is tempted to wonder +if Napoleon was human enough to have inserted one little paragraph of +his despatch of October 12th from Milan with one eye on its perusal by +his wife, as it contains a veiled sneer at Hoche's exploits: "Send me +rather generals of brigade than generals of division. All that comes +to us from La Vendée is unaccustomed to war on a large scale; we have +the same reproach against the troops, but they are well-hardened." On +the same day he shows them that all the marvels of his six months' +campaign have cost the French Government only £440,000 (eleven million +francs). He pleads, however, for special auditors to have charge of +the accounts. Napoleon had not only made war support war, but had sent +twenty million francs requisitioned in Italy to the Republic. On +October 12th he leaves Milan for Modena, where he remains from the +14th to the 18th, is at Bologna on the 19th, and Ferrara from the 19th +to the 22nd, reaching Verona on the 24th. + +Jomini has well pointed out that Napoleon's conception of making two +or three large Italian republics in place of many small ones minimised +the power of the Pope, and also that of Austria, by abolishing its +feudal rigours. + +By this time Bonaparte is heartily sick of the war. On October 2nd he +writes direct to the Emperor of Germany: "Europe wants peace. This +disastrous war has lasted too long;" and on the 16th to Marshal +Wurmser: "The siege of Mantua, sir, is more disastrous than two +campaigns." His weariness is tempered with policy, as Alvinzi was _en +route_, and the French reinforcements had not arrived, not even the +10,000 promised in May. + + +No. 13. + +"_Corsica is ours._"--At St. Helena he told his generals, "The King of +England wore the Corsican crown only two years. This whim cost the +British treasury five millions sterling. John Bull's riches could not +have been worse employed." He writes to the Directory on the same day: +"The expulsion of the English from the Mediterranean has considerable +influence on the success of our military operations in Italy. We can +exact more onerous conditions from Naples, which will have the +greatest moral effect on the minds of the Italians, assures our +communications, and makes Naples tremble as far as Sicily." On October +25th he writes: "Wurmser is at his last gasp; he is short of wine, +meat, and forage; he is eating his horses, and has 15,000 sick. In +fifty days Mantua will either be taken or delivered." + + +No. 14. + +_Verona._--Bonaparte had made a long stay at Verona, to November 4th, +waiting reinforcements which never came. On November 5th he writes to +the Directory: "All the troops of the Directory arrive post-haste at +an alarming rate, and we--we are left to ourselves. Fine promises and +a few driblets of men are all we have received;" and on November 13th +he writes again: "Perchance we are on the eve of losing Italy. None of +the expected reinforcements have arrived.... I am doing my duty, the +officers and men are doing theirs; my heart is breaking, but my +conscience is at rest. Help--send me help!... I despair of preventing +the relief of Mantua, which in a week would have been ours. The +wounded are the pick of the army; all our superior officers, all our +picked generals are _hors de combat_; those who have come to me are so +incompetent, and they have not the soldiers' confidence. The army of +Italy, reduced to a handful of men, is exhausted. The heroes of Lodi, +Millesimo, Castiglione, and Bassano have died for their country, or +are in hospital;[48] to the corps remain only their reputation and +their glory. Joubert, Lannes, Lanusse, Victor, Murat, Chabot, Dupuy, +Rampon, Pijon, Menard, Chabran, and St. Hilaire are wounded.... In a +few days we shall make a last effort. Had I received the 83rd, 3500 +strong, and of good repute in the army, I would have answered for +everything. Perhaps in a few days 40,000 will not suffice." The reason +for this unwonted pessimism was the state of his troops. His brother +Louis reported that Vaubois' men had no shoes and were almost naked, +in the midst of snow and mountains; that desertions were taking place +of soldiers with bare and bleeding feet, who told the enemy the plans +and conditions of their army. Finally Vaubois bungles, through not +knowing the ground, and is put under the orders of Massena, while two +of his half-brigades are severely censured by Napoleon in person for +their cowardice. + + +No. 15. + +"_Once more I breathe freely._"--Thrice had Napoleon been foiled, as +much by the weather and his shoeless soldiers as by numbers (40,000 +Austrians to his 28,000), and his position was well-nigh hopeless on +November 14th. He trusts Verona to 3000 men, and the blockade of +Mantua to Kilmaine, and the defence of Rivoli to Vaubois--the weakest +link in the chain--and determines to manoeuvre by the Lower Adige upon +the Austrian communications. He gets forty-eight hours' start, and +wins Arcola; in 1814 he deserved equal success, but bad luck and +treachery turned the scale. The battle of Arcola lasted seventy-two +hours, and for forty-eight hours was in favour of the Austrians. +Pending the arrival of the promised reinforcements, the battle was +bought too dear, and weakened Bonaparte more than the Austrians, who +received new troops almost daily. He replaced Vaubois by Joubert. + + +No. 18. + +"_The 29th._"--But he is at Milan from November 27th to December 16th. +Most people know, from some print or other, the picture by Gros of +Bonaparte, flag in hand, leading his men across the murderous bridge +of Arcola. It was during this visit to Milan that his portrait was +taken, and Lavalette has preserved for us the domestic rather than the +dignified manner of the sitting accorded. He refused to give a fixed +time, and the artist was in despair, until Josephine came to his aid +by taking her husband on her knees every morning after breakfast, and +keeping him there a short time. Lavalette assisted at three of these +sittings--apparently to remove the bashful embarrassment of the young +painter. St. Amand suggests that Gros taking the portrait of Bonaparte +at Milan, just after Arcola, would, especially under such novel +conditions, prove a fitting theme for our artists to-day! From +December 16th to 21st Bonaparte is at Verona, whence he returns to +Milan. There is perhaps a veiled innuendo in Barras' letter of +December 30th. Clarke had advised the Directory that Alvinzi was +planning an attack, which Barras mentions, but adds: "Your return to +Milan shows that you consider another attack in favour of Wurmser +unlikely, or, at least, not imminent." He is at Milan till January +7th, whence he goes to Bologna, the city which, he says, "of all the +Italian cities has constantly shown the greatest energy and the most +considerable share of real information." + + +No. 20. + +_General Brune._--This incident fixes the date of this letter to be 23 +_Nivôse_ (January 12), and not 23 _Messidor_ (July 11), as hitherto +published in the French editions of this letter. On January 12, 1797, +he wrote General Clarke from Verona (No. 1375 of the _Correspondence_) +almost an exact duplicate of this letter--a very rare coincidence in +the epistles of Napoleon. "Scarcely set out from Roverbella, I learnt +that the enemy had appeared at Verona. Massena made his dispositions, +which have been very successful; we have made 600 prisoners, and we +have taken three pieces of cannon. General Brune has had seven bullets +in his clothes, without having been touched by one of them; this is +what it is to be lucky. We have had only ten men killed, and a hundred +wounded." Bonaparte had left Bologna on January 10, reaching Verona +_viâ_ Roverbella on the 12th. + + +No. 21. + +_February 3rd._--"_I wrote you this morning._"--This and probably +other letters describing Rivoli, La Favorite, and the imminent fall +of Mantua, are missing. In summing up the campaign Thiers declares +that in ten months 55,000 French (all told, including reinforcements) +had beaten more than 200,000 Austrians, taken 80,000 of them +prisoners, killed and wounded 20,000. They had fought twelve pitched +battles, and sixty actions. These figures are probably as much above +the mark as those of Napoleon's detractors are below it. + +One does not know which to admire most, Bonaparte's absence from +Marshal Wurmser's humiliation, or his abstention from entering Rome as +a conqueror. The first was the act of a perfect gentleman, worthy of +the best traditions of chivalry, the second was the very quintessence +of far-seeing sagacity, not "baulking the end half-won, for an instant +dole of praise." As he told Mdme. de Rémusat at Passeriano, "I +conquered the Pope better by not going to Rome than if I had burnt his +capital." Scott has compared his treatment of Wurmser to that of the +Black Prince with his royal prisoner, King John of France. Wurmser was +an Alsatian on the list of _émigrés_, and Bonaparte gave the Marshal +his life by sending him back to Austria, a fact which Wurmser requited +by warning Bonaparte of a conspiracy to poison him[49] in Romagna, +which Napoleon thinks would otherwise have been successful. + + +No. 24. + +"_Perhaps I shall make peace with the Pope._"--On February 12th the +Pope had written to "his dear son, General Bonaparte," to depute +plenipotentiaries for a peace, and ends by assuring him "of our +highest esteem," and concluding with the paternal apostolic +benediction. Meanwhile Napoleon, instead of sacking Faenza, has just +invoked the monks and priests to follow the precepts of the Gospel. + + +No. 25. + +"_The unlimited power you hold over me._"--There seems no question +that during the Italian campaigns he was absolutely faithful to +Josephine, although there was scarcely a beauty in Milan who did not +aspire to please him and to conquer him. In his fidelity there was, +says St. Amand, much love and a little calculation. As Napoleon has +said himself, his position was delicate in the extreme; he commanded +old generals; every one of his movements was jealously watched; his +circumspection was extreme. His fortune lay in his wisdom. He would +have to forget himself for one hour, and how many of his victories +depended upon no more! The celebrated singer, La Grassini, who had all +Italy at her feet, cared only for the young general who would not at +that time vouchsafe her a glance. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [45] Murat, says Marmont, who hated him, was the culprit here. + + [46] J. H. Rose in _Eng. Hist. Review_, January 1899. + + [47] See Essay by J. H. Rose in _Eng. Hist. Review_, January 1899. + + [48] With fevers caught in the rice-swamps of Lombardy. + + [49] With aqua tofana, says Marmont. + + + + +SERIES C + +_THE CAMPAIGN OF MARENGO_, 1800 + + +Elected to the joint consulate by the events of the 18th _Brumaire_ +(November 9), 1799, Napoleon spent the first Christmas Day after his +return from Egypt in writing personal letters to the King of England +and Emperor of Austria, with a view to peace. He asks King George how +it is that the two most enlightened nations of Europe do not realise +that peace is the chief need as well as the chief glory ... and +concludes by asserting that the fate of all civilised nations is bound +up in the conclusion of a war "which embraces the entire world." His +efforts fail in both cases. On December 27th he makes the _Moniteur_ +the sole official journal. On February 7th, 1800, he orders ten days' +military mourning for the death of Washington--that "great man who, +like the French, had fought for equality and liberty." On April 22nd +he urges Moreau to begin his campaign with the army of the Rhine, an +order reiterated on April 24th through Carnot, again made Minister of +War. A diversion to save the army of Italy was now imperative. On May +5th he congratulated Moreau on the battle of Stockach, but informs him +that Massena's position is critical, shut up in Genoa, and with food +only till May 25th. He advises Massena the same day that he leaves +Paris that night to join the Army of Reserve, that the cherished +child of victory must hold out as long as possible, at least until May +30th. At Geneva he met M. Necker. On May 14th he writes General +Mortier, commandant of Paris, to keep that city quiet, as he will have +still to be away a few days longer, which he trusts "will not be +indifferent to M. de Mélas." + + +No. 3. + +This letter was written from Ivrea, May 29th, 1800. On the 30th +Napoleon is at Vercelli, on June 1st at Novara, and on June 2nd in +Milan. Eugène served under Murat at the passage of the Ticino, May +31st. + +_M.'s_; probably "Maman," _i.e._ his mother. + +_Cherries._--This fruit had already tender associations. Las Cases +tells us that when Napoleon was only sixteen he met at Valence +Mademoiselle du Colombier, who was not insensible to his merits. It +was the first love of both.... "We were the most innocent creatures +imaginable," the Emperor used to say; "we contrived little meetings +together. I well remember one which took place on a midsummer morning, +just as daylight began to dawn. It will scarcely be believed that all +our happiness consisted in eating cherries together" (vol. i. 81, +1836). + + +No. 4. + +_Milan._--He arrived here on June 2nd, and met with a great reception. +In his bulletin of June 5th we find him assisting at an improvised +concert. It ends, somewhat quaintly for a bulletin, as follows: +"Italian music has a charm ever new. The celebrated singers, +Billington,[50] La Grassini, and Marchesi are expected at Milan. They +say they are about to start for Paris to give concerts there." +According to M. Frédéric Masson, this Paris visit masked ulterior +motives, and was arranged at a _déjeûner_ on the same day, where La +Grassini, Napoleon, and Berthier breakfasted together. Henceforward to +Marengo Napoleon spends every spare day listening to the marvellous +songstress, and as at Eylau, seven years later, runs great risks by +admitting Venus into the camp of Mars. At St. Helena he declares that +from June 3rd to 8th he was busy "receiving deputations, and showing +himself to people assembled from all parts of Lombardy to see their +liberator." The Austrians had declared that he had died in Egypt. The +date of No. 4 should probably be June 9th, on which day the rain was +very heavy. He reached Stradella the next day. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [50] On reaching London a few months later Mistress Billington was + engaged simultaneously by Drury Lane and Covent Garden, and + during the following year harvested £10,000 from these two + engagements. + + + + +SERIES D + + +No. 1. + +The date is doubtless 27 _Messidor_ (July 16), and the fête alluded to +that of July 14. The following day Napoleon signed the Concordat with +the Pope, which paved the way for the restoration of the Roman +Catholic religion in France (September 11). + +_The blister._--On July 7 he quaintly writes Talleyrand: "They have +put a second blister on my arm, which prevented me giving audience +yesterday. Time of sickness is an opportune moment for coming to terms +with the priests." + +_Some plants._--No trait in Josephine's character is more characteristic +than her love of flowers--not the selfish love of a mere collector,[51] +but the bountiful joy of one who wishes to share her treasures. +Malmaison had become the "veritable Jardin des Plantes" of the +epoch,[52] far better than its Paris namesake in those days. The +splendid hothouses, constructed by M. Thibaut, had been modelled on +those of Kew, and enabled Josephine to collect exotics from every +clime, and especially from her beloved Martinique. No jewel was so +precious to her as a rare and beautiful flower. The Minister of +Marine never forgot to instruct the deep-sea captains to bring back +floral tributes from the far-off tropics. These often fell, together +with the ships, into the hands of the British sea-dogs, but the +Prince Regent always had them sent on from London, and thus +rendered, says Aubenas, "the gallant homage of a courtly enemy to the +charming tastes and to the popularity already acquired by this +universally beloved woman." Her curator, M. Aimé Bonpland, was an +accomplished naturalist, who had been with Humboldt in America, and +brought thence 6000 new plants. On his return in 1804 he was nominated +by Josephine manager of the gardens of Malmaison and Navarre. + +In the splendid work, _Le Jardin de la Malmaison_, in three volumes, +are plates, with descriptions of 184 plants, mostly new, collected +there from Egypt, Arabia, the United States, the Antilles, Mexico, +Madeira, the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, the East Indies, New +Caledonia, Australia, and China. To Josephine we owe the Camellia, and +the Catalpa, from the flora of Peru, whilst her maiden name (La +Pagerie) was perpetuated by Messrs. Pavon and Ruiz in the Lapageria. + +_If the weather is as bad._--As we shall see later, Bourrienne was +invaluable to Josephine's court for his histrionic powers, and he +seems to have been a prime favourite. On the present occasion he +received the following "Account of the Journey to Plombières. To the +Inhabitants of Malmaison,"--probably the work of Count Rapp, touched +up by Hortense (Bourrienne's _Napoleon_, vol. ii. 85. Bentley, +1836):-- + +"The whole party left Malmaison in tears, which brought on such +dreadful headaches that all the amiable company were quite overcome by +the idea of the journey. Madame Bonaparte, mère, supported the +fatigues of this memorable day with the greatest courage; but Madame +Bonaparte, consulesse, did not show any. The two young ladies who sat +in the dormeuse, Mademoiselle Hortense and Madame Lavalette, were +rival candidates for a bottle of Eau de Cologne; and every now and +then the amiable M. Rapp made the carriage stop for the comfort of his +poor little sick heart, which overflowed with bile; in fact, he was +obliged to take to bed on arriving at Epernay, while the rest of the +amiable party tried to drown their sorrows in champagne. The second +day was more fortunate on the score of health and spirits, but +provisions were wanting, and great were the sufferings of the stomach. +The travellers lived on in the hope of a good supper at Toul, but +despair was at its height when on arriving there they found only a +wretched inn, and nothing in it. We saw some odd-looking folks there, +which indemnified us a little for spinach dressed with lamp-oil, and +red asparagus fried with curdled milk. Who would not have been amused +to see the Malmaison gourmands seated at a table so shockingly +served! + +"In no record of history is there to be found a day passed in distress +so dreadful as that on which we arrived at Plombières. On departing +from Toul we intended to breakfast at Nancy, for every stomach had +been empty for two days, but the civil and military authorities came +out to meet us, and prevented us from executing our plan. We continued +our route, wasting away, so that you might see us growing thinner +every moment. To complete our misfortune, the dormeuse, which seemed +to have taken a fancy to embark on the Moselle for Metz, barely +escaped an overturn. But at Plombières we have been well compensated +for this unlucky journey, for on our arrival we were received with all +kinds of rejoicings. The town was illuminated, the cannon fired, and +the faces of handsome women at all the windows gave us reason to hope +that we shall bear our absence from Malmaison with the less regret. + +"With the exception of some anecdotes, which we reserve for chit-chat +on our return, you have here a correct account of our journey, which +we, the undersigned, hereby certify. + + "JOSEPHINE BONAPARTE. + BEAUHARNAIS LAVALETTE. + HORTENSE BEAUHARNAIS. + RAPP. + BONAPARTE, MÈRE. + +"The company ask pardon for the blots." + + _"21 Messidor (July 10)._ + +"It is requested that the person who receives this journal will show +it to all who take an interest in the fair travellers." + +At this time Hortense was madly in love with Napoleon's favourite +general, Duroc, who, however, loved his master more, and preferred not +to interfere with his projects, especially as a marriage with Hortense +would mean separation from Napoleon. Hortense and Bourrienne were both +excellent billiard players, and the latter used this opportunity to +carry letters from Hortense to her lukewarm lover. + +_Malmaison, without you, is too dreary._--Although Madame la Grassini +had been specially summoned to sing at the Fête de la Concorde the day +before. + + +No. 2. + +This is the third pilgrimage Josephine has made, under the doctor's +orders, to Plombières; but the longed-for heir will have to be sought +for elsewhere, by fair means or foul. Lucien, who as Spanish +Ambassador had vainly spent the previous year in arranging the divorce +and remarriage of Napoleon to a daughter of the King of Spain, +suggests adultery at Plombières, or a "warming-pan conspiracy," as the +last alternatives.[53] Josephine complains to Napoleon of his +brother's "poisonous" suggestions, and Lucien is again disgraced. In a +few months an heir is found in Hortense's first-born, Napoleon +Charles, born October 10. + +_The fat Eugène_ had come partly to be near his sister in her mother's +absence, and partly to receive his colonelcy. Josephine is wretched to +be absent, and writes to Hortense (June 16):--"I am utterly wretched, +my dear Hortense, to be separated from you, and my mind is as sick as +my body. I feel that I was not born, my dear child, for so much +grandeur.... By now Eugène should be with you; that thought consoles +me." Aubenas has found in the Tascher archives a charming letter from +Josephine to her mother in Martinique, announcing how soon she may +hope to find herself a great-grandmother. + + +No. 3. + +_Your letter has come._--Possibly the one to Hortense quoted above, as +Josephine was not fond of writing many letters. + +_Injured whilst shooting a boar._--Constant was not aware of this +occurrence, and was therefore somewhat incredulous of Las Cases +(vol. i. 289). The account in the "Memorial of St. Helena" is as +follows:--"Another time, while hunting the wild boar at Marly, all his +suite were put to flight; it was like the rout of an army. The +Emperor, with Soult and Berthier,[54] maintained their ground against +three enormous boars. 'We killed all three, but I received a hurt +from my adversary, and nearly lost this finger,' said the Emperor, +pointing to the third finger of his left hand, which indeed bore the +mark of a severe wound. 'But the most laughable circumstance of all +was to see the multitude of men, surrounded by their dogs, screening +themselves behind the three heroes, and calling out lustily "Save the +Emperor![55] save the Emperor!" while not one advanced to my +assistance'" (vol. ii. 202. Colburn, 1836). + +"_The Barber of Seville._"--This was their best piece, and spectators +(except Lucien) agree that in it the little theatre at Malmaison and +its actors were unsurpassed in Paris. Bourrienne as Bartholo, Hortense +as Rosina, carried off the palm. According to the Duchesse d'Abrantès, +Wednesday was the usual day of representation, when the First Consul +was wont to ask forty persons to dinner, and a hundred and fifty for +the evening. As the Duchess had reason to know, Bonaparte was the +severest of critics. "Lauriston made a noble lover," says the +Duchess--"rather heavy" being Bourrienne's more professional comment. +Eugène, says Méneval, excelled in footman's parts.[56] Michot, from +the Theatre Français, was stage manager; and Bonaparte provided what +Constant has called "the Malmaison Troupe," with their dresses and a +collection of dramas. He was always spurring them on to more ambitious +flights, and by complimenting Bourrienne on his prodigious memory, +would stimulate him to learn the longest parts. Lucien, who refused to +act, declares that Bonaparte quoted the saying of Louis XVI. +concerning Marie Antoinette and her company, that the performances +"were royally badly played." Junot, however, even in these days played +the part of a drunkard only too well (Jung, vol. ii. 256). + + +No. 4. + +_The Sèvres Manufactory._--After his visit, he wrote Duroc: "This +morning I gave, in the form of gratuity, a week's wages to the workmen +of the Sèvres manufactory. Have the amount given to the director. It +should not exceed a thousand écus." + + +No. 5. + +_Your lover, who is tired of being alone._--So much so that he got up +at five o'clock in the morning to read his letters in a young bride's +bed-chamber. The story is brightly told by the lady in question, +Madame d'Abrantès (vol. ii. ch. 19). A few days before the Marly hunt, +mentioned in No. 3, the young wife of seventeen, whom Bonaparte had +known from infancy, and whose mother (Madame Permon) he had wished to +marry, found the First Consul seated by her bedside with a thick +packet of letters, which he was carefully opening and making marginal +notes upon. At six he went off singing, pinching the lady's foot +through the bed-clothes as he went. The next day the same thing +happened, and the third day she locked herself in, and prevented her +maid from finding the key. In vain--the unwelcome visitor fetched a +master-key. As a last resource, she wheedled her husband, General +Junot, into breaking orders and spending the night with her; and the +next day (June 22) Bonaparte came in to proclaim the hunting morning, +but by her side found his old comrade of Toulon, fast asleep. The +latter dreamily but good-humouredly asked, "Why, General, what are you +doing in a lady's chamber at this hour?" and the former replied, "I +came to awake Madame Junot for the chase, but I find her provided with +an alarum still earlier than myself. I might scold, for you are +contraband here, M. Junot." He then withdrew, after offering Junot a +horse for the hunt. The husband jumped up, exclaiming, "Faith! that is +an amiable man! What goodness! Instead of scolding, instead of sending +me sneaking back to my duty in Paris! Confess, my Laura, that he is +not only an admirable being, but above the sphere of human nature." +Laura, however, was still dubious. Later in the day she was taken to +task by the First Consul, who was astounded when she told him that his +action might compromise her. "I shall never forget," she says, +"Napoleon's expression of countenance at this moment; it displayed a +rapid succession of emotions, none of them evil." Josephine heard of +the affair, and was jealous for some little time to come. + +_General Ney._--Bonaparte had instructed Josephine to find him a nice +wife, and she had chosen Mlle. Aglaé-Louise Auguié, the intimate +friend and schoolfellow of Hortense, and daughter of a former +Receveur-Général des Finances. To the latter Ney goes fortified with a +charming letter from Josephine, dated May 30--the month which the +_Encyclopædia Britannica_ has erroneously given for that of the +marriage, which seems to have taken place at the end of July +(_Biographie Universelle, Michaud_, vol. xxx.). Napoleon (who stood +godfather to all the children of his generals) and Hortense were +sponsors for the firstborn of this union, Napoleon Joseph, born May 8, +1803. The Duchess d'Abrantès describes her first meeting with Madame +Ney at the Boulogne fête of August 15, 1802. Her simplicity and +timidity "were the more attractive inasmuch as they formed a contrast +to most of the ladies by whom she was surrounded at the court of +France.... The softness and benevolence of Madame Ney's smile, +together with the intelligent expression of her large dark eyes, +rendered her a very beautiful woman, and her lively manners and +accomplishments enhanced her personal graces" (vol. iii. 31). The +brave way in which she bore her husband's execution won the admiration +of Napoleon, who at St. Helena coupled her with Mdme. de Lavalette and +Mdme. Labedoyère. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [51] She was, however, no mere amateur, and knew, says Mlle. + d'Avrillon, the names of all her plants, the family to which + they belonged, their native soil, and special properties. + + [52] _Rueil, le château de Richelieu et la Malmaison_, by Jacquin and + Duesberg, p. 130; in Aubenas' _Joséphine_, vol. i. + + [53] Lucien declares that Napoleon said to his wife, in his presence + and that of Joseph, "Imitate Livia, and you will find me + Augustus."--(Jung, vol. ii. 206.) Lucien evidently suspects an + occult sinister allusion here, but Napoleon is only alluding to + the succession devolving on the first child of their joint + families. Lucien refused Hortense, but Louis was more amenable + to his brother's wishes. On her triumphal entry into Mühlberg + (November 1805), the Empress reads on a column a hundred feet + high--"Josephinae, Galliarum Augustae." + + [54] Made Grand Huntsman in 1804. + + [55] An anachronism; he was at this time First Consul. + + [56] An euphuistic way of saying he could not learn longer ones. In + war time Napoleon had to insist on Eugène keeping his letters + with him and constantly re-reading them. + + + + +SERIES E + + +No. 1. + +_Madame._--Napoleon became Emperor on May 18th, and this was the first +letter to his wife since Imperial etiquette had become _de rigueur_, +and the first letter to Josephine signed Napoleon. Méneval gives a +somewhat amusing description of the fine gradations of instructions he +received on this head from his master. This would seem to be a reason +for this uncommon form of salutation; but, _per contra_, Las Cases +(vol. i. 276) mentions some so-called letters beginning _Madame et +chère épouse_, which Napoleon declares to be spurious. + +_Pont de Bricques_, a little village about a mile from Boulogne. On +his first visit to the latter he was met by a deputation of farmers, +of whom one read out the following address: "General, here we are, +twenty farmers, and we offer you a score of big, sturdy lads, who are, +and always shall be, at your service. Take them along with you, +General; they will help you to give England a good thrashing. As for +ourselves, we have another duty to fulfil: with our arms we will till +the ground, so that bread be not wanting to the brave fellows who are +destined to destroy the English." Napoleon thanked the honest yeomen, +and determined to make the only habitable dwelling there his +headquarters. The place is called from the foundations of bricks found +there--the remains of one of Cæsar's camps. + +_The wind having considerably freshened._--Constant tells a good story +of the Emperor's obstinacy, but also of his bravery, a few days later. +Napoleon had ordered a review of his ships, which Admiral Bruix had +ignored, seeing a storm imminent. Napoleon sends off Bruix to Holland +in disgrace, and orders the review to take place; but when, amid the +wild storm, he sees "more than twenty gunboats run aground," and no +succour vouchsafed to the drowning men, he springs into the nearest +lifeboat, crying, "We must save them somehow." A wave breaks over the +boat; he is drenched and nearly carried overboard, losing the hat he +had worn at Marengo. Such pluck begets enthusiasm; but, in spite of +all they could do, two hundred lives were lost. This is Constant's +version; probably his loss is exaggerated. The Emperor, writing +Talleyrand on August 1st, speaks only of three or four ships lost, and +"une quinzaine d'hommes." + + +No. 2. + +_The waters._--Mlle. d'Avrillon describes them and their effect--the +sulphur baths giving erysipelas to people in poor health. Corvisart +had accompanied the Empress, to superintend their effect, which was as +usual nil. + +_All the vexations._--Constant (vol. i. 230, &c., 1896) is of use to +explain what these were--having obtained possession of a diary of the +tour by one of Josephine's ladies-in-waiting, which had fallen into +Napoleon's hands. In the first place, the roads (where there were +any[57]) were frightful, especially in the Ardennes forest, and the +diary for August 1st concludes by stating "that some of the carriages +were so battered that they had to be bound together with ropes. One +ought not to expect women to travel about like a lot of dragoons." The +writer of the diary, however, preferred to stay in the carriage, and +let Josephine and the rest get wet feet, thinking the risk she ran the +least. Another vexation to Josephine was the published report of her +gift to the Mayoress of Rheims of a malachite medallion set in +brilliants, and of her saying as she did so, "It is the colour of +Hope." Although she had really used this expression, it was the last +thing she would like to see in print, taking into consideration the +reason for her yearly peregrinations to Plombières, and now to Aix, +and their invariable inefficiency. Under the date August 14th, the +writer of the diary gives a severe criticism of Josephine. "She is +exactly like a ten-year-old child--good-natured, frivolous, +impressionable; in tears at one moment, and comforted the next.... She +has just wit enough not to be an utter idiot. Ignorant--as are most +Creoles--she has learned nothing, or next to nothing, except by +conversation; but, having passed her life in good society, she has got +good manners, grace, and a mastery of that sort of jargon which, in +society, sometimes passes for wit. Social events constitute the canvas +which she embroiders, which she arranges, and which give her a subject +for conversation. She is witty for quite a whole quarter of an hour +every day.... Her diffidence is charming ... her temper very sweet and +even; it is impossible not to be fond of her. I fear that ... this +need of unbosoming, of communicating all her thoughts and impressions, +of telling all that passes between herself and the Emperor, keeps the +latter from taking her into his confidence.... She told me this +morning that, during all the years she had spent with him, never once +had she seen him let himself go." + +_Eugène has started for Blois_, where he became the head of the +electoral college of Loir et Cher, having just been made Colonel-General +of the Chasseurs by Napoleon. The Beauharnais family were originally +natives of Blois. + + +No. 3. + +_Aix-la-Chapelle._--In this, the first Imperial pilgrimage to take the +waters, great preparations had been made, forty-seven horses bought at +an average cost of £60 apiece; and eight carriages, which are not dear +at £1000 for the lot, with £400 additional for harness and fittings. + +At Aix they had fox-hunting and hare-coursing so called, but probably +the final tragedy was consummated with a gun. Lord Rosebery reminds us +that at St. Helena the Emperor actually shot a cow! They explored coal +mines, and examined all the local manufactories, including the relics +of Charlemagne--of which great warrior and statesman Josephine refused +an arm, as having a still more puissant one ever at hand for her +protection. + +When tidings come that the Emperor will arrive on September 2, and +prolong their stay from Paris, there is general lamentation among +Josephine's womenkind, especially on the part of that perennial wet +blanket and busybody, Madame de Larochefoucauld, who will make herself +a still greater nuisance at Mayence two years later. + + +No. 4. + +_During the past week._--As a matter of fact he only reached Ostend on +April 12th from Boulogne, having left Dunkirk on the 11th. + +_The day after to-morrow._--This fête was the distribution of the +Legion of Honour at Boulogne and a review of 80,000 men. The +decorations were enshrined in the helmet of Bertrand du Guesclin, +which in its turn was supported on the shield of the Chevalier +Bayard. + +_Hortense_ arrived at Boulogne, with her son, and the Prince and +Princess Murat, a few days later, and saw the Emperor. Josephine +received a letter from Hortense soon after Napoleon joined her +(September 2nd), to which she replied on September 8th. "The Emperor +has read your letter; he has been rather vexed not to hear from you +occasionally. He would not doubt your kind heart if he knew it as well +as I, but appearances are against you. Since he can think you are +neglecting him, lose no time in repairing the wrongs which are not +real," for "Bonaparte loves you like his own child, which adds much to +my affection for him." + +_I am very well satisfied ... with the flotillas._--The descent upon +England was to have taken place in September, when the death of +Admiral Latouche-Tréville at Toulon, August 19th, altered all +Napoleon's plans. Just about this time also _Fulton_ submitted his +steamship invention to Bonaparte. The latter, however, had recently +been heavily mulcted in other valueless discoveries, and refers Fulton +to the savants of the Institute, who report it chimerical and +impracticable. The fate of England probably lay in the balance at this +moment, more than in 1588 or 1798. + +Napoleon and Josephine leave Aix for Cologne on September 12, and it +is now the ladies' turn to institute a hunt--the "real chamois hunt"; +for each country inn swarms with this pestilence that walketh in +darkness, and which, alas! is no respecter of persons. + + +No. 5. + +Two points are noteworthy in this letter--(1) that like No. 1 of this +series (see note thereto) it commences _Madame and dear Wife_; and (2) +it is signed Bonaparte and not Napoleon, which somewhat militates +against its authenticity. + +_Arras, August 29th._--Early on this day he had been at St. Cloud. On +the 30th he writes Cambacérès from Arras that he is "satisfied with +the spirit of this department." On the same day he writes thence to +the King of Prussia and Fouché. To his Minister of Police he writes: +"That detestable journal, _Le Citoyen français_, seems only to wish to +wallow in blood. For eight days running we have been entertained with +nothing but the Saint Bartholomew. Who on earth is the editor +(_rédacteur_) of this paper? With what gusto this wretch relishes the +crimes and misfortunes of our fathers! My intention is that you should +put a stop to it. Have the editor (_directeur_) of this paper changed, +or suppress it." On Friday he is at Mons (writing interesting letters +respecting the removal of church ruins), and reaches his wife on the +Sunday (September 2nd) as his letter foreshadowed. + +_I am rather impatient to see you._--The past few months had been an +anxious time for Josephine. Talleyrand (who, having insulted her in +1799, thought her his enemy) was scheming for her divorce, and wished +Napoleon to marry the Princess Wilhelmina of Baden, and thus cement an +alliance with Bavaria and Russia (Constant, vol. i. 240). The +Bonaparte family were very anxious that Josephine should not be +crowned. Napoleon had too great a contempt for the weaknesses of +average human nature to expect much honesty from Talleyrand. But he +was not as yet case-hardened to ingratitude, and was always highly +sensitive to caricature and hostile criticism. Talleyrand had been the +main cause of the death of the Duc d'Enghien, and was now trying to +show that he had wished to prevent it; but possibly the crowning +offence was contained in a lady's diary, that fell into the emperor's +hands, where Talleyrand is said to have called his master "a regular +little Nero" in his system of espionage. The diary in question is in +Constant's "Memoirs," vol. i., and this letter helps to fix the error +in the dates, probably caused by confusion between the Revolutionary +and Gregorian Calendars. + + +No. 6. + +_T._--This may be Talleyrand, whom Mdme. de Remusat in a letter to her +husband (September 21st) at Aix, hinted to be on bad terms with the +Emperor--a fact confirmed and explained by Méneval. It may also have +been Tallien, who returned to France in 1802, where he had been +divorced from his unfaithful wife. + +_B._--Doubtlessly Bourrienne, who was in disgrace with Napoleon, and +who was always trying to impose on Josephine's good nature. No sooner +had Napoleon left for Boulogne on July 14th than his former secretary +inflicts himself on the wife at Malmaison. + +Napoleon joins Josephine at St. Cloud on or before October 13th, where +preparations are already being made for the Coronation by the +Pope--the first ceremony of the kind for eight centuries. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [57] The Emperor had himself planned the Itinerary, and had mistaken a + projected road for a completed one, between Rethel and Marche. + + + + +SERIES F + + +No. 1. + +_To Josephine._--She was at Plombières from August 2 to September 10, +but no letter is available for the period, neither to Hortense nor +from Napoleon. + +_Strasburg._--She is in the former Episcopal Palace, at the foot of +the cathedral. + +_Stuttgard._--He is driven over from Ludwigsburg on October 4th, and +hears the German opera of "Don Juan." + +_I am well placed._--On the same day Napoleon writes his brother +Joseph that he has already won two great victories--(1) by having no +sick or deserters, but many new conscripts; and (2) because the +Badenese army and those of Bavaria and Wurtemberg had joined him, and +all Germany well disposed. + + +No. 2. + +_Louisburg._--Ludwigsburg. + +_In a few days._--To Talleyrand he wrote from Strasburg on September +27: "Within a fortnight we shall see several things." + +_A new bride._--This letter, in the collection of his Correspondence +ordered by Napoleon III., concludes at this point. + +_Electress._--The Princess Charlotte-Auguste-Mathilde (1766-1828), +daughter of George III., our Princess Royal, who married Frederick I. +Napoleon says she is "not well treated by the Elector, to whom, +nevertheless, she seems much attached" (Brotonne, No. 111). She was +equally pleased with Napoleon, and wrote home how astonished she was +to find him so polite and agreeable a person. + + +No. 3. + +_I have assisted at a marriage._--The bride was the Princess of +Saxe-Hildburghhausen, who was marrying the second son of the Elector. + + +No. 5. + +Written at Augsburg. On October 15th he reaches the abbey of +Elchingen, which is situated on a height, from whence a wide view is +obtained, and establishes his headquarters there. + + +No. 6. + +_Spent the whole of to-day indoors._--This is also mentioned in his +Seventh Bulletin (dated the same day), which adds, "But repose is not +compatible with the direction of this immense army." + +_Vicenza._--Massena did not, however, reach this place till November +3rd. The French editions have _Vienna_, but _Vicenza_ is evidently +meant. + + +No. 7. + +He is still at Elchingen, but at Augsburg the next day. On the 21st he +issues a decree to his army that Vendémiaire,[58] of which this was +the last day but one, should be counted as a campaign for pensions and +military services. + +_Elchingen._--Méneval speaks of this village "rising in an amphitheatre +above the Danube, surrounded by walled gardens, and houses rising one +above the other." From it Napoleon saw the city of Ulm below, +commanded by his cannon. Marshal Ney won his title of Duke of Elchingen +by capturing it on October 14th, and fully deserved it. The Emperor +used to leave the abbey every morning to go to the camp before Ulm, +where he used to spend the day, and sometimes the night. The rain +was so heavy that, until a plank was found, Napoleon sat in a tent +with his feet in water (Savary, vol. ii. 196). + +_Such a catastrophe._--At Ulm General Mack, with eight field-marshals, +seven lieutenant-generals, and 33,000 men surrender. Napoleon had +despised Mack even in 1800, when he told Bourrienne at Malmaison, +"Mack is a man of the lowest mediocrity I ever saw in my life; he is +full of self-sufficiency and conceit, and believes himself equal to +anything. He has no talent. I should like to see him some day opposed +to one of our good generals; we should then see fine work. He is a +boaster, and that is all. He is really one of the most silly men +existing, and besides all that, he is unlucky" (vol. i. 304). Napoleon +stipulated for Mack's life in one of the articles of the Treaty of +Presburg. + + +No. 9. + +_Munich._--Napoleon arrived here on October 24th. + +_Lemarois._--A trusty aide-de-camp, who had witnessed Napoleon's civil +marriage in March 1796, at 10 P.M. + +_I was grieved._--They had no news from October 12th to 21st in Paris, +where they learnt daily that Strasburg was in the same predicament. +Mdme. de Rémusat, at Paris, was equally anxious, and such women, in +the Emperor's absence, tended by their presence or even by their +correspondence to increase the alarms of Josephine. + +_Amuse yourself._--M. Masson (_Josephine, Impératrice et Reine_, p. +424) has an interesting note of how she used to attend lodge at the +Orient in Strasburg, to preside at a "loge d'adoption sous la +direction de Madame de Dietrich, grand maîtresse titulaire." + +_Talleyrand has come._--He was urgently needed to help in the +correspondence with the King of Prussia (concerning the French +violation of his Anspach territory), with whom Napoleon's relations +were becoming more strained. + + +No. 10. + +_We are always in forests._--Baron Lejeune, with his artist's eye, +describes his impressions of the Amstetten forest as he travelled +through it with Murat the following morning (November 4th). "Those +of us who came from the south of Europe had never before realised +how beautiful Nature can be in the winter. In this particular +instance everything was robed in the most gleaming attire; the +silvery rime softening the rich colours of the decaying oak leaves, +and the sombre vegetation of the pines. The frozen drapery, combined +with the mist, in which everything was more or less enveloped, gave +a soft, mysterious charm to the surrounding objects, producing a +most beautiful picture. Lit up by the sunshine, thousands of long +icicles, such as those which sometimes droop from our fountains and +water-wheels, hung like shining lustres from the trees. Never did +ball-room shine with so many diamonds; the long branches of the +oaks, pines, and other forest trees were weighed down by the +masses of hoar-frost, while the snow converted their summits into +rounded roofs, forming beneath them grottoes resembling those of the +Pyrenean mountains, with their shining stalactites and graceful +columns" (vol. i. 24). + +_My enemies._--Later in the day Napoleon writes from Lambach to the +Emperor of Austria a pacific letter, which contains the paragraph, "My +ambition is wholly concentrated on the re-establishment of my commerce +and of my marine, and England grievously opposes itself to both." + + +No. 11. + +Written from Lintz, the capital of Upper Austria, where Napoleon was +on the 4th. + +No. 12. + +Napoleon took up his abode at the palace of Schoenbrunn on the 14th, +and proves his "two-o'clock-in-the-morning courage" by passing through +Vienna at that time the following morning. + + +No. 13. + +_They owe everything to you._--Aubenas quotes this, and remarks (vol. +ii. 326): "No one had pride in France more than Napoleon, stronger +even than his conviction of her superiority in the presence of other +contemporary sovereigns and courts. He wishes that in Germany, where +she will meet families with all the pride and sometimes all the +haughtiness of their ancestry, Josephine will not forget that she is +Empress of the French, superior to those who are about to receive her, +and who owe full respect and homage to her." + + +No. 14. + +_Austerlitz._--Never was a victory more needful; but never was the +Emperor more confident. Savary says that it would take a volume to +contain all that emanated from his mind during that twenty-four hours +(December 1-2). Nor was it confined to military considerations. +General Ségur describes how he spent his evening meal with his +marshals, discussing with Junot the last new tragedy (_Les Templiers_, +by Raynouard), and from it to Racine, Corneille, and the fatalism of +our ancestors. + +_December 2nd_ was a veritable Black Monday for the Coalition in +general, and for Russia in particular, where Monday is always looked +upon as an unlucky day. Their forebodings increased when, on the eve +of the battle, the Emperor Alexander was thrown from his horse +(Czartoriski, vol. ii. 106). + + +No. 17. + +_A long time since I had news of you._--Josephine was always a bad +correspondent, but at this juncture was reading that stilted but +sensational romance--"Caleb Williams;" or hearing the "Achilles" of +Paër, or the "Romeo and Juliet" of Zingarelli in the intervals of her +imperial progress through Germany. M. Masson, not often too indulgent +to Josephine, thinks her conduct excusable at this period--paying and +receiving visits, dressing and redressing, always in gala costume, and +without a moment's solitude. + + +No. 19. + +_I await events._--A phrase usually attributed to Talleyrand in +1815. However, the Treaty of Presburg was soon signed (December +2nd), and the same day Napoleon met the Archduke Charles at +Stamersdorf, a meeting arranged from mutual esteem. Napoleon had +an unswerving admiration for this past and future foe, and said to +Madame d'Abrantès, "That man has a soul, a golden heart."[59] +Napoleon, however, did not wish to discuss politics, and only +arranged for an interview of two hours, "one of which," he wrote +Talleyrand, "will be employed in dining, the other in talking war and +in mutual protestations." + +_I, for my part, am sufficiently busy._--No part of Napoleon's career +is more wonderful than the way in which he conducts the affairs of +France and of Europe from a hostile capital. This was his first +experience of the kind, and perhaps the easiest, although Prussian +diplomacy had needed very delicate and astute handling. But when +Napoleon determined, without even consulting his wife, to cement +political alliances by matrimonial ones with his and her relatives, he +was treading on somewhat new and difficult ground. First and foremost, +he wanted a princess for his ideal young man, Josephine's son Eugène, +and he preferred Auguste, the daughter of the King of Bavaria, to the +offered Austrian Archduchess. But the young Hereditary Prince of Baden +was in love and accepted by his beautiful cousin Auguste; so, to +compensate him for his loss, the handsome and vivacious Stephanie +Beauharnais, fresh from Madame Campan's finishing touches, was sent +for. For his brother Jerome a bride is found by Napoleon in the +daughter of the King of Wurtemberg. Baden, Bavaria, and Wurtemberg +were too much indebted to France for the spoils they were getting from +Austria to object, provided the ladies and their mammas were +agreeable; but the conqueror of Austerlitz found this part the most +difficult, and had to be so attentive to the Queen of Bavaria that +Josephine was jealous. However, all the matches came off, and still +more remarkable, all turned out happily, a fact which certainly +redounds to Napoleon's credit as a match-maker. + +On December 31st, at 1.45 A.M., he entered Munich by torchlight and +under a triumphal arch. His chamberlain, M. de Thiard, assured him +that if he left Munich the marriage with Eugène would fall through, +and he agrees to stay, although he declared that his absence, which +accentuated the Bank crisis, is costing him 1,500,000 francs a day. +The marriage took place on January 14th, four days after Eugène +arrived at Munich and three days after that young Bayard had been +bereft of his cherished moustache. Henceforth the bridegroom is called +"Mon fils" in Napoleon's correspondence, and in the contract of +marriage Napoleon-Eugène de France. The Emperor and Empress reached +the Tuileries on January 27th. The marriage of Stephanie was even more +difficult to manage, for, as St. Amand points out, the Prince of Baden +had for brothers-in-law the Emperor of Russia, the King of Sweden, and +the King of Bavaria--two of whom at least were friends of England. +Josephine had once an uncle-in-law, the Count Beauharnais, whose wife +Fanny was a well-known literary character of the time, but of whom the +poet Lebrun made the epigram-- + + "Elle fait son visage, et ne fait pas ses vers." + +Stephanie was the grand-daughter of this couple, and as Grand-Duchess +of Baden was beloved and respected, and lived on until 1860. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [58] The first month of the Republican calendar. + + [59] Memoirs, vol. ii. 165. + + + + +SERIES G + + +No. 1. + +Napoleon left St. Cloud with Josephine on September 25th, and had +reached Mayence on the 28th, where his Foot Guard were awaiting him. +He left Mayence on October 1st, and reached Würzburg the next day, +whence this letter was written, just before starting for Bamberg. +Josephine was installed in the Teutonic palace at Mayence. + +_Princess of Baden_, Stephanie Beauharnais. (For her marriage, see +note, end of Series F.) + +_Hortense_ was by no means happy with her husband at the best of +times, and she cordially hated Holland. She was said to be very +frightened of Napoleon, but (like most people) could easily influence +her mother. Napoleon's letter to her of this date (October 5th) is +certainly not a severe one:--"I have received yours of September 14th. +I am sending to the Chief Justice in order to accord pardon to the +individual in whom you are interested. Your news always gives me +pleasure. I trust you will keep well, and never doubt my great +friendship for you." + +_The Grand Duke_, _i.e._ of Würzburg. The castle where Napoleon +was staying seemed to him sufficiently strong to be armed and +provisioned, and he made a great depôt in the city. "Volumes," says +Méneval, "would not suffice to describe the multitude of his +military and administrative measures here, and the precautions which +he took against even the most improbable hazards of war." + +_Florence._--Probably September 1796, when Napoleon was hard pressed, +and Josephine had to fetch a compass from Verona to regain Milan, and +thus evade Wurmser's troops. + + +No. 2. + +_Bamberg._--Arriving at Bamberg on the 6th, Napoleon issued a +proclamation to his army which concluded--"Let the Prussian army +experience the same fate that it experienced fourteen years ago. Let +it learn that, if it is easy to acquire increase of territory and +power by means of the friendship of the great people, their enmity, +which can be provoked only by the abandonment of all spirit of wisdom +and sense, is more terrible than the tempests of the ocean." + +_Eugène._--Napoleon wrote him on the 5th, and twice on the 7th, on +which date we have _eighteen_ letters in the _Correspondence_. + +_Her husband._--The Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, to whom Napoleon +had written from Mayence on September 30th, accepting his services, +and fixing the rendezvous at Bamberg for October 4th or 5th. + +On this day Napoleon invaded Prussian territory by entering Bayreuth, +having preceded by one day the date of their ultimatum--a rhapsody of +twenty pages, which Napoleon in his First Bulletin compares to "one of +those which the English Cabinet pay their literary men £500 per annum +to write." It is in this Bulletin where he describes the Queen of +Prussia (dressed as an Amazon, in the uniform of her regiment of +dragoons, and writing twenty letters a day) to be like Armida in her +frenzy, setting fire to her own palace. + + +No. 3. + +By this time the Prussian army is already in a tight corner, with its +back on the Rhine, which, as Napoleon says in his Third Bulletin +written on this day, is "_assez bizarre_, from which very important +events should ensue." On the previous day he concludes a letter to +Talleyrand--"One cannot conceive how the Duke of Brunswick, to whom +one allows some talent, can direct the operations of this army in so +ridiculous a manner." + +_Erfurt._--Here endless discussions, but, as Napoleon says in his +bulletin of this day--"Consternation is at Erfurt, ... but while they +deliberate, the French army is marching.... Still the wishes of the +King of Prussia have been executed; he wished that by October 8th the +French army should have evacuated the territory of the Confederation +which _has_ been evacuated, but in place of repassing the Rhine, it +has passed the Saal." + +_If she wants to see a battle._--_Queen Louise_, great-grandmother of +the present Emperor William, and in 1806 aged thirty. St. Amand says +that "when she rode on horseback before her troops, with her helmet of +polished steel, shaded by a plume, her gleaming golden cuirass, her +tunic of cloth of silver, her red buskins with golden spurs," she +resembled, as the bulletin said, one of the heroines of Tasso. She +hated France, and especially Napoleon, as the child of the French +Revolution. + + +No. 4. + +_I nearly captured him and the Queen._--They escaped only by an hour, +Napoleon writes Berthier. Blucher aided their escape by telling a +French General about an imaginary armistice, which the latter was +severely reprimanded by Napoleon for believing. + +No battle was more beautifully worked out than the battle of +Jena--Davoust performing specially well his move in the combinations +by which the Prussian army was hopelessly entangled, as Mack at Ulm a +year before. Bernadotte alone, and as usual, gave cause for +dissatisfaction. He had a personal hatred for his chief, caused by the +knowledge that his wife (Désirée Clary) had never ceased to regret +that she had missed her opportunity of being the wife of Napoleon. +Bernadotte, therefore, was loth to give initial impetus to the +victories of the French Emperor, though, when success was no longer +doubtful, he would prove that it was not want of capacity but want of +will that had kept him back. He was the Talleyrand of the camp, and +had an equal aptitude for fishing in troubled waters. + +_I have bivouacked._--Whether the issue of a battle was decisive, +or, as at Eylau, only partially so, Napoleon never shunned the +disagreeable part of battle--the tending of the wounded and the +burial of the dead. Savary tells us that at Jena, as at Austerlitz, +the Emperor rode round the field of battle, alighting from his horse +with a little brandy flask (constantly refilled), putting his hand +to each unconscious soldier's breast, and when he found unexpected +life, giving way to a joy "impossible to describe" (vol. ii. 184). +Méneval also speaks of his performing this "pious duty, in the +fulfilment of which nothing was allowed to stand in his way." + + +No. 5. + +_Fatigues, bivouacs ... have made me fat._--The Austerlitz campaign +had the same effect. See a remarkable letter to Count Miot de Melito +on January 30th, 1806: "The campaign I have just terminated, the +movement, the excitement have made me stout. I believe that if all the +kings of Europe were to coalesce against me I should have a ridiculous +paunch." And it was so! + +_The great M. Napoleon_, aged four, and the younger, aged two, are +with Hortense and their grandmother at Mayence, where a Court had +assembled, including most of the wives of Napoleon's generals, burning +for news. A look-out had been placed by the Empress some two miles on +the main-road beyond Mayence, whence sight of a courier was signalled +in advance. + + +No. 7. + +_Potsdam._--As a reward for Auerstadt, Napoleon orders Davoust and his +famous Third Corps to be the first to enter Berlin the following day. + + +No. 8. + +Written from Berlin, where he is from October 28th to November 25th. + +_You do nothing but cry._--Josephine spent her evenings gauging +futurity with a card-pack, and although it announced Jena and +Auerstadt before the messenger, it may possibly, thinks M. Masson, +have been less propitious for the future--and behind all was the +sinister portion of the spae-wife's prophecy still unfulfilled. + + +No. 9A. + +_Madame Tallien_ had been in her time, especially in the years +1795-99, one of the most beautiful and witty women in France. Madame +d'Abrantès calls her the Venus of the Capitol; and Lucien Bonaparte +speaks of the court of the voluptuous Director, Barras, where the +beautiful Tallien was the veritable Calypso. The people, however, +could not forget her second husband, Tallien, from whom she was +divorced in 1802 (having had three children born while he was in +Egypt, 1798-1802); and whilst they called Josephine "Notre Dame des +Victoires," they called Madame Tallien "Notre Dame de Septembre." + +The latter was, however, celebrated both for her beauty and her +intrigues;[60] and when, in 1799, Bonaparte seized supreme power the +fair lady[61] invaded Barras in his bath to inform him of it; but +found her indolent Ulysses only capable of ejaculating, "What can be +done? that man has taken us all in!" Napoleon probably remembered +this, and may refer to her rather than to the Queen of Prussia in the +next letter, where he makes severe strictures on intriguing women. +Moreover, Napoleon in his early campaigns had played a ridiculous part +in some of Gillray's most indecent cartoons, where Mmes. Tallien and +Josephine took with Barras the leading rôles; and as Madame Tallien +was not considered respectable in 1796, she was hardly a fit friend +for the Empress of the French ten years later. In the interval this +lady, divorced a second time, had married the Prince de Chimay +(Caraman). Napoleon knew also that she had been the mistress of +Ouvrard, the banker, who in his Spanish speculations a few months +earlier had involved the Bank of France to the tune of four millions +sterling, and forced Napoleon to make a premature peace after +Austerlitz. The Emperor had returned at white heat to Paris, and +wished he could build a gallows for Ouvrard high enough for him to be +on view throughout France. Madame Tallien's own father, M. de +Cabarrus, was a French banker in Spain, and probably in close relation +with Ouvrard. + + +No. 10. + +Written from Berlin. + +_The bad things I say about women._--Napoleon looked upon this as a +woman's war, and his temper occasionally gets the mastery of him. No +war had ever been so distasteful to him or so personal. Prussia, whose +alliance he had been courting for nearly ten years, was now worthless +to him, and all because of petticoat government at Berlin. In the +Fifteenth Bulletin (dated Wittenburg, October 23rd) he states that +the Queen had accused her husband of cowardice in order to bring about +the war. But it is doubtless the Sixteenth Bulletin (dated Potsdam, +October 25th) to which Josephine refers, and which refers to the oath +of alliance of the Emperor Alexander and the King of Prussia in the +death chamber of Frederick the Great. "It is from this moment that the +Queen quitted the care of her domestic concerns and the serious +occupations of the toilet in order to meddle with the affairs of +State." He refers to a Berlin caricature of the scene which was at the +time in all the shops, "exciting even the laughter of clodhoppers." +The handsome Emperor of Russia was portrayed, by his side the Queen, +and on his other side the King of Prussia with his hand raised above +the tomb of the Great Frederick; the Queen herself, draped in a shawl +nearly as the London engravings represent Lady Hamilton, pressing her +hand on her heart, and apparently gazing upon the Emperor of Russia." +In the Eighteenth Bulletin (October 26th) it is said the Prussian +people did not want war, that a handful of women and young officers +had alone made this "tapage," and that the Queen, "formerly a timid +and modest woman looking after her domestic concerns," had become +turbulent and warlike, and had "conducted the monarchy within a few +days to the brink of the precipice." + +As the Queen of Prussia was a beautiful woman, she has had nearly as +many partisans as Mary Stuart or Marie Antoinette, but with far less +cause. Napoleon, who was the incarnation of practical common sense, +saw in her the first cause of the war, and considered that so far as +verbal flagellation could punish her, she should have it. He had +neither time nor sympathy for the "Please you, do not hurt us" +attitude of a bellicose new woman, who, as Imogen or Ida, have played +with edged tools from the time of Shakespeare to that of Sullivan. + +As an antidote, however, to his severe words against women he put, +perhaps somewhat ostentatiously, the Princess d'Hatzfeld episode in +his Twenty-second Bulletin (Berlin, October 29th). A year later +(November 26th, 1807), when his Old Guard return to Paris and free +performances are given at all the theatres, there is the "Triumph of +Trajan" at the Opera, where Trajan, burning with his own hand the +papers enclosing the secrets of a conspiracy, is a somewhat skilful +allusion to the present episode. + + +No. 11. + +Magdeburg had surrendered on November 8th, with 20 generals, 800 +officers and 22,000 men, 800 pieces of cannon, and immense stores. + +_Lubeck._--This capitulation was that of Blucher, who had escaped +after Jena through a rather dishonourable ruse. It had taken three +army corps to hem him in. + + +No. 13. + +Written from Berlin, but not included in the _Correspondence_. + +_Madame L----_, _i.e._ Madame de la Rochefoucauld, a third or fourth +cousin (by her first marriage) of Josephine, and her chief lady of +honour. She was an incorrigible Royalist, and hated Napoleon; but as +she had been useful at the Tuileries in establishing the Court, +Napoleon, as usual, could not make up his mind to cause her dismissal. +In 1806, however, she made Josephine miserable and Mayence unbearable. +She foretold that the Prussians would win every battle, and even after +Jena she (to use an expression of M. Masson), "continued her music on +the sly" (_en sourdine_). See Letters 19 and 26 of this Series. + + +No. 17. + +_December 2_, the anniversary of Austerlitz (1805) and of Napoleon's +coronation (1804). He now announces to his soldiers the Polish +campaign. + + +No. 18. + +Not in the _Correspondence_. + +_Jealousy._--If Josephine's letters and conduct had been a little more +worthy of her position, she might have saved herself. Madame Walewski, +who had not yet appeared on the scene. + + +No. 19. + +_Désir de femme est un feu qui dévore._--The quotation is given in +Jung's "Memoirs of Lucien" (vol. ii. 62). "Ce qu'une femme desire est +un feu qui consume, celui d'une reine un vulcan qui dévore." + + +No. 23. + +_I am dependent on events._--He says the same at St. Helena. +"Throughout my whole reign I was the keystone of an edifice entirely +new, and resting on the most slender foundations. Its duration +depended on the issue of my battles. I was never, in truth, master of +my own movements; I was never at my own disposal." + + +No. 26. + +_The fair ones of Great Poland._--If Berthier and other regular +correspondents of Josephine were like Savary in their enthusiasm, no +wonder the Mayence coterie began to stir up jealousy. Here is the +description of the Duke of Rovigo (vol. ii. 17): "The stay at Warsaw +had for us something of witchery; even with regard to amusements it +was practically the same life as at Paris: the Emperor had his concert +twice a week, at the end of which he held a reception, where many of +the leading people met. A great number of ladies from the best +families were admired alike for the brilliancy of their beauty, and +for their wonderful amiability. One may rightly say that the Polish +ladies inspired with jealousy the charming women of every other +civilised clime. They united, for the most part, to the manners of +good society a fund of information which is not commonly found even +among Frenchwomen, and is very far above anything we see in towns, +where the custom of meeting in public has become a necessity. It +seemed to us that the Polish ladies, compelled to spend the greater +part of the year in their country-houses, applied themselves there to +reading as well as to the cultivation of their talents, and it was +thus that in the chief towns, where they went to pass the winter, they +appeared successful over all their rivals." St. Amand says: "In the +intoxication of their enthusiasm and admiration, the most beautiful +among them--and Poland is the country of beauty--lavished on him, +like sirens, their most seducing smiles...." Josephine was right to be +jealous, for, as the artist Baron Lejeune adds, "They were, moreover, +as graceful as the Creole women so often are." + +_A wretched barn_, reached over still more wretched roads. The Emperor +and his horse had nearly been lost in the mud, and Marshal Duroc had a +shoulder put out by his carriage being upset. + +_Such things become common property._--So was another event, much to +Josephine's chagrin. On this date Napoleon heard of a son (Léon) born +to him by Eléanore, a former schoolfellow of Madame Murat. M. Masson +thinks this event epoch-making in the life of Napoleon. "Henceforth +the charm is broken, and the Emperor assured of having an heir of his +own blood." + + +No. 27. + +_Warsaw, January 3._--On his way from Pultusk on January 1, he had +received a Polish ovation at Bronie, where he first met Madame +Walewski. The whole story is well told by M. Masson in _Napoléon et +les Femmes_; but here we must content ourselves with the mere facts, +and first, for the sake of comparison, cite his love-letters to the +lady in question:--(1.) "I have seen only you, I have admired only +you, I desire only you. A very prompt answer to calm the impatient +ardour of N." (2.) "Have I displeased you? I have still the right to +hope the contrary. Have I been mistaken? Your eagerness diminishes, +while mine augments. You take away my rest! Oh, give a little joy, a +little happiness to a poor heart all ready to worship you. Is it so +difficult to get a reply? You owe me one.--N." (3.) "There are moments +when too high rank is a burden, and that is what I feel. How can I +satisfy the needs of a heart hopelessly in love, which would fling +itself at your feet, and which finds itself stopped by the weight of +lofty considerations paralysing the most lively desires? Oh, if you +would! Only you could remove the obstacles that lie between us. My +friend Duroc will clear the way. Oh, come! come! All your wishes shall +be gratified. Your native land will be dearer to me when you have had +pity on my poor heart,--N." (4.) "Marie, my sweet Marie! My first +thought is for you, my first desire to see you again. You will come +again, will you not? You promised me to do so. If not, the eagle will +fly to you. I shall see you at dinner, a friend tells me. Deign, then, +to accept this bouquet; let it become a mysterious link which shall +establish between us a secret union in the midst of the crowd +surrounding us. Exposed to the glances of the crowd, we shall still +understand each other. When my hand presses my heart, you will know +that it is full of thoughts of you; and in answer you will press +closer your bouquet. Love me, my bonny Marie, and never let your hand +leave your bouquet.--N." In this letter, in which he has substituted +_tu_ for _vous_, there is more passion than we have seen since 1796. +The fair lady now leaves her decrepit old husband, nearly fifty years +her senior, and takes up her abode in Finckenstein Castle, for nearly +two months of the interval between Eylau and Friedland. "In order," +says Pasquier, "that nothing should be lacking to characterise the +calm state of his mind and the security of his position, it was soon +known that he had seen fit to enjoy a pleasurable relaxation by +calling to him a Polish gentlewoman of excellent birth, with whom he +had contracted a _liaison_ while passing through Warsaw, and who, as a +consequence of this journey, had the honour of bearing him a son." +Repudiated by her husband, she came to Paris, where she was very +kindly treated by Josephine, who, having once seen her, found in her +no rival, but an enthusiastic patriot, "sacrificed to Plutus," as +Napoleon told Lucien at Mantua a few months later, adding that "her +soul was as beautiful as her face." + + +No. 28. + +_Be cheerful--gai._--This adjective is a favourite one in letters to +his wife, and dates from 1796. + + +No. 29. + +_Roads unsafe and detestable._--The French troops used to say that the +four following words constituted the whole language of the Poles: +_Kleba?_ _Niema._ _Vota?_ _Sara._ ("Some bread? There is none. Some +water? We will go and fetch it.") Napoleon one day passed by a +column of infantry suffering the greatest privations on account of the +mud, which prevented the arrival of provisions. "Papa, kleba?" +exclaimed a soldier. "Niema," replied the Emperor. The whole column +burst into a fit of laughter; they asked for nothing more. Baron +Lejeune, Constant, and Méneval have variants of the same story. + + +No. 35. + +Written from Warsaw, and omitted from the _Correspondence_. + +_I hope that you are at Paris._--Madame Junot hints that her husband, +as Governor of Paris, was being sounded by Bonaparte's sister, Murat's +wife (with whom Junot was in love), if he would make Murat Napoleon's +successor, in lieu of Eugène, if the Emperor were killed. If Napoleon +had an inkling of this, he would wish Josephine to be on the spot. + +_T._--Is probably Tallien, who had misconducted himself in Egypt. +Madame Junot met him at Madrid, but she and others had not forgotten +the September massacres. "The wretch! how did he drag on his loathsome +existence?" she exclaims. + + +No. 36. + +_Paris._--Josephine arrived here January 31st; Queen Hortense going to +the Hague and the Princess Stephanie to Mannheim. + + +No. 38. + +Probably written from Arensdorf, on the eve of the battle of Eylau +(February 9th), on which day a great ball took place in Paris, given +by the Minister of Marine. + + +No. 39. + +_Eylau._--The battle of Preussich-Eylau was splendidly fought on both +sides, but the Russian general, Beningsen, had all the luck. (1) His +Cossacks capture Napoleon's letter to Bernadotte, which enables him to +escape all Napoleon's plans, which otherwise would have destroyed half +the Russian army. (2) A snowstorm in the middle of the day in the +faces of the French ruins Augereau's corps and saves the Russians +from a total rout. (3) The arrival of a Prussian army corps, under +General Lestocq, robbed Davoust of his glorious victory on the right, +and much of the ground gained--including the village of Kuschnitten. +(4) The night came on just in time to save the rest of the Russian +army, and to prevent Ney taking any decisive part in the battle. +Bernadotte, as usual, failed to march to the sound of the guns, but, +as Napoleon's orders to do so were captured by Cossacks, he might have +had an excuse rather better than usual, had not General Hautpoult,[62] +in touch both with him and Napoleon, advised him of his own orders and +an imminent battle. Under such circumstances, no general save the +Prince of Ponte-Corvo, says Bignon, would have remained inactive, "but +it was the destiny of this marshal to have a rôle apart in all the +great battles fought by the Emperor. His conduct was at least strange +at Jena, it will not be less so, in 1809, at Wagram." The forces, +according to Matthieu Dumas (_Précis des Evénements Militaires_, +volume 18), were approximately 65,000 French against 80,000 +allies[63]--the latter in a strong chosen position. Napoleon saved +1500, the wreckage of Augereau's[64] corps, that went astray in the +blizzard (costing the French more than half their loss in the two +days' fight), by a charge of his Horse Guard, but his Foot Guard never +fired a shot. The allies lost 5000 to 6000 dead and 20,000 wounded. +Napoleon told Montholon that his loss at Eylau was 18,000, which +probably included 2000 dead, and 15,000 to 16,000 wounded and +prisoners. As the French remained masters of the field of battle, the +slightly wounded were evidently not counted by Napoleon, who in his +bulletin gives 1900 dead and 5700 wounded. The list of wounded inmates +of the hospital a month later, March 8th, totalled only 4600, which +astonished Napoleon, who sent back for a recount. On receipt of this +he wrote Daru (March 15): "From your advices to hand, I see we are +not far out of count. There were at the battle of Eylau 4000 or 5000 +wounded, and 1000 in the combats preceding the battle." + + +No. 40. + +_Corbineau._--Mlle. d'Avrillon (vol. ii. 101) tells how, in haste to +join his regiment at Paris, Corbineau had asked for a seat in her +carriage from St. Cloud. She was delighted, as he was a charming man, +"with no side on like Lauriston and Lemarois." He had just been made +general, and said, "Either I will get killed or deserve the favour +which the Emperor has granted me. M'selle, you shall hear me spoken +of; if I am not killed I will perform some startling deed." + +_Dahlmann._--General Nicholas Dahlmann, commanding the chasseurs of +the guard, was killed in the charge on the Russian infantry which +saved the battle. On April 22nd Napoleon wrote Vice-Admiral Decrés to +have three frigates put on the stocks to be called Dahlmann, +Corbineau, and Hautpoul, and in each captain's cabin a marble +inscription recounting their brave deeds. + + +No. 41. + +_Young Tascher._--The third of Josephine's cousins-germain of that +name. He was afterwards aide-de-camp of Prince Eugène, and later +major-domo of the Empress Eugénie. + + +No. 42. + +After this letter St. Amand declares that Napoleon's letters to his +wife become "cold, short, banal, absolutely insignificant." "They +consisted of a few remarks about the rain or the fine weather, and +always the same refrain--the invitation to be cheerful.... Napoleon, +occupied elsewhere, wrote no longer to his legitimate wife, but as a +duty, as paying a debt of conscience." He was occupied, indeed, but +barely as the author supposes. It is Bingham (vol. ii. 281) who +reminds us that in the first three months of 1807 we have 1715 letters +and despatches preserved of his work during that period, while he +often rode forty leagues a day, and had instructed his librarian to +send him by each morning's courier two or three new books from Paris. +Aubenas is more just than St. Amand. "If his style is no longer that +of the First Consul, still less of the General of Italy, he was +solicitous, punctilious, attentive, affectionate even although +laconic, in that correspondence (with Josephine) which, in the midst +of his much greater preoccupations, seems for him as much a pleasure +as a duty." + + +No. 43. + +_I am still at Eylau._--It took Napoleon and his army eight days to +bury the dead and remove the wounded. Lejeune says, "His whole time +was given up now to seeing that the wounded received proper care, and +he insisted on the Russians being as well treated as the French" (vol. +i. 48). The Emperor wrote Daru that if more surgeons had been on the +spot he could have saved at least 200 lives; although, to look at the +surgical instruments used on these fields, and now preserved in the +museum of Les Invalides, it is wonderful that the men survived +operations with such ghastly implements of torture. A few days later +Napoleon tells Daru on no account to begrudge money for medicines, and +especially for quinine. + +_This country is covered with dead and wounded._--"Napoleon," says +Dumas (vol. i. 18, 41), "having given order that the succour to the +wounded on both sides might be multiplied, rode over the field of +battle, which all eye-witnesses agree to have been the most horrible +field of carnage which war has ever offered. In a space of less than a +square league, the ground covered with snow, and the frozen lakes, +were heaped up with 10,000 dead, and 3000 to 4000 dead horses, débris +of artillery, arms of all kinds, cannon-balls, and shells. Six +thousand Russians, expiring of their wounds, and of hunger and thirst, +were left abandoned to the generosity of the conqueror." + + +No. 50. + +_Osterode._--"A wretched village, where I shall pass a considerable +time." Owing to the messenger to Bernadotte being captured by +Cossacks, the Emperor, if not surprised at Eylau on the second day, +found at least all his own intentions anticipated. He could not +risk the same misfortune again, and at Osterode all his army were +within easy hailing distance, "within two marches at most" (Dumas). +Savary speaks of him there, "working, eating, giving audience, and +sleeping--all in the same room," alone keeping head against the storm +of his marshals, who wished him to retire across the Vistula. He +remained over five weeks at Osterode, and more than two months at +Finckenstein Castle, interesting himself in the affairs of Teheran +and Monte Video, offering prizes for discoveries in electricity +and medicine, giving advice as to the most scientific modes of +teaching history and geography, while objecting to the creation of +poet-laureates or Cæsarians whose exaggerated praises would be sure to +awaken the ridicule of the French people, even if it attained its +object of finding a place of emolument for poets. Bignon says +(vol. vi. 227): "From Osterode or from Finckenstein he supervised, +as from Paris or St. Cloud, the needs of France; he sought means to +alleviate the hindrances to commerce, discussed the best ways to +encourage literature and art, corresponded with all his ministers, +and while awaiting the renewal of the fray, having a war of +figures with his Chancellor of Exchequer." + +_It is not as good as the great city._--The day before he had written +his brother Joseph that neither his officers nor his staff had taken +their clothes off for two months; that he had not taken his boots off +for a fortnight; that the wounded had to be moved 120 miles in +sledges, in the open air; that bread was unprocurable; that the +Emperor had been living for weeks upon potatoes, and the officers upon +mere meat. "After having destroyed the Prussian monarchy, we are +fighting against the remnant of the Prussians, against Russians, +Cossacks, and Kalmucks, those roving tribes of the north, who formerly +invaded the Roman Empire." + +_I have ordered what you wish for Malmaison._--About this time he also +gave orders for what afterwards became the Bourse and the Madeleine, +and gave hints for a new journal (March 7th), whose "criticism should +be enlightened, well-intentioned, impartial, and robbed of that +noxious brutality which characterises the discussions of existing +journals, and which is so at variance with the true sentiments of the +nation." + + +No. 54. + +_Minerva._--In a letter of March 7th Josephine writes to Hortense: "A +few days ago I saw a frightful accident at the Opera. The actress who +represented Minerva in the ballet of 'Ulysses' fell twenty feet and +broke her arm. As she is poor, and has a family to support, I have +sent her fifty louis." This was probably the ballet, "The Return of +Ulysses," a subject given by Napoleon to Fouché as a suitable subject +for representation. In the same letter Josephine writes: "All the +private letters I have received agree in saying that the Emperor was +very much exposed at the battle of Eylau. I get news of him very +often, sometimes two letters a day, but that does not replace him." +This special danger at Eylau is told by Las Cases, who heard it from +Bertrand. Napoleon was on foot, with only a few officers of his staff; +a column of four to five thousand Russians came almost in contact with +him. Berthier instantly ordered up the horses. The Emperor gave him a +reproachful look; then sent orders to a battalion of his guard to +advance, which was a good way behind, and standing still. As the +Russians advanced he repeated several times, "What audacity, what +audacity!" At the sight of his Grenadiers of the Guard the Russians +stopped short. It was high time for them to do so, as Bertrand said. +The Emperor had never stirred; all who surrounded him had been much +alarmed. + + +No. 55. + +"It is the first and only time," says Aubenas, "that, in these two +volumes of letters (_Collection Didot_), Napoleon says _vous_ to his +wife. But his vexation does not last more than a few lines, and this +short letter ends, '_Tout à toi_.' Not content with this softening, +and convinced how grieved Josephine will be at this language of cold +etiquette, he writes to her the same day, at ten o'clock at night, +before going to bed, a second letter in his old style, which ends, +'_Mille et mille amitiés_.'" It is a later letter (March 25th) which +ends as described, but No. 56 is, nevertheless, a kind letter. + + +No. 56. + +_Dupuis._--Former principal of the Brienne Military School. Napoleon, +always solicitous for the happiness of those whom he had known in his +youth, had made Dupuis his own librarian at Malmaison. His brother, +who died in 1809, was the learned Egyptologist. + + +No. 58. + +_M. de T----_, _i.e._ M. de Thiard. In _Lettres Inedites de Napoleon +I._ (Brotonne), No. 176, to Talleyrand, March 22nd, the Emperor +writes: "I have had M. de Thiard effaced from the list of officers. I +have sent him away, after having testified all my displeasure, and +told him to stay on his estate. He is a man without military honour +and civic fidelity.... My intention is that he shall also be struck +off from the number of my chamberlains. I have been poignantly grieved +at such black ingratitude, but I think myself fortunate to have found +out such a wicked man in time." De Thiard seems to have been +corresponding with the enemy from Warsaw. + + +No. 60. + +_Marshal Bessières._--His château of Grignon, now destroyed, was one +of the most beautiful of Provence. Madame de Sevigné lived and was +buried in the town of Grignon. + + +_No. 63._ + +This was printed April 24th in the French editions, but April 14th is +evidently the correct date. + + +No. 67. + +"_Sweet, pouting, and capricious._"--Aubenas speaks of these lines "in +the style of the Italian period, which seemed in fact to calm the +fears of the Empress." + + +No. 68. + +_Madame ----._ His own sister, Madame Murat, afterwards Queen of +Naples. See note to Letter 35 for her influence over Junot. The latter +was severely reprimanded by Napoleon on his return and banished from +Paris. "Why, for example, does the Grand Duchess occupy your boxes at +the theatres? Why does she go thither in your carriage? Hey! M. Junot! +you are surprised that I am so well acquainted with your affairs and +those of that little fool, Madame Murat?" ("Memoirs of the Duchess +d'Abrantès," vol. iii. 328.) + +_Measles._--As the poor child was ill four days, it was probably +laryngitis from which he died--an ailment hardly distinguishable from +croup, and one of the commonest sequelæ of measles. He died on May +5th. + +The best account is the Memoirs of Stanislaus Giraudin. They had +applied leeches to the child's chest, and had finally recourse to some +English powders of unknown composition, which caused a rally, followed +by the final collapse. King Louis said the child's death was caused by +the Dutch damp climate, which was bad for his own health. Josephine +hastens to join her daughter, but breaks down at Lacken, where +Hortense, more dead than alive, joins her, and returns to Paris with +her. + + +No. 69. + +_I trust I may hear you have been rational in your sorrow._--As a +matter of fact he had heard the opposite, for the following day +(May 15th) he writes to his brother Jerome: "Napoleon died in three +days at the Hague; I know not if the King has advised you of it. +This event gives me the more pain insomuch as his father and mother +are not rational, and are giving themselves up to all the transports +of their grief." To Fouché he writes three days later: "I have +been very much afflicted by the misfortune which has befallen me. +I had hoped for a more brilliant destiny for that poor child;" and on +May 20th, "I have felt the loss of the little Napoleon very acutely. +I would have wished that his father and mother should have received +from their temperament as much courage as I for knowing how to bear +all the ills of life. But they are younger, and have reflected less on +the frailty of our worldly possessions." It is typical of Napoleon +that the only man to whom, as far as we know, he unbosomed his +sorrow should be one of his early friends, even though that friend +should be the false and faithless Fouché, who requited his confidence +later by vile and baseless allegations respecting the parentage of +this very child. In one respect only did Napoleon resemble David in +his supposititious sin, which was, that when the child was dead, he +had neither time nor temperament to waste in futile regrets. As he +said on another occasion, if his wife had died during the Austerlitz +Campaign it would not have delayed his operations a quarter of an +hour. But he considers practical succour to the living as the most +fitting memorial to the dead, and writes on June 4th to De Champagny: +"Twenty years ago a malady called croup showed itself in the north +of Europe. Some years ago it spread into France. I require you to +offer a prize of £500 (12,000 francs), to be given to the doctor who +writes the best essay on this malady and its mode of treatment." +Commenting on this letter Bignon (vol. vi. p. 262) adds, "It is, +however, fortunate when, on the eve of battles, warlike princes are +pondering over ways of preserving the population of their states." + + +No. 71. + +_May 20th._--On this date he writes Hortense: "My daughter, all the +news I get from the Hague tells me that you are not rational. However +legitimate your grief, it must have limits: never impair your health; +seek distractions, and know that life is strewn with so many rocks, +and may be the source of so many miseries, that death is not the +greatest of all.--Your affectionate father, NAPOLEON." + + +No. 74. + +_I am vexed with Hortense._--The same day he encloses with this a +letter to Hortense. "My daughter, you have not written me a line +during your great and righteous grief. You have forgotten everything, +as if you had nothing more to lose. They say you care no longer for +any one, that you are callous about everything; I note the truth of it +by your silence. This is not well, Hortense, it is not what you +promised me. Your son was everything for you. Are your mother and +myself nothing? Had I been at Malmaison I should have shared your +grief, but I should have wished you at the same time to turn to your +best friends. Good-bye, my daughter, be cheerful; it is necessary to +be resigned; keep well, in order to fulfil all your duties. My wife is +utterly miserable about your condition; do not increase her +sorrow.--Your affectionate father, NAPOLEON." + +Hortense had been on such bad terms with her husband for several +months past that Napoleon evidently thinks it wiser not to allude to +him, although he had written Louis a very strong letter on his +treatment of his wife two months earlier (see letter 12,294 of the +_Correspondence_, April 4th). There is, however, a temporary reunion +between husband and wife in their common sorrow. + + +No. 78. + +_Friedland._--On this day he wrote a further letter to the Queen of +Holland (No. 12,761 of the _Correspondence_): "My daughter, I have +your letter dated Orleans. Your grief pains me, but I should like you +to possess more courage; to live is to suffer, and the true man is +always fighting for mastery over himself. I do not like to see you +unjust towards the little Napoleon Louis, and towards all your +friends. Your mother and I had hoped to be more to you than we are." +She had been sent to take the waters of Cauterets, and had left her +child Napoleon Louis (who died at Forli, 1831) with Josephine, who +writes to her daughter (June 11th): "He amuses me much; he is so +gentle. I find he has all the ways of that poor child that we mourn." +And a few days later: "There remains to you a husband, an interesting +child, and a mother whose love you know." Josephine had with women the +same tact that her husband had with men, but the Bonaparte family, +with all its good qualities, strained the tact and tempers of both to +the utmost. + + +No. 79. + +_Tilsit._--Referring to Napoleon and Alexander at Tilsit, Michaud +says: "Both full of wiles and devices, they affected nevertheless the +most perfect sentiments of generosity, which at the bottom they +scarcely dreamed of practising. Reunited, they were the masters of the +world, but such a union seemed impossible; they would rather share it +among themselves. Allies and rivals, friends and enemies, all were +sacrificed; henceforth there were to be only two powers, that of the +East and that of the West. Bonaparte at this time actually ruled from +the Niemen to the Straits of Gibraltar, from the North Sea to the base +of the Italian Peninsula." + + +FOOTNOTES + + [60] Bouillet, _Dictionnaire Universelle_, &c. + + [61] "The Queen of that Court was the fair Madame Tallien. All that + imagination can conceive will scarcely approach the reality; + beautiful after the antique fashion, she had at once grace and + dignity; without being endowed with a superior wit, she + possessed the art of making the best of it, and won people's + hearts by her great kindness."--_Memoirs of Marmont_, vol. i., + p. 887. + + [62] This brave general was mortally wounded in the cavalry charge + which saved the battle, and the friends of Bernadotte assert + that the message was never given--an assertion more credible if + the future king's record had been better on other occasions. + + [63] Alison says 75,000 allies, 85,000 French, but admits allies had + 100 more cannon. + + [64] Augereau, says Méneval, went out of his mind during this battle, + and had to be sent back to France. + + + + +SERIES H + + +No. 1. + +_Milan._--Magnificent public works were set on foot by Napoleon at +Milan, and the Cathedral daily adorned with fresh marvels of +sculpture. Arriving here on the morning of the 22nd, Napoleon goes +first to hear the _Te Deum_ at the Cathedral, then to see Eugène's +wife at the Monza Palace; in the evening to the La Scala Theatre, and +finishes the day (to use an Irishism) by working most of the night. + +_Mont Cenis._--"The roads of the Simplon and Mont Cenis were kept in +the finest order, and daily attracted fresh crowds of strangers to the +Italian plains." So says Alison, but on the present occasion Napoleon +was overtaken by a storm which put his life in danger. He was +fortunate enough to reach a cave in which he took refuge. This cave +appeared to him, as he afterwards said, "a cave of diamonds" +(Méneval). + +_Eugène._--The writer in _Biog. Univ._ (art. Josephine) says: "During +a journey that Napoleon made in Italy (November 1807) he wished, while +loading Eugène with favours, to prepare his mind for his mother's +divorce. The Decree of Milan, by which, in default of male and +legitimate children[65] of _the direct_ _line_, he adopted Eugène for +his son and his successor to the throne of Italy, gave to those who +knew how to read the secret thoughts of the Emperor in his patent acts +the proof that he had excluded him from all inheritance in the +Imperial Crown of France, and that he dreamed seriously of a new +alliance himself." + + +No. 2. + +_Venice._--The Venetians gave Napoleon a wonderful ovation--many +nobles spending a year's income on the fêtes. "Innumerable gondolas +glittering with a thousand colours and resounding with the harmony of +instruments, escorted the barges which bore, together with the master +of the world, the Viceroy and the Vice-Queen of Italy, the King and +Queen of Bavaria, the Princess of Lucca, the King of Naples (Joseph, +who stayed six days with his brother), the Grand Duke of Berg, the +Prince of Neufchâtel, and the greater part of the generals of the old +army of Italy" (Thiers). While at Venice Napoleon was in easy touch +with the Porte, of which he doubtless made full use, while, _per +contra_, he was expected to give Greece her independence. + +_November 30th._--Leaving Milan, Napoleon came straight through +Brescia to Verona, where he supped with the King and Queen of +Bavaria. The next morning he started for Vicenza through avenues of +vine-encircled poplars and broad yellow wheat-fields which "lay all +golden in the sunlight and the breeze" (Constant). The Emperor +went to the theatre at Vicenza, and left again at 2 A.M. Spending the +night at Stra, he met the Venetian authorities early the next morning +at Fusina. + + +No. 3. + +_Udine._--He is here on the 12th, and then hastens to meet his brother +Lucien at Mantua--the main but secret object of his journey to Italy. +It is _most_ difficult to gauge the details--was it a political or a +conjugal question that made the interview a failure? Madame +D'Abrantès, voicing the rumours of the day, thinks the former; Lucien, +writing Memoirs for his wife and children, declares it to be the +latter. Napoleon was prepared to legalise the children of his first +wife, and marry the eldest to Prince Ferdinand, the heir to the +Spanish crown; but Lucien considers the Bourbons to be enemies of +France and of the Bonapartes. These Memoirs of Lucien are not perhaps +very trustworthy, especially where his prejudices overlap his memory +or his judgment, but always instructive and very readable. When the +account of this interview was written (early in 1812), Lucien was an +English prisoner, furious that his brother has just refused to +exchange him for "some English Lords." Speaking of Josephine, the +Emperor tells him that in spite of her reputation for good-nature, she +is more malicious than generally supposed, although for her husband +"she has no nails"; but he adds that rumours of impending divorce have +made life between them very constrained. "Only imagine," continued the +Emperor, "that wife of mine weeps every time she has indigestion, +because she says she thinks herself poisoned by those who wish me to +marry some one else. It is perfectly hateful." He said that Joseph +also thought of a divorce, as his wife gave him only daughters, and +that the three brothers might be remarried on the same day. The +Emperor regretted not having taken the Princess Augusta, daughter of +his "best friend, the King of Bavaria," for himself, instead of for +Eugène, who did not know how to appreciate her and was unfaithful. He +was convinced that Russia by invading India would overthrow England, +and that his own soldiers were ready to follow him to the antipodes. +He ends by offering Lucien his choice of thrones--Naples, Italy, "the +brightest jewel of my Imperial crown," or Spain[66] (Madame D'Abrantès +adds _Prussia_), if he will give way about Madame Jouberthon and her +children. "Tout pour Lucien divorcé, rien pour Lucien sans divorce." +When Napoleon finds his brother obdurate he makes Eugène Prince of +Venice, and his eldest daughter Princess of Bologna, with a large +appanage. Lucien is in fresh disgrace within less than three months of +the Mantuan interview, for on March 11, 1808, Napoleon writes brother +Joseph, "Lucien is misconducting himself at Rome ... and is more Roman +than the Pope himself. His conduct has been scandalous; he is my open +enemy, and that of France.... I will not permit a Frenchman, and one +of my own brothers, to be the first to conspire and act against me, +with a rabble of priests." + +_I may soon be in Paris._--After leaving Milan he visits the +fortifications at Alessandria, and is met by a torchlight procession +at Marengo. Letters for two days (December 27-28th) are dated Turin, +although Constant says he did not stop there. Crossing Mont Cenis on +December 30th he reaches the Tuileries on the evening of New Year's +Day (1808). + + +FOOTNOTES + + [65] The Decree itself says "nos enfants et descendants males, + legitimes et naturels." + + [66] On October 11th Prince Ferdinand had written Napoleon for "the + honour of allying himself to a Princess of his august family"; + and Lucien's eldest daughter was Napoleon's only choice. + + + + +SERIES I + + +No. 1. + +_Bayonne_ is half-way between Paris and Madrid, nearly 600 miles from +each. Napoleon arrived here April 15th, and left July 21st, returning +with Josephine _viâ_ Pau, Tarbes, Auch, Montauban, Agen, Bordeaux, +Rochefort, Nantes. Everywhere he received a hearty welcome, even, and +especially, in La Vendée. He arrives at Paris August 14th, hearing on +August 3rd at Bordeaux of (what he calls) the "horrible catastrophe" +of General Dupont at Baylen. + + +No. 2. + +_A country-house._--The Château of Marrac. Marbot had stayed there in +1803 with Augereau. Bausset informs us that this château had been +built either for the Infanta Marie Victoire engaged to Louis XV., or +for the Dowager Queen of Charles II., "the bewitched," when she was +packed off from Madrid to Bayonne (see Hume's _Spain_, 1479-1788). + +_Everything is still most primitive._--Nevertheless he enjoyed the +_pamperruque_ which was danced before the château by seven men and ten +maidens, gaily dressed--the women armed with tambourines and the men +with castanets. Saint-Amand speaks of thirteen performers (seven men +and six maidens) chosen from the leading families of the town, to +render what for time immemorial had been considered fit homage for the +most illustrious persons. + + +No. 3. + +_Prince of the Asturias._--The Emperor had received him at the château +of Marrac, paid him all the honours due to royalty, while evading the +word "Majesty," and insisting the same day on his giving up all claim +to the Crown of Spain. Constant says he was heavy of gait, and rarely +spoke. + +_The Queen._--A woman of violent passions. The Prince of the Asturias +had designs on his mother's life, while the Queen openly begged +Napoleon to put the Prince to death. On May 9th Napoleon writes +Talleyrand to prepare to take charge of Ferdinand at Valençay, adding +that if the latter were "to become attached to some pretty woman, whom +we are sure of, it would be no disadvantage." A new experience for a +Montmorency to become the keeper of a Bourbon, rather than his +Constable. Pasquier, with his usual Malvolian decorum, gives fuller +details. Napoleon, he says, "enumerates with care (to Talleyrand) all +the precautions that are to be taken to prevent his escape, and even +goes so far as to busy himself with the distractions which may be +permitted him. And, be it noted, the principal one thrown in his way +was given him by a young person who lived at the time under M. De +Talleyrand's roof. This liaison, of which Ferdinand soon became +distrustful, did not last as long as it was desired to." + + +No. 4. + +_A son has been born._--By a plebiscite of the year XII. (1804-5), the +children of Louis and Hortense were to be the heirs of Napoleon, and +in conformity with this the child born on April 20th at 17 Rue Lafitte +(now the residence of the Turkish Ambassador), was inscribed on the +register of the Civil List destined for princes of the blood. His two +elder brothers had not been so honoured, but in due course the King of +Rome was entered thereon. Had Louis accepted the Crown of Spain which +Napoleon had in vain offered to him, and of which Hortense would have +made an ideal Queen, the chances are that Napoleon would never have +divorced Josephine. St. Amand shows at length that the future Napoleon +III. is truly the child of Louis, and neither of Admiral Verhuell nor +of the Duke Decazes. Louis and Hortense in the present case are +sufficiently agreed to insist that the father's name be preserved by +the child, who is called Charles Louis Napoleon, and not Charles +Napoleon, which was the Emperor's first choice. In either case the +name of the croup-stricken firstborn had been preserved. On April 23rd +Josephine had already two letters from Cambacérès respecting mother +and child, and on this day the Empress writes her daughter: "I know +that Napoleon is consoled for not having a sister." + +_Arrive on the 27th._--Josephine, always wishful to humour her +husband's love of punctuality, duly arrived on the day fixed, and took +up her abode with her husband in the château of Marrac. Ferdinand +wrote to his uncle in Madrid to beware of the cursed Frenchmen, +telling him also that Josephine had been badly received at Bayonne. +The letter was intercepted, and Napoleon wrote Murat that the writer +was a liar, a fool, and a hypocrite. The Emperor, in fact, never +trusted the Prince henceforward. Bausset, who translated the letter, +tells how the Emperor could scarcely believe that the Prince would use +so strong an adjective, but was convinced on seeing the word +_maldittos_, which he remarked was almost the Italian--_maledetto_. + + + + +SERIES J + + +Leaving St. Cloud September 22nd, Napoleon is at Metz on the 23rd, at +Kaiserlautern on the 24th, where he sends a message to the Empress in +a letter to Cambacérès, and on the 27th is at Erfurt. On the 28th the +Emperors of France and Russia sign a Convention of Alliance. Napoleon +leaves Erfurt October 14th (the anniversary of Jena), travels +incognito, and arrives St. Cloud October 18th. + + +No. 1. + +_I have rather a cold._--Napoleon had insisted on going to explore a +new road he had ordered between Metz and Mayence, and which no one had +ventured to say was not complete. The road was so bad that the +carriage of the _maître des requêtes_, who had been summoned to +account for the faulty work, was precipitated a hundred feet down a +ravine near Kaiserlautern. + +_I am pleased with the Emperor and every one here._--Which included +what he had promised Talma for his audience--a _parterre_ of kings. +Besides the two Emperors, the King of Prussia was represented by his +brother Prince William, Austria by General Vincent, and there were +also the Kings of Saxony, Bavaria, Würtemberg, Westphalia, and Naples, +the Prince Primate, the Princes of Anhalt, Coburg, Saxe-Weimar, +Darmstadt, Baden, and Nassau. Talleyrand, Champagny, Maret, Duroc, +Berthier, and Caulaincourt, with Generals Oudinot, Soult, and +Lauriston accompanied Napoleon. Literature was represented by Goethe, +Wieland, Müller; and feminine attractions by the Duchess of +Saxe-Weimar and the wily Princess of Tour and Taxis, sister of the +Queen of Prussia. Pasquier and others have proved that at Erfurt +Talleyrand did far more harm than good to his master's cause, and in +fact intended to do so. On his arrival he spent his first evening with +the Princess of Tour and Taxis, in order to meet the Emperor +Alexander, and said: "Sire ... It is for you to save Europe, and the +only way of attaining this object is by resisting Napoleon. The French +people are civilised, their Emperor is not: the sovereign of Russia is +civilised, his people are not. It is therefore for the sovereign of +Russia to be the ally of the French people,"--of whom Talleyrand +declared himself to be the representative. By squaring Alexander this +transcendental (unfrocked) Vicar of Bray, "with an oar in every boat," +is once more hedging, or, to use his own phrase, guaranteeing the +future, and at the same time securing the daughter of the Duchess of +Courland for his nephew, Edmond de Périgord. "The Arch-apostate" +carried his treason so far as to advise Alexander of Napoleon's +ulterior views, and thus enabled the former to forestall them--no easy +matter in conversations with Napoleon "lasting whole days" (see +Letter No. 3, this Series). Talleyrand had also a grievance. He had +been replaced as Foreign Minister by Champagny. He had accepted the +surrender of his portfolio gladly, as now, becoming Vice-Grand +Elector, he ranked with Cambacérès and Maret. But when he found that +Napoleon, who liked to have credit for his own diplomacy, seldom +consulted him, or allowed Champagny to do so, jealousy and ill-will +naturally resulted. + + +No. 2. + +_Shooting over the battlefield of Jena._--The presence of the Emperor +Alexander on this occasion was considered a great affront to his +recent ally, the King of Prussia, and is severely commented on by Von +Moltke in one of his Essays. In fairness to Alexander, we must +remember that their host, the Duke of Saxe-Weimar, had married his +sister. Von Moltke, by the way, speaks of _hares_ forming the sport in +question, but Savary of a second battle of Jena fought against the +_partridges_. The fact seems to be that all kinds of game, including +stags and deer, were driven by the beaters to the royal sportsmen in +their huts, and the Emperor Alexander, albeit short-sighted, succeeded +in killing a stag, at eight feet distance, _at the first shot_. + +_The Weimar ball._--This followed the Jena shoot, and the dancing +lasted all night. The Russian courtiers were scandalised at their +Emperor dancing, but while he was present the dancing was conventional +enough, consisting of promenading two and two to the strains of a +Polish march. "Imperial Waltz, imported from the Rhine," was already +the rage in Germany, and Napoleon, in order to be more worthy of his +Austrian princess, tried next year to master this new science of +tactics, but after a trial with the Princess Stephanie, the lady +declared that her pupil should always give lessons, and never receive +them. He was rather more successful at billiards, pursued under the +same praiseworthy incentive. + +_A few trifling ailments._--Mainly a fearful nightmare; a new +experience, in which he imagines his vitals torn out by a bear. +"Significant of much!" As when also the Russian Emperor finds +himself without a sword and accepts that of Napoleon as a gift: and +when, on the last night, the latter orders his comedians to play +"Bajazet,"--little thinking the appointed Tamerlane was by his side. + + +No. 3. + +_I am pleased with Alexander._--For the time being Josephine had most +reason to be pleased with Alexander, who failed to secure his sister's +hand for Napoleon. + +_He ought to be with me._--He might have been, had not Napoleon +purposely evaded the Eastern Question. On this subject Savary +writes (vol. ii. 297):--"Since Tilsit, Napoleon had sounded the +personal views of his ambassador at Constantinople, General +Sebastiani, as to this proposition of the Emperor of Russia (_i.e._ +the partition of Turkey). This ambassador was utterly opposed to +this project, and in a long report that he sent to the Emperor on his +return from Constantinople, he demonstrated to him that it was +absolutely necessary for France never to consent to the dismemberment +of the Turkish Empire; the Emperor Napoleon adopted his views." And +these Talleyrand knew. The whirligig of time brings about its +revenges, and in less than fifty years Lord Palmerston had to seek +an alliance with France and the house of Napoleon in order to +maintain the fixed policy that sent Napoleon I. to Moscow and to +St. Helena. "Alexander, with justice," says Alison, "looked upon +Constantinople as the back-door of his empire, and was earnest that +its key should be placed in his hands." "Alexander," Napoleon told +O'Meara, "wanted to get Constantinople, which I would not allow, +as it would have destroyed the equilibrium of power in Europe. I +reflected that France would gain Egypt, Syria, and the islands, +which would have been nothing in comparison with what Russia would +have obtained. I considered that the barbarians of the north were +already too powerful, and probably in the course of time would +overwhelm all Europe, as I now think they will. Austria already +trembles: Russia and Prussia united, Austria falls, and England +cannot prevent it." + +_Erfurt_ is the meridian of Napoleon's first thirteen years +(1796-1808)--each more glorious; henceforward (1809-1821) ever faster +he "rolls, darkling, down the torrent of his fate." + + + + +SERIES K + + +No. 5. + +Written from Aranda. + + +No. 6. + +Written from the Imperial Camp outside Madrid. Neither Napoleon[67] +nor Joseph entered the capital, but King Joseph took up his abode at +the Prado, the castle of the Kings of Spain, two miles away; while the +Emperor was generally at Chamartin, some five miles distant. He had +arrived on the heights surrounding Madrid on his Coronation Day +(December 2nd), and does not fail to remind his soldiers and his +people of this auspicious coincidence. The bulletin concludes with a +tirade against England, whose conduct is "shameful," but her troops +"well disciplined and superb." It declares that Spain has been treated +by them as they have treated Holland, Sardinia, Austria, Russia, and +Sweden. "They foment war everywhere; they distribute weapons like +poison; but they shed their blood only for their direct and personal +interests." + +_Parisian weather of the last fortnight in May._--In his bulletin of +the 13th, he says: "Never has such a month of December been known in +this country; one would think it the beginning of spring." But ten +days later all was changed, and the storm of Guadarrama undoubtedly +saved Moore and the English army. "Was it then decreed," groans +Thiers, "that we, who were always successful against combined Europe, +should on no single occasion prevail against those implacable foes?" + + +No. 8. + +Other letters of this date are headed Madrid. + +_Kourakin._--Alexander Kourakin was the new Russian Ambassador at +Paris, removed thence from Vienna to please Napoleon, and to replace +Tolstoi, who, according to Savary, was always quarrelling with French +officers on military points, but who could hardly be so narrow-minded +a novice on these points as his namesake of to-day. This matter had +been arranged at Erfurt. + + +No. 9. + +_The English appear to have received reinforcements._--Imagine a +Transvaal with a population of ten millions, and one has a fair idea +of the French difficulties in Spain, even without Portugal. The +Spaniards could not fight a scientific battle like Jena or Friedland, +but they were incomparable at guerilla warfare. The Memoirs of Barons +Marbot and Lejeune have well demonstrated this. The latter, an +accomplished linguist, sent to locate Moore's army, found that to pass +as an Englishman the magic words "Damn it," won him complete success. + + +No. 10. + +_Benavente._--Here they found 600 horses, which had been hamstrung by +the English. + +_The English flee panic-stricken._--The next day Napoleon writes +Fouché to have songs written, and caricatures made of them, which are +also to be translated into German and Italian, and circulated in +Germany and Italy. + +_The weather is very bad._--Including 18 degrees of frost. Savary says +they had never felt the cold so severe in Poland--and that they ran a +risk of being buried in the snow. The Emperor had to march on foot and +was very much tired. "On these occasions," adds Savary, "the Emperor +was not selfish, as people would have us believe ... he shared his +supper[68] and his fire with all who accompanied him: he went so far +as to make those eat whom he saw in need of it." Napier gives other +details: "Napoleon, on December 22nd, has 50,000 men at the foot of +the Guadarrama. A deep snow choked the passes of the Sierra, and after +twelve hours' toil the advanced guards were still on the wrong side: +the general commanding reported the road impracticable, but Napoleon, +dismounting, placed himself at the head of the column, and amidst +storms of hail and driving snow, led his soldiers over the mountain." +At the passage of the Esla Moore escapes Napoleon by twelve hours. +Marbot, as usual, gives picturesque details. Officers and men marched +with locked arms, the Emperor between Lannes and Duroc. Half-way up, +the marshals and generals, who wore jack-boots, could go no further. +Napoleon, however, got hoisted on to a gun, and bestrode it: the +marshals and generals did the same, and in this grotesque order they +reached, after four hours' toil, the convent at the summit. + +_Lefebvre._--As they neared Benavente the slush became frightful, and +the artillery could not keep pace. General Lefebvre-Desnouette went +forward, with the horse regiment of the Guard, forded the Esla with +four squadrons, was outnumbered by the English (3000 to 300), but he +and sixty (Lejeune, who escaped, says a hundred) of his chasseurs were +captured. He was brought in great triumph to Sir John Moore. "That +general," says Thiers, "possessed the courtesy characteristic of all +great nations; he received with the greatest respect the brilliant +general who commanded Napoleon's light cavalry, seated him at his +table, and presented him with a magnificent Indian sabre." + + +No. 11. + +Probably written from Astorga, where he arrived on January 1st, having +brought 50,000 men two hundred miles in ten days. + +_Your letters._--These probably, and others received by a courier, +decided him to let Soult follow the English to Corunna--especially as +he knew that transports were awaiting the enemy there. He himself +prepares to return, for Fouché and Talleyrand are in league, the slim +and slippery Metternich is ambassador at Paris, Austria is arming, and +the whole political horizon, apparently bright at Erfurt, completely +overcast. Murat, balked of the Crown of Spain, is now hoping for that +of France if Napoleon is killed or assassinated. It is Talleyrand and +Fouché who have decided on Murat, and on the ultimate overthrow of the +Beauharnais. Unfortunately for their plans Eugène is apprised by +Lavalette, and an incriminating letter to Murat captured and sent +post-haste to Napoleon. This, says Pasquier, undoubtedly hastened the +Emperor's return. Ignoring the complicity of Fouché, the whole weight +of his anger falls on Talleyrand, who loses the post of High +Chamberlain, which he had enjoyed since 1804. For half-an-hour this +"arch-apostate," as Lord Rosebery calls him, receives a torrent of +invectives. "You are a thief, a coward, a man without honour; you do +not believe in God; you have all your life been a traitor to your +duties; you have deceived and betrayed everybody: nothing is sacred to +you; you would sell your own father. I have loaded you down with +gifts, and there is nothing that you would not undertake against me. +Thus, for the past ten months, you have been shameless enough, because +you supposed, rightly or wrongly, that my affairs in Spain were going +astray, to say to all who would listen to you that you always blamed +my undertaking there, whereas it was yourself who first put it into my +head, and who persistently urged it. And that man, _that unfortunate_ +(he was thus designating the Duc d'Enghien), by whom was I advised of +the place of his residence? Who drove me to deal cruelly with him? +What then are you aiming at? What do you wish for? What do you hope? +Do you dare to say? You deserve that I should smash you like a +wine-glass. I can do it, but I despise you too much to take the +trouble." This we are assured by the impartial Pasquier, who heard it +from an ear-witness, and second-hand from Talleyrand, is an abstract +of what Napoleon said, and to which the ex-Bishop made no reply. + + +No. 12. + +_The English are in utter rout._--Still little but dead men and horses +fell into his hands. Savary adds the interesting fact that all the +(800) dead cavalry horses had a foot missing, which the English had +to show their officers to prove that they had not sold their horses. +Scott, on barely sufficient evidence perhaps, states, "The very +treasure-chests of the army were thrown away and abandoned. There was +never so complete an example of a disastrous retreat." The fact seems +to have been that the soldiership was bad, but Moore's generalship +excellent. Napier writes, "No wild horde of Tartars ever fell with +more license upon their rich effeminate neighbours than did the +English troops upon the Spanish towns taken by storm." What could be +expected of such men in retreat, when even Lord Melville had just said +in extenuation of our army that the worst men make the best soldiers? + + +NOS. 13 AND 14. + +Written at Valladolid. Here he received a deputation asking that his +brother may reside in Madrid, to which he agrees, and awaits its +arrangement before setting out for Paris. + +At Valladolid he met De Pradt, whom he mistrusted; but who, like +Talleyrand, always amused him. In the present case the Abbé told him +that "the Spaniards would never thank him for interfering in their +behalf, and that they were like Sganarelle in the farce, who +quarrelled with a stranger for interfering with her husband when he +was beating her" (Scott's "Napoleon"). + +He leaves Valladolid January 17th, and is in Paris on January 24th. He +rode the first seventy miles, to Burgos, in five and a half hours, +stopping only to change horses.[69] Well might Savary say, "Never had +a sovereign ridden at such a speed." + +_Eugène has a daughter._--The Princess Eugénie-Hortense, born December +23rd at Milan; married the hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern +Hechingen. + +_They are foolish in Paris_--if not worse. Talleyrand, Fouché, and +others were forming what amounted to a conspiracy, and the Empress +herself, wittingly or unwittingly, had served as their tool. For the +first time she answers a deputation of the Corps Législatif, who come +to congratulate her on her husband's victories, and says that +doubtless his Majesty would be very sensible of the homage of an +assembly _which represents the nation_. Napoleon sees in this remark a +germ of aggression on behalf of his House of Commons, more especially +when emphasised by 125 blackballs against a Government Bill. He takes +the effective but somewhat severe step of contradicting his wife in +the _Moniteur_, or rather declaring that the Empress knew the laws too +well not to know that the Emperor was the chief representative of the +People, then the Senate, and last the Corps Législatif. + +"It would be a wild and even criminal assertion to try to represent +the nation before the Emperor." + +All through the first half of 1809 another dangerous plot, of which +the centre was the Princess of Tour and Taxis, had its threads far and +wide. Many of Soult's generals were implicated, and in communication +with the English, preventing their commander getting news of +Wellesley's movements (Napier). When they find Soult cannot be +traduced, they lend a willing ear to stirring up strife between the +Emperor and Soult, by suggesting that the latter should be made King +of Portugal. Madame d'Abrantès, who heard in 1814 that the idea had +found favour with English statesmen, thinks such a step would have +seriously injured Napoleon (vol. iv. 53). + + +FOOTNOTES + + [67] Napoleon visited Madrid and its Palais Royal incognito, and (like + Vienna) by night (Bausset). + + [68] With Lejeune on one occasion. + + [69] _Biographie Universelle._ Michaud says _ponies_. + + + + +SERIES L + + +1809. + +The dangers surrounding Napoleon were immense. The Austrian army, +320,000 strong (with her Landwehr, 544,000 men) and 800 cannon, had +never been so great, never so fitted for war. Prussia was already +seething with secret societies, of which as yet the only formidable +one was the Tugendbund, whose headquarters were Konigsburg, and whose +chief members were Stein, Stadion, Blucher, Jahn. Perhaps their most +sensible scheme was to form a united German empire, with the Archduke +Charles[70] as its head. The Archduke Ferdinand invaded the Duchy of +Warsaw, and had he taken Thorn with its park of 100 cannon, Prussia +was to join Austria. In Italy the Carbonari and Adelphes[71] only +waited for the French troops to go north to meet the Austrians to +spread revolt in Italy. Of the former the head lodge was at Capua and +its constitutions written in English, since England was aiding this +_chouanerie religieuse_ as a lever against Napoleon. England had an +army of 40,000 men ready to embark in any direction--to Holland, +Belgium, Naples, or Biscay, while the French troops in Portugal were +being tampered with to receive Moreau as their leader, and to march +with Spaniards and English for the Pyrenees. At Paris Talleyrand was +in partial disgrace, but he and Fouché were still plotting--the +latter, says Pelet, forwarding daily a copy of the private bulletin +(prepared for Napoleon's eye alone) to the Bourbons. After Essling and +the breaking of the Danube bridge, he hesitated between seizing +supreme power himself or offering it to Bernadotte. + +Up to the last--up to March 27th--the _Correspondence_ proves that +Napoleon had hoped that war would be averted through the influence of +Russia. "All initiative," he declared, "rested on the heads of the +court of Austria." "Menaced on all sides; warned of the intentions of his +enemies by their movements and by their intercepted correspondence; +seeing from that moment hostilities imminent, he wishes to prove to +France and Europe that all the wrongs are on their side, and awaits in his +capital the news of an aggression that nothing justifies, nothing +warrants. Vain prudence! Europe will accuse him of having been the +instigator on every occasion, even in this."[72] On April 8th the +Austrians violated Bavarian territory, and during his supreme command for +the next five days Berthier endangered the safety of the French empire +in spite of the most elaborate and lucid instructions from Napoleon, which +he failed to comprehend. "Never," says Pelet, "was so much written, never +so little done. Each of his letters (Berthier's) attests the great +difference which existed between his own correspondence and that which +was dictated to him." An ideal chief of staff, he utterly lacked the +decision necessary for a commander-in-chief. The arrival of Napoleon +changed in a moment the position of affairs. "The sudden apparition of the +Emperor produced the effect of the head of Medusa, and paralysed the +enemy."[73] Within five days the Austrians were four times defeated, and +Ratisbon, the _passe-partout_ of Southern Germany and half-way house +between Strasburg and Vienna, is once more in the hands of France and her +allies. Pelet considers these operations as the finest which have been +executed either in ancient or modern times, at any rate those of which the +projects are authentically proved. He foretells that military men from +every country of Europe, but specially young Frenchmen, will religiously +visit the fields of the Laber. They will visit, with Napoleon's +_Correspondence_ in their hands, "much more precious than every other +commentary, the hills of Pfaffenhofen, the bridge of Landshut, and that +of Eckmühl, the mill of Stangl, and the woods of Roking." A few days +later the Archduke Charles writes a letter to Napoleon, which is a fair +type of those charming yet stately manners which made him at that +moment the most popular man in Europe. "Sire," he writes, "your +Majesty's arrival was announced to me by the thunder of artillery, without +giving me time to compliment you thereon. Scarcely advised of your +presence, I was made sensible of it by the losses which you have caused +me. You have taken many of my men, Sire; my troops also have made some +thousands of prisoners in places where you did not direct the +operations. I propose to your Majesty to exchange them man for man, grade +for grade, and if that offer is agreeable to you, please let me know your +intentions for the place destined for the exchange. I feel flattered, +sire, in fighting against the greatest captain of the age. I should be +more happy if destiny had chosen me to procure for my country the +benefit of a lasting peace. Whichsoever they be, the events of war or +the approach of peace, I beg your Majesty to believe that my desires +always carry me to meet you, and that I hold myself equally honoured in +finding the sword, or the olive branch, in the hand of your Majesty." + + +No. 1. + +_DONAUWERTH._-- +n the same day napoleon writes almost an identical +letter to cambacérès, adding, however, the news that the tyrolese are +in full revolt. + +On april 20th he placed himself at the head of the wurtembergers and +bavarians at abensberg. he made a stirring speech (no. 15,099 of +_correspondence_), and lejeune tells us that the prince royal of +bavaria translated into german one sentence after another as the +emperor spoke, and officers repeated the translations throughout the +ranks. + +On april 24th is issued from Ratisbon his proclamation to the +army:--"Soldiers, you have justified my expectations. You have made +up for your number by your bravery. You have gloriously marked the +difference between the soldiers of Cæsar and the armed cohorts of +Xerxes. In a few days we have triumphed in the pitched battles of +Thann, Abensberg, and Eckmühl, and in the combats of Peising, +Landshut, and Ratisbon. A hundred cannon, forty flags, fifty thousand +prisoners.... before a month we shall be at Vienna." It was within +three weeks! He was specially proud of Eckmühl, and we are probably +indebted to a remark of Pasquier for his chief but never divulged +reason. "A noteworthy fact in connection with this battle was that +the triumphant army was composed principally of Bavarians and +Wurtembergers. Under his direction, these allies were as greatly to be +feared as the French themselves." At St. Helena was written: "The +battle of Abensberg, the manoeuvres of Landshut, and the battle of +Eckmühl were the most brilliant and the most skilful manoeuvres of +Napoleon." Eckmühl ended with a fine exhibition of a "white arm" +mêlée by moonlight, in which the French proved the superiority of +their double cuirasses over the breastplates of the Austrians. +Pelet gives this useful abstract of the campaign of five days:-- + +_April 19th._--Union of the french army whilst fighting the Archduke, +whose base is already menaced. + +_April 20th._--Napoleon, at Abensberg and on the banks of the Laber, +breaks the Austrian line, totally separating the centre from the left, +which he causes to be turned by Massena. + +_April 21st._--He destroys their left wing at Landshut, and captures +the magazines, artillery, and train, as well as the communications of +the enemy's grand army, fixing definitely his own line of operations, +which he already directs on Vienna. + +_April 22nd._--He descends the Laber to Eckmühl, gives the last blow +to the Archduke's army, of which the remnant takes refuge in +Ratisbon. + +_april 23rd._--He takes that strong place, and forces the Archduke to +take refuge in the mountains of Bohemia. + + +No. 2. + +_May 6th._--On May 1st Napoleon was still at Braunau, waiting for news +from Davoust. Travelling by night at his usual speed he reached +Lambach at noon on May 2nd, and Wels on the 3rd. The next morning he +heard Massena's cannon at Ebersberg, but reaches the field at the fall +of night--too late to save the heavy cost of Massena's frontal attack. +The French lost at least 1500 killed and wounded; the Austrians (under +Hiller) the same number killed and 7000 prisoners. Pelet defends +Massena, and quotes the bulletin of May 4th (omitted from the +_Correspondence_): "It is one of the finest feats of arms of which +history can preserve the memory! The traveller will stop and say, 'It +is here, it is here, in these superb positions, that an army of 35,000 +Austrians was routed by two French divisions'" (Pelet, ii. 225). +Lejeune, and most writers, blame Massena, referring to the Emperor's +letter of May 1st in Pelet's Appendix (vol. ii.), but not in the +_Correspondence_. + +Between April 17th and May 6th there is no letter to Josephine +preserved, but plenty to Eugène, and all severe--not so much for +incapacity as for not keeping the Emperor advised of what was really +happening. On May 6th he had received no news for over a week. + +_The ball that touched me_--_i.e._ at Ratisbon. This was the second +time Napoleon had been wounded in battle--the first time by an +English bayonet at Toulon. On the present occasion (April 23rd) +Méneval seems to be the best authority: "Napoleon was seated on a +spot from which he could see the attack on the town of Ratisbon. He +was beating the ground with his riding-whip,[74] when a bullet, +supposed to have been fired from a Tyrolean carbine, struck him on the +big toe (Marbot says 'right ankle,' which is correct). The news of +his wound spread rapidly[75] from file to file, and he was forced +to mount on horseback to show himself to his troops. Although his +boot had not been cut the contusion was a very painful one," and in +the first house he went to for a moment's rest, he fainted. The next +day, however, he saw the wounded and reviewed his troops as usual, +and Lejeune has preserved a highly characteristic story, somewhat +similar to an experience of the Great Frederick's: "When he had +reached the seventh or eighth sergeant the Emperor noticed a +handsome young fellow with fine but stern-looking eyes and of +resolute and martial bearing, who made his musket ring again as he +presented arms. 'How many wounds?' inquired the Emperor. 'Thirty,' +replied the sergeant. 'I am not asking you your age,' said the Emperor +graciously; 'I am asking how many wounds you have received.' Raising +his voice, the sergeant again replied with the one word, 'Thirty.' +Annoyed at this reply, the Emperor turned to the colonel and said, +'The man does not understand; he thinks I am asking about his +age.' 'He understands well enough, sire,' was the reply; 'he has been +wounded thirty times.' 'What!' exclaimed the Emperor, 'you have been +wounded so often and have not got the cross!' The sergeant looked +down at his chest, and seeing that the strap of his cartridge-pouch +hid his decoration, he raised it so as to show the cross. He said +to the Emperor, with great earnestness, 'Yes, I've got one; but I've +merited a dozen!' The Emperor, who was always pleased to meet +spirited fellows such as this, pronounced the sacramental words, +'I make you an officer!' 'That's right, Emperor,' said the new +sub-lieutenant as he proudly drew himself up; 'you couldn't have +done better!'" + + +No. 3. + +Almost an exact duplicate of this letter goes on to Paris to +Cambacérès, as also of No. 4. The moment the Emperor had heard that +the Archduke had left Budweiss and was going by the circuitous route +_viâ_ Krems to Vienna, he left Enns (May 7th) and reached Moelk the +same evening. Seeing a camp of the enemy on the other side of the +river he sends Marbot with a sergeant and six picked men to kidnap a +few Austrians during the night. The foray is successful, and three are +brought before Napoleon, one weeping bitterly. The Emperor asked the +reason, and found it was because he had charge of his master's girdle, +and would be thought to have robbed him. The Emperor had him set free +and ferried across the river, saying, "We must honour and aid virtue +wherever it shows itself." The next day he started for Saint-Polten +(already evacuated by Hiller). On his way he saw the ruins of +Dirnstein Castle, where Richard Coeur de Lion had been imprisoned. The +Emperor's comments were interesting, but are now hackneyed, and are in +most histories and memoirs--the parent source being Pelet (vol. ii. +246). + + +No. 4. + +_Schoenbrunn_, situated a mile from Vienna, across the little river of +that name. Constant thus describes it: "Built in 1754 by the +Empress Marie Thérèse, Schoenbrunn had an admirable position; its +architecture, if defective and irregular, was yet of a majestic, +imposing type. To reach it one has to cross the bridge across the +little river Vienna. Four stone sphinxes ornament this bridge, which +is very large and well built. Facing the bridge there is a handsome +gate opening on to a large courtyard, spacious enough for seven or +eight thousand men to manoeuvre in. The courtyard is in the form +of a quadrangle surrounded by covered galleries and ornamented with +two large basins, in which are marble statues. On both sides of +the gateway are two huge obelisks of pink stone surmounted by gilt +eagles. + +"In German, Schoenbrunn means 'fair spring,' and the name is derived +from a fresh and sparkling spring which is situated in the park. It +wells forth from a little mound on which a tiny grotto has been built, +carved within so as to resemble stalactites. Inside the grotto is a +recumbent naiad holding a horn, from which the water falls down into a +marble basin. In summer this little nook is deliciously cool. + +"The interior of the palace merits nothing but praise. The furniture +is sumptuous, and in taste both original and distinguished. The +Emperor's bedroom (the only place in the whole edifice where there was +a chimney) was upholstered in Chinese lacquer-wood of great antiquity, +yet the painting and gilding were still quite fresh. The study +adjoining was decorated in a like way. All these apartments, except +the bedroom, were heated in winter by immense stoves, which sadly +spoilt the effect of the other furniture. Between the study and the +bedroom there was a strange apparatus called a 'flying chair,' a sort +of mechanical seat, which had been constructed for the Empress Marie +Thérèse, and which served to transport her from one floor to another, +so that she was not obliged to go up and down the staircase like every +one else. The machine was worked in the same way as at theatres, by +cords, pulleys, and a counter-weight." The Emperor drank a glassful +from the beautiful spring, Schoen Brunn, every morning. Napoleon found +the people of Vienna less favourable to the French than in 1805; and +Count Rapp told him "the people were everywhere tired of us and of our +victories." "He did not like these sort of reflections." + +_May 12th._--On May 13th is dated the _seventh_ bulletin of the +army of Germany, but none of the Bulletins 2 to 6 are in the +_Correspondence_. It states that on the 10th he is before Vienna; the +Archduke Maximilian refuses to surrender; on the 11th, at 9 P.M., the +bombardment commences, and by daybreak the city capitulated, and the +Archduke fled. In his proclamation Napoleon blamed him and the +house of Austria for the bombardment. "While fleeing from the city, +their adieux to the inhabitants have been murder and arson; like +Medea, they have with their own hands slain their children." The +Viennese had sworn to emulate their ancestors in 1683, and the heroes +of Saragossa. But Alison (than whom none can do the "big bow-wow" +style better) has a thoughtful comment on what really occurred. "All +history demonstrates that there is one stage of civilisation when the +inhabitants of a metropolis are capable of such a sacrifice in defence +of their country, and only one; and that when passed, it is never +recovered. The event has proved that the Russians, in 1812, were in +the state of progress when such a heroic act was possible, but +that the inhabitants of Vienna and Paris had passed it. Most +certainly the citizens of London would never have buried themselves +under the ruins of the Bank, the Treasury, or Leadenhall Street +before capitulating to Napoleon." 1870 and the siege of Paris modify +this judgment; but the Prussian bombardment came only at the last, +and barely reached the centre of the city. + + +No. 5. + +_Ebersdorf._--Written five days after the murderous battle of Essling. +Montgaillard, whose temper and judgment, as Alison remarks, are not +equal to his talents, cannot resist a covert sneer (writing under the +Bourbons) at Napoleon's generalship on this occasion, although he adds +a veneer by reminding us that Cæsar was defeated at Dyrrachium, +Turenne at Marienthal, Eugène at Denain, Frederick the Great at Kolin. +The crossing of the river was one which none but a victorious army, +with another[76] about to join it, could afford to risk, but which +having effected, the French had to make the best of. As Napoleon said +in his tenth bulletin, "The passage of a river like the Danube, in +front of an enemy knowing perfectly the localities, and having the +inhabitants on its side, is one of the greatest operations of war +which it is possible to conceive." The Danube hereabouts is a thousand +yards broad, and thirty feet deep. But the rising of its water +fourteen feet in three days was what no one had expected. At Ebersdorf +the first branch of the Danube was 500 yards across to an islet, +thence 340 yards across the main current to Lobau, the vast island +three miles broad and nearly three miles long, separated from the +farther bank by another 150 yards of Danube. Bertrand had made +excellent bridges, but on the 22nd the main one was carried away by a +floating mill. + +_Eugène ... has completely performed the task._--At the commencement +of the campaign the Viceroy was taken unprepared. The Archduke John, +exactly his own age (twenty-seven), was burning with hatred of France. +Eugène had the impudence, with far inferior forces, to attack him at +Sacile on April 16th, but was repulsed with a loss (including +prisoners) of 6000 men. It is now necessary to retire, and the +Archduke follows him leisurely, almost within sight of Verona. By the +end of April the news of Eckmühl has reached both armies, and by May +1st the Austrians are in full retreat. As usual, Napoleon has already +divined their altered plan of campaign, and writes from Braunau on +this very day, "I doubt not that the enemy may have retired before +you; it is necessary to pursue him with activity, whilst coming to +join me as soon as possible _viâ_ Carinthia. The junction with my army +will probably take place beyond Bruck. It is probable I shall be at +Vienna by the 10th to the 15th of May." It is the successful +performance of this task of joining him and of driving back the enemy +to which Napoleon alludes in the letter. The Viceroy had been reproved +for fighting at Sacile without his cavalry, for his precipitous +retreat on Verona; and only two days earlier the Emperor had told him +that if affairs went worse he was to send for the King of Naples +(Murat) to take command. "I am no longer grieved at the blunders you +have committed, but because you do not write to me, and give me no +chance of advising you, and even of regulating my own affairs here +conformably." On May 8th Eugène defeats the Austrians on the Piave, +and the Archduke John loses nearly 10,000 men and 15 cannon. Harassed +in their retreat, they regain their own territory on May 14th--the day +after the capitulation of Vienna. Henceforward Eugène with part of the +army, and Macdonald with the rest, force their way past all +difficulties, so that when the junction with the Grand Army occurs at +Bruck, Napoleon sends (May 27th) the following proclamation: "Soldiers +of the army of Italy, you have gloriously attained the goal that I +marked out for you.... Surprised by a perfidious enemy before your +columns were united, you had to retreat to the Adige. But when you +received the order to advance, you were on the memorable fields of +Arcola, and there you swore on the manes of our heroes to triumph. You +have kept your word at the battle of the Piave, at the combats of +San-Daniel, Tarvis, and Goritz; you have taken by assault the forts of +Malborghetto, of Prediel, and made the enemy's divisions, entrenched +in Prewald and Laybach, surrender. You had not then passed the Drave, +and already 25,000 prisoners, 60 cannon, and 10 flags signalised your +valour." This is the proclamation alluded to in this letter to +Josephine. + + +No. 6. + +_May 29th._--The date is wrong; it should be May 19th or 24th, +probably the latter. It sets at rest the vexed question how the Danube +bridge was broken, and seems to confirm Marbot's version of a floating +mill on fire, purposely sent down by an Austrian officer of Jägers, +who won the rare order of Maria Theresa thereby--for performing _more_ +than his duty. Bertrand gained his Emperor's lifelong admiration by +his expedients at this time. Everything had to be utilised--anchors +for the boat bridges were made by filling fishermen's baskets with +bullets; and a naval contingent of 1200 bluejackets from Antwerp +proved invaluable. + + +No. 7. + +_I have ordered the two princes to re-enter France._--After so +critical a battle as the battle of Essling the Emperor's first +thoughts were concerning his succession--had he been killed or +captured. He was therefore seriously annoyed that the heir-apparent +and his younger brother had both been taken out of the country without +his permission. He therefore writes the Queen of Holland on May 28th +from Ebersdorf: "My daughter, I am seriously annoyed that you have +left France without my permission, and especially that you have taken +my nephews out of it. Since you are at Baden stay there, but an hour +after receiving the present letter send my two nephews back to +Strasburg to be near the Empress--they ought never to go out of +France. It is the first time I have had reason to be annoyed with +you, but you should not dispose of my nephews without my permission, +you should realise what a bad effect it will have. Since the waters at +Baden are doing you good you can stay there a few days, but, I repeat, +lose not a moment in sending my nephews back to Strasburg. If the +Empress is going to the waters at Plombières they may accompany her +there, but they must never pass the bridge of Strasburg.--Your +affectionate father, Napoleon." This letter passed through the hands +of Josephine at Strasburg, who was so unhappy at not having heard from +her husband that she opened it, and writes to Hortense on June 1st +when forwarding the letter: "I advise you to write to him immediately +that you have anticipated his intentions, and that your children are +with me: that you have only had them a few days in order to see them, +and to give them a change of air. The page who is announced in +Méneval's letter has not yet arrived. I hope he will bring me a letter +from the Emperor, and that at least he will not be as vexed with me +for your being at Baden. Your children have arrived in excellent +health." + +_The Duke of Montebello, who died this morning._--The same day he +writes to La Maréchale as follows:-- + +"_Ma Cousine_,--The Marshal died this morning of the wounds that he +received on the field of honour. My sorrow equals yours. I lose the +most distinguished general in my whole army, my comrade-in-arms for +sixteen years, he whom I looked upon as my best friend. His family and +children will always have a special claim on my protection. It is to +give you this assurance that I wished to write you this letter, for I +feel that nothing can alleviate the righteous sorrow that you will +experience." The following year he bestowed the highest honour on the +Maréchale that she could receive. + +_Thus everything ends._--The fourteenth bulletin says that the end was +caused by a pernicious fever, and in spite of Dr. Franck, one of the +best physicians in Europe. "Thus ends one of the most distinguished +soldiers France ever possessed."[77] He had received thirteen wounds. +The death of Lannes, and the whole of the Essling period, is best +told by Marbot. The loss of Lannes was a more serious one to Napoleon +than the whole 20,000 men lost in this battle. The master himself has +told us that "in war men are nothing, a man is everything." They could +be replaced: Lannes never. Like Kléber and Desaix, he stood on a +higher platform than the older Marshals--except Massena, who had +serious drawbacks, and who was the only one of Napoleon's best +generals that Wellington met in the Peninsula. Lannes had always the +ear of the Emperor, and always told him facts, not flattery. His life +had been specially crowded the last few weeks. Rebuked by Napoleon for +tardiness in supporting Massena at Ebersberg, his life was saved by +Napoleon himself when he was thrown from his horse into the flooded +Danube; and finally, on the field of Essling, he had under his orders +Bessières, the man who had a dozen years before prevented his +engagement to Caroline Bonaparte by tittle-tattling to Napoleon. + + +No. 9. + +_Eugène won a battle._--The remnant of the Archduke John's army, +together with Hungarian levies, in all 31,000 men, hold the +entrenched camp and banks of the Raab. Eugène defeats it, with a +loss of 6000 men, of whom 3700 were prisoners. Napoleon, in +commemoration of the anniversary of Marengo (and Friedland) calls it +the little granddaughter of Marengo. + + +No. 11. + +The curtain of the war's final act was rung up in the twenty-fourth +bulletin. "At length there exists no longer the Danube for the French +army; General Count Bertrand has completed works which excite +astonishment and inspire admiration. For 800 yards over the most rapid +river in the world he has, in a fortnight, constructed a bridge of +sixteen arches where three carriages can pass abreast." + +_Wagram_ is, according to Pelet, the masterpiece of _tactical_ +battles, while the five days' campaign (Thann to Ratisbon) was one +long _strategic_ battle. Nevertheless, respecting Wagram, had the +Archduke John, with his 40,000 men, turned up, as the Archduke had +more right to expect than Wellington had to expect Blucher, Waterloo +might have been antedated six years. + +_Lasalle_ was a prime favourite of Napoleon, for his sure eye and +active bearing. His capture of Stettin with two regiments of hussars +was specially noteworthy. Like Lannes he had a strong premonition of +his death. Marbot tells a story of how Napoleon gave him 200,000 +francs to get married with. A week later the Emperor asked, "When is +the wedding?" "As soon as I have got some money to furnish with, +sire." "Why, I gave you 200,000 francs to furnish with last week! What +have you done with them?" "Paid my debts with half, and lost the other +half at cards." Such an admission would have ruined any other general. +The Emperor laughed, and merely giving a sharp tug at Lasalle's +moustache, ordered Duroc to give him another 200,000. + +_I am sunburnt_, and, as he writes Cambacérès the same day, tired out, +having been sixty out of the previous seventy-two hours in the +saddle. + + +No. 12. + +_Wolkersdorf._--On July 8th he writes General Clarke: "I have the +headquarters lately occupied by the craven Francis II., who contented +himself with watching the whole affair from the top of a tower, ten +miles from the scene of battle." On this day also he dictated his +twenty-fifth bulletin, of which the last portion is so skilfully +utilised in the last scene of Act V. in L'Aiglon. One concluding +sentence is all that can here be quoted: "Such is the recital of the +battle of Wagram, a decisive and ever illustrious battle, where three +to four hundred thousand men, twelve to fifteen hundred guns, fought +for great stakes on a field of battle, studied, meditated on, and +fortified by the enemy for many months." + +_A surfeit of bile._--His usual source of relief after extra work or +worry. In this case both. Bernadotte had behaved so badly at Wagram, +that Napoleon sent him to Paris with the stern rebuke, "A bungler like +you is no good to me." But as usual his anger against an old comrade +is short-lived, and he gives General Clarke permission to send +Bernadotte to command at Antwerp against the English. + + +No. 16. + +_My affairs follow my wishes._--In Austria, possibly, but not +elsewhere. Prussia was seething with conspiracy, Russia with +ill-concealed hatred, the English had just landed in Belgium, and +Wellesley had just won Talavera. Soult was apparently no longer +trustworthy, Bernadotte a conceited boaster, who had to be publicly +snubbed (see The Order of the Day, August 5th, No. 15,614). Clarke and +Cambacérès are so slow that Napoleon writes them (August 10th) "not to +let the English come and take you in bed." Fouché shows more energy +than every one else put together, calls out National Guards, and sends +them off to meet the northern invasion. The Minister of the Interior, +M. Cretet, had just died, and the Emperor had wisely put Fouché, the +most competent man available, into his place for the time being. + + +No. 17. + +_August 21st._--The list of birthday honours (August 15th) had been a +fairly long one, Berthier becoming Prince of Wagram, Massena of +Essling, Davoust of Eckmühl. Marshals Oudinot and Macdonald, Generals +Clarke, Reynier, Gaudin and Champagny, as also M. Maret, became Dukes. +Marmont had already, says Savary, been made delirious with the joy of +possessing a bâton. + + +No. 18. + +_Comedians._--Napoleon found relaxation more after his own heart in +conversing with the savants of Germany, including the great mechanic +Mäelzel, with whose automaton chess-player he played a game. Constant +gives a highly-coloured picture of the sequel: "The automaton was +seated before a chess-board, and the Emperor, taking a chair opposite +the figure, said laughingly, 'Now, my friend, we'll have a game.' The +automaton, bowing, made signs for the Emperor to begin. After two or +three moves the Emperor made a wrong one on purpose; the automaton +bowed and replaced the piece on the board. His Majesty cheated again, +when the automaton bowed again, but this time took the pawn. 'Quite +right,' said his Majesty, as he promptly cheated for the third time. +The automaton then shook its head, and with one sweep of its hand +knocked all the chessmen down." + +_Women ... not having been presented._--One woman, however, the +mistress of Lord Paget, was quite willing to be presented at a late +hour and to murder him at the same time--at least so says Constant. + + +No. 19. + +_All this is very suspicious._--For perfectly natural reasons Cæsar's +wife was now above suspicion, but Cæsar himself was not so. Madame +Walewski had been more than a month at Schoenbrunn, and on May 4th, +1810, Napoleon has a second son born, who fifty years later helped to +edit his father's _Correspondence_. + + +No. 20. + +_Krems._--He left here to review Davoust's corps on the field of +Austerlitz. Afterwards all the generals dined with him, and the +Emperor said, "This is the second time I come upon the field of +Austerlitz; shall I come to it a third time?" "Sire," replied one, +"from what we see every day none dare wager that you will not!" It was +this suppressed hatred that probably determined the Emperor to +dismantle the fortifications of Vienna, an act that intensified the +hatred of the Viennese more than his allowing the poor people to help +themselves to wood for the winter in the imperial forests had +mollified them. + +_My health has never been better._--His reason for this remark is +found in his letter to Cambacérès of the same date, "They have spread +in Paris the rumour that I was ill, I know not why; I was never +better." The reason of the rumour was that Corvisart had been sent for +to Vienna, as there had been an outbreak of dysentery among the +troops. This was kept a profound secret from France, and Napoleon even +allowed Josephine to think that Corvisart had attended him (see Letter +22). + + +No. 23. + +_October 14th._--Two days before, Stabs, the young Tugendbundist and +an admirer of Joan of Arc, had attempted to assassinate Napoleon on +parade with a carving-knife. The Emperor's letter to Fouché of the +12th October gives the most succinct account:-- + +"A youth of seventeen, son of a Lutheran minister of Erfurt, sought to +approach me on parade to-day. He was arrested by the officers, and as +the little man's agitation had been noticed, suspicion was aroused; he +was searched, and a dagger found upon him. I had him brought before +me, and the little wretch, who seemed to me fairly well educated, told +me that he wished to assassinate me to deliver Austria from the +presence of the French. I could distinguish in him neither religious +nor political fanaticism. He did not appear to know exactly who or +what Brutus was. The fever of excitement he was in prevented our +knowing more. He will be examined when he has cooled down and fasted. +It is possible that it will come to nothing. He will be arraigned +before a military commission. + +"I wished to inform you of this circumstance in order that it may not +be made out more important than it appears to be. I hope it will not +leak out; if it does, we shall have to represent the fellow as a +madman. If it is not spoken of at all, keep it to yourself. The whole +affair made no disturbance at the parade; I myself saw nothing of it. + +"_P.S._--I repeat once more, and you understand clearly, that there is +to be no discussion of this occurrence." + +Count Rapp saved the Emperor's life on this occasion, and he, Savary, +and Constant, all give detailed accounts. Their narratives are a +remarkable object-lesson of the carelessness of the average +contemporary spectator in recording dates. Savary gives vaguely the +end of September, Constant October 13th, and Count Rapp October 23rd. +In the present case the date of this otherwise trivial incident is +important, for careless historians assert that it influenced Napoleon +in concluding peace. In any case it would have taken twenty such +occurrences to affect Napoleon one hairbreadth, and in the present +instance his letter of October 10th to the Russian Emperor proves that +the Peace was already settled--all but the signing. + + +No. 24. + +_Stuttgard._--General Rapp describes this journey as follows: "Peace +was ratified. We left Nymphenburg and arrived at Stuttgard. Napoleon +was received in a style of magnificence, and was lodged in the palace +together with his suite. The King was laying out a spacious garden, +and men who had been condemned to the galleys were employed to labour +in it. The Emperor asked the King who the men were who worked in +chains; he replied that they were for the most part rebels who had +been taken in his new possessions. We set out on the following day. On +the way Napoleon alluded to the unfortunate wretches whom he had seen +at Stuttgard. 'The King of Würtemberg,' said he, 'is a very harsh man; +but he is very faithful. Of all the sovereigns in Europe he possesses +the greatest share of understanding.' + +"We stopped for an hour at Rastadt, where the Princess of Baden and +Princess Stephanie had arrived for the purpose of paying their +respects to the Emperor. The Grand Duke and Duchess accompanied him as +far as Strasburg. On his arrival in that city he received despatches +which again excited his displeasure against the Faubourg St. Germain. +We proceeded to Fontainebleau; no preparations had been made for the +Emperor's reception; there was not even a guard on duty." + +This was on October 26th, at 10 A.M. Méneval asserts that Napoleon's +subsequent bad temper was feigned. In any case, the meeting--that +moment so impatiently awaited--was a very bad _quart d'heure_ for +Josephine, accentuated doubtless by Fouché's report of bad conduct on +the part of the ladies of St. Germain. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [70] This Archduke was the "international man" at this juncture. Louis + Bonaparte speaks of a society at Saragossa, of which the object + was to make the Archduke Charles king of Spain. + + [71] These Adelphes or Philadelphes were the socialists or educated + anarchists of that day. They wished for the _statu quo_ before + Napoleon became supreme ruler. They had members in his army, + and it seems quite probable that Bernadotte gave them passive + support. General Oudet was their recognised head, and he died + under suspicious circumstances after Wagram. The society was, + unlike the Carbonari, anti-Catholic. + + [72] Pelet, vol. i. 127. + + [73] Pelet, vol. i. 282. + + [74] "Gaily asking his staff to breakfast with him" (Pelet). + + [75] Lejeune says "some hours afterwards." + + [76] Eugène's. + + [77] "What a loss for France and for me," groaned Napoleon, as he left + his dead friend. + + + + +SERIES M + + +No. 1. + +According to the _Correspondence of Napoleon I._, No. 16,058, the date +of this letter is December 17th. It seems, however, possible that it +is the letter written immediately after his arrival at Trianon, +referred to by Méneval, who was, in fact, responsible for it. +Thiers, working from unpublished memoirs of Hortense and Cambacérès, +gives a most interesting account of the family council, held at 9 +P.M. on Friday, December 15th, at the Tuileries. Constant also +describes the scene, but gives the Empress credit for showing the +most self-command of those chiefly interested. The next day, 11 A.M., +Count Lacépède introduced the resolutions of the family council to the +Senatus-Consultus.[78] "It is to-day that, more than ever before, +the Emperor has proved that he wishes to reign only to serve his +subjects, and that the Empress has merited that posterity should +associate her name with that of Napoleon." He pointed out that +thirteen of Napoleon's predecessors had broken the bonds of matrimony +in order to fulfil better those of sovereign, and that among these +were the most admired and beloved of French monarchs--Charlemagne, +Philip Augustus, Louis XII. and Henry IV. This speech and the Decrees +(carried by 76 votes to 7) are found in the _Moniteur_ of December +17th, which Napoleon considers sufficiently authentic to send to his +brother Joseph as a full account of what occurred, and with no +further comment of his own but that it was the step which he thought +it his duty to take. The Decrees of the Committee of the Senate +were:--"(1) The marriage contracted between the Emperor Napoleon and +the Empress Josephine is dissolved. (2) The Empress Josephine will +retain the titles and rank of a crowned Empress-Queen.[79] (3) Her +jointure is fixed at an annual revenue of £80,000 from the public +treasury.[80] (4) Every provision which may be made by the Emperor +in favour of the Empress Josephine, out of the funds of the Civil +List, shall be obligatory on his successors." They added separate +addresses to the Emperor and Empress, and that to the latter seems +worthy of quotation:--"Your Imperial and Royal Majesty is about +to make for France the greatest of sacrifices; history will preserve +the memory of it for ever. The august spouse of the greatest of +monarchs cannot be united to his immortal glory by more heroic +devotion. For long, Madame, the French people has revered your +virtues; it holds dear that loving kindness which inspires your every +word, as it directs your every action; it will admire your sublime +devotion; it will award for ever to your Majesty, Empress and +Queen, the homage of gratitude, respect, and love." + +From a letter of Eugène's to his wife, quoted by Aubenas, it +appears that he, with his mother, arrived at Malmaison on Saturday +evening,[81] December 16th, and that it never ceased raining all +the next day, which added to the general depression, in spite of, or +because of, Eugène's bad puns. On the evening of the 16th Napoleon +was at Trianon, writing letters, and we cannot think that if the +Emperor had been to Malmaison on the Sunday,[82] Eugène would have +included this without comment in the "some visits" they had +received. The Emperor, as we see from the next letter, paid +Josephine a visit on the Monday. + + +No. 2. + +The date of this is Tuesday, December 19th, while No. 3 is Wednesday +the 20th. + +_Savary_, always unpopular with the Court ladies, has now nothing but +kind words for Josephine. "She quitted the Court, but the Court did +not quit her; it had always loved her, for never had any one been so +kind.... She never injured any one in the time of her power; she +protected even her enemies"--such as Fouché at this juncture, and +Lucien earlier. "During her stay at Malmaison, the highroad from Paris +to this château was only one long procession, in spite of the bad +weather; every one considered it a duty to present themselves at least +once a week." Later, Marie Louise became jealous of this, and poor +Josephine had to go to the château of Navarre, and finally to leave +France. + +_Queen of Naples._--For some reason Napoleon had not wanted this +sister at Paris this winter, and had written her to this effect from +Schoenbrunn on October 15th. "If you were not so far off, and the +season so advanced, I would have asked Murat to spend two months in +Paris. But you cannot be there before December, which is a horrible +season, especially for a Neapolitan."[83] But sister Caroline, "with +the head of a Cromwell on the shoulders of a pretty woman," was not +easy to lead; and her husband had in consequence to bear the full +weight of the Emperor's displeasure. Murat's finances were in +disorder, and Napoleon wrote Champagny on December 30th to tell Murat +plainly that if the borrowed money was not returned to France, it +would be taken by main force.[84] + +_The hunt._--In pouring rain, in the forest of St. Germain. + + +No. 4. + +Thursday, December 21st, is the date. + +_The weather is very damp._--Making Malmaison as unhealthy as its +very name warranted, and rendering more difficult the task which +Madame de Rémusat had set herself of resting Josephine mentally by +tiring her physically. This typical toady--Napoleon's Eavesdropper +Extraordinary--had arrived at Malmaison on December 18th. She +writes on the Friday (December 22nd), beseeching her husband to +advise the Emperor to moderate the tone of his letters, especially +this one (Thursday, December 21st), which had upset Josephine +frightfully. Surely a more harmless letter was never penned. But +it is the Rémusat all over; she lives in a chronic atmosphere of +suspicion that all her letters are read by the Emperor, and +therefore, like Stevenson's nursery rhymes, they are always written +with "one eye on the grown-up person"[85]--on the grown-up person +_par excellence_ of France and the century. The opening of letters by +the government was doubtless a blemish, which, however, Napoleon +tried to neutralise by entrusting the Post Office to his wife's +relative, Lavalette, a man whose ever-kind heart prevented this +necessary espionage degenerating into unnecessary interference +with individual rights. + + +No. 5. + +Date probably Sunday, December 24th. + +_King of Bavaria._--Eugène had gone to Meaux to meet his father-in-law, +who had put off the "dog's humour" which he had shown since the 16th. + + +No. 6. + +Josephine had gone by special invitation to dine at the little Trianon +with Napoleon on Christmas Day, and Madame d'Avrillon says she had a +very happy day there. "On her return she told me how kind the Emperor +had been to her, that he had kept her all the evening, saying the +kindest things to her." Aubenas says, "The repast was eaten in silence +and gloom," but does not give his authority. Eugène, moreover, +confirms Madame d'Avrillon in his letter to his wife of December 26th: +"My dear Auguste, the Emperor came on Sunday to see the Empress. +Yesterday she went to Trianon to see him, and stayed to dinner. The +Emperor was very kind and amiable to her, and she seemed to be much +better. Everything points to the Empress being more happy in her new +position, and we also." On this Christmas Day Napoleon had his last +meal with Josephine. + + +No. 7. + +_Tuileries._--His return from Trianon to this, his official residence, +made the divorce more apparent to every one. + + +No. 8. + +_A house vacant in Paris._--This seems a hint for Josephine. She +wishes to come to Paris, to the Élysée, and to try a little diplomacy +of her own in favour of the Austrian match, and she sends secretly to +Madame de Metternich--whose husband was absent. Eugène more officially +is approaching Prince Schwartzenberg, the ambassador. Josephine, like +Talleyrand, wished to heal the schism with Rome by an Austrian +alliance; while Cambacérès, foreseeing a war with the power not allied +by marriage, would have preferred the Russian match. + + +No. 9. + +Thursday, January 4th. + +_Hortense._--Louis had tried to obtain a divorce. Cambacérès was +ordered on December 22nd to summon a family council (_New Letters of +Napoleon I._, No. 234); but the wish of the King was refused +(verbally, says Louis in his _Historical Documents of Holland_), +whereupon he refused to agree to Josephine's divorce, but had to give +way, and was present at what he calls the farewell festival given by +the city of Paris to the Empress Josephine on January 1st. The +ecclesiastical divorce was pronounced on January 12th. + + +No. 10. + +January 5th. He duly visits Josephine the next day. + + +No. 11. + +January 7th is the date. + +_What charms your society has._--Her repertoire of small talk and +scandal. He had also lost in her his Agenda, his Journal of Paris. +Still the visits are growing rarer. This long kind letter was +doubtless intended to be specially so, for two days later the clergy +of Paris pronounced the annulment of her marriage. This was far worse +than the pronouncement by the Senate in December, as it meant to her +that she and Napoleon had never been properly married at all. The +Emperor, who hated divorces, and especially _divorcées_, had found +great difficulty in breaking down the barriers he had helped to build, +for which purpose _he_ had to be subordinated to his own Senate, _the +Pope_ to his own bishops. Seven of them allowed the annulment of the +marriage of 1804 on account of (1) its secrecy, (2) the insufficiency +of consent of the contracting parties, and (3) the absence of the +local parish priest at the ceremony. The last reason was merely a +technical one; but with respect to the first two it is only fair to +admit that Napoleon had undoubtedly, and perhaps for the only time in +his life, been completely "rushed," _i.e._ by the Pope and Josephine. +The coronation ceremony was waiting, and the Pope, secretly solicited +by Josephine, insisted on a religious marriage first and foremost. The +Pope suffered forthwith, but the other bill of costs was not exacted +till five years after date. + + +No. 12. + +Wednesday, January 12th. + +_King of Westphalia._--Madame Durand (_Napoleon and Marie Louise_) +says that, forced to abandon his wife (the beautiful and energetic +Miss Paterson) and child, Jerome "had vowed he would never have any +relations with a wife who had been thus forced upon him." For three +years he lavished his attentions upon almost all the beauties of the +Westphalian court. The queen, an eye-witness of this conduct, bore it +with mild and forbearing dignity; she seemed to see and hear nothing; +in short, her demeanour was perfect. The king, touched by her +goodness, weary of his conquests, and repentant of his behaviour, was +only anxious for an opportunity of altering the state of things. +Happily the propitious moment presented itself. The right wing of the +palace of Cassel, in which the queen's apartments were situated, took +fire; alarmed by the screams of her women the queen awoke and sprang +out of her bed, to be caught in the arms of the king and carried to a +place of safety. From that time forth the royal couple were united and +happy. + + +No. 13. + +Saturday, January 13th. + +_Sensible._--This was now possible after a month's mourning. In the +early days, according to Madame Rémusat, her mind often wandered, But +Napoleon himself encouraged the Court to visit her, and the road to +Malmaison was soon a crowded one. As the days passed, however, life +became sadly monotonous. Reading palled on Josephine, as did whist and +the daily feeding of her golden pheasants and guinea-fowls. Remained +"Patience"! Was it the "General" she played or the "Emperor," or did +she find distraction in the "Demon"? + + +No. 14. + +_D'Audenarde._--Napoleon's handsome equerry, whom Mlle. d'Avrillon +calls "un homme superbe." His mother was Josephine's favourite _dame +du palais_. Madame Lalaing, Viscountess d'Audenarde, _née_ Peyrac, was +one of the old régime who had been ruined by the Revolution. + + +No. 16. + +Tuesday, January 23rd. + +On January 21st a Privy Council was summoned to approve of Marie +Louise as their "choice of a consort, who may give an heir to the +throne" (Thiers). Cambacérès, Fouché, and Murat wished for the Russian +princess; Lebrun, Cardinal Fesch, and King Louis for a Saxon one; but +Talleyrand, Champagny, Maret, Berthier, Fontanes were for Austria. + + +No. 17. + +Sunday, January 28th. + + +No. 18. + +Josephine had heard she was to be banished from Paris, and so had +asked to come to the Élysée to prove the truth or otherwise of the +rumour. + +_L'Élysée._--St. Amand gives the following interesting _précis_: +"Built by the Count d'Evreux in 1718, it had belonged in succession to +the Marchioness de Pompadour, to the financier Beaujon, a Croesus of +the eighteenth century, and to the Duchesse de Bourbon. Having, under +the Revolution, become national property, it had been hired by the +caterers of public entertainments, who gave it the name of L'Élysée. +In 1803 it became the property of Murat, who, becoming King of Naples, +ceded it to Napoleon in 1808. Here Napoleon signed his second +abdication, here resided Alexander I. in 1815, and here Josephine's +grandson effected the _Coup d'État_ (1851). When the Senatus-Consultus +fixed the revenue of Josephine, Napoleon not only gave her whatever +rights he had in Malmaison, viz., at least 90 per cent. of the total +cost, but the palace of the Élysée, its gardens and dependencies, with +the furniture then in use." The latter residence was, however, for her +life only. + + +No. 19. + +February 3rd is the date. + +_L'Élysée._--After the first receptions the place is far worse than +Malmaison. Schwartzenberg, Talleyrand, the Princess Pauline, Berthier, +even her old friend Cambacérès are giving balls,[86] while the Emperor +goes nearly every night to a theatre. The carriages pass by the +Élysée, but do not stop. "It is as if the palace were in quarantine, +with the yellow flag floating." + + +No. 20. + +_Bessières' country-house._--M. Masson says Grignon, but unless this +house is called after the château of that name in Provence, he must be +mistaken. + + +No. 21. + +_Rambouillet._--He had taken the Court with him, and was there from +February 19th to the 23rd, the date of this letter. While there he had +been in the best of humours. On his return he finds it necessary to +write his future wife and to her father--and to pen a legible letter +to the latter gives him far more trouble than winning a battle against +the Austrians, if not assisted by General Danube. + +_Adieu._--Sick and weary, Josephine returns to Malmaison, Friday, +March 9th, and even this is not long to be hers, for the new Empress +is almost already on her way. The marriage at Vienna took place on +March 11th, with her uncle Charles,[87] the hero of Essling, for +Napoleon's proxy; on the 13th she leaves Vienna, and on the 23rd +reaches Strasbourg. On the 27th she meets Napoleon at Compiègne, +spends three days with him in the château there, and arrives at St. +Cloud on April 1st, where the civil marriage is renewed, followed by +the triumphal entry into Paris, and the religious ceremony on April +2nd. This day Josephine reaches the château of Navarre. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [78] By here subordinating himself to the Senate, the Emperor was + preparing a rod for his own back hereafter. + + [79] This clause gives considerable trouble to Lacépède and Regnauld. + They cannot even find a precedent whether, if they met, + Josephine or Marie Louise would take precedence of the other. + + [80] In addition to this, Napoleon gives her £40,000 a year from his + privy purse, but keeps most of it back for the first two years + to pay her 120 creditors. (For interesting details see Masson, + _Josephine Répudiée_.) + + [81] Which agrees with Madame d'Avrillon, who says they left the + Tuileries at 2.30. Méneval says Napoleon left for Trianon a few + hours later. Savary writes erroneously that they left the + following morning. + + [82] M. Masson seems to indicate a visit on December 16th, but does + not give his authority (_Josephine Repudiée_, 114). + + [83] _Correspondence of Napoleon I._, No. 15,952. + + [84] _New Letters of Napoleon_, 1898. + + [85] Canon Ainger's comparison. + + [86] See Baron Lejeune for an interesting account of a chess quadrille + at a dance given by the Italian Minister, Marescalchi. + + + + +SERIES N + + +_Navarre_, on the site of an old dwelling of Rollo the Sea-King, was +built by Jeanne of France, Queen of Navarre, Countess of Evreux. At +the time of the Revolution it belonged to the Dukes of Bouillon, and +was confiscated. In February 1810, Napoleon determined to purchase it, +and on March 10th instructed his secretary of state, Maret, to confer +the Duchy of Navarre, purchased by letters patent, on Josephine and +her heirs male. The old square building was, however, utterly unfit to +be inhabited: not a window would shut, there was neither paper nor +tapestry, all the wainscoting was rotten, draughts and damp +everywhere, and no heating apparatus.[88] What solace to know its +beautiful situation, its capabilities? No wonder if her household, +banished to such a place, sixty-five miles from the "capital of +capitals," should rebel, and secessions headed by Madame Ney become +for a time general. Whist and piquet soon grow stale in such a house +and with such surroundings, and even _trictrac_ with the old bishop of +Evreux becomes tedious. Eugène as usual brings sunshine in his path, +and helps to dispel the gloom caused by the idle gossip imported from +Paris--that Josephine is not to return to Malmaison, and the like. + + +No. 1. + +This was Josephine's second letter, says D'Avrillon, the first being +answered _vivâ voce_ by Eugène. + +_To Malmaison._--Napoleon had promised Josephine permission to return +to Malmaison, and would not recant: his new wife was, however, very +jealous of Josephine, and very much hurt at her presence at Malmaison. +Napoleon managed to be away from Paris for six weeks after Josephine's +arrival at Malmaison. + + +No. 1A. + +_It is written in a bad style._--M. Masson, however, is loud in +its praises, and adds, "Voilà donc le protocol du tutoiement" +re-established between them in spite of the second marriage, and +their correspondence re-established on the old terms. + + +No. 2. + +This letter seems to have been taken by Eugène to Paris, and thence +forwarded to the Emperor with a letter from that Prince in which he +enumerates Josephine's suggestions and wishes--(1) that she will not +go to Aix-la-Chapelle if other waters are suggested by Corvisart; +(2) that after stopping a few days at Malmaison she will go in June +for three months to the baths, and afterwards to the south of +France; visit Rome, Florence, and Naples incognito, spend the winter +at Milan, and return to Malmaison and Navarre in the spring of +1811; (3) that in her absence Navarre shall be made habitable, for +which fresh funds are required; (4) that Josephine wishes her +cousins the Taschers to marry, one a relative of King Joseph, the +other the Princess Amelie de la Leyen, niece of the Prince Primate. +To this Napoleon replies from Compiègne, April 26th, that the De Leyen +match with Louis Tascher may take place,[89] but that he will not +interest himself in the other (Henry) Tascher, who is giddy-headed +and bad-tempered. "I consent to whatever the Empress does, but I will +not confer any mark of my regard on a person who has behaved ill +to me. I am very glad that the Empress likes Navarre. I am giving +orders to have £12,000 which I owe her for 1810, and £12,000 for 1811 +advanced to her. She will then have only the £80,000 from the public +treasury to come in.... She is free to go to whatever spa she cares +for, and even to return to Paris afterwards." He thinks, however, she +would be happier in new scenes which they had never visited together, +as they had Aix-la-Chapelle. If, however, the last are the best she +may go to them, for "what I desire above all is that she may keep +calm, and not allow herself to be excited by the gossip of Paris." +This letter goes far to soothe the poor châtelaine of Navarre. + + +No. 2A. + +_Two letters._--The other, now missing, may have some reference to the +pictures to which he refers in his letter to Fouché the next day. "Is +it true that engravings are being published with the title of +_Josephine Beauharnais née La Pagerie_? If this is true, have the +prints seized, and let the engravers be punished" (_New Letters_, No. +253). + + +No. 3. + +Probably written from Boulogne about the 25th. His northern tour +with Marie Louise had been very similar to one taken in 1804, +but his _entourage_ found the new bride very cold and callous +compared to Josephine. Leaving Paris on April 29th Napoleon's +_Correspondence_ till June is dated Laeken (April 30th); Antwerp +(May 3rd); Bois-le-Duc; Middleburg, Gand, Bruges, Ostend (May +20th); Lille, Boulogne, Dieppe, Le Havre, Rouen (May 31st). He +takes the Empress in a canal barge from Brussels to Malines and +himself descends the subterranean vault of the Escaut-Oise canal, +between St. Quentin and Cambrai. He is at St. Cloud on June 2nd. + +Josephine has felt his wanderings less, as she has the future +Emperor, her favourite grandson, with her, the little Oui-Oui, as she +calls him, and for whom the damp spring weather of Holland was +dangerous. She was also at Malmaison from the middle of May to June +18th. The original collection of _Letters_ (Didot Frères, 1833) heads +the letter correctly to the Empress Josephine at _Malmaison_, but the +_Correspondence_, published by order of Napoleon III., gives it +erroneously, to the Empress Josephine, _at the Château of Navarre_ +(No. 16,537). + +_I will come to see you._--He comes for two hours on June 13th, and +makes himself thoroughly agreeable. Poor Josephine is light-headed +with joy all the evening after. The meeting of the two Empresses +is, however, indefinitely postponed, and Josephine had now no +further reason to delay her departure. Leaving her little grandson +Louis behind, she travels under the name of the Countess d'Arberg, +and she is accompanied by Madame d'Audenarde and Mlle. de Mackau, who +left the Princess Stephanie to come to Navarre. M. Masson notes that +Madame de Rémusat needs the Aix waters, and will rejoin Josephine +(within a week), under pretext of service, and thus obtain her +cure gratuitously. They go _viâ_ Lyons and Geneva to Aix-les-Bains. +M. Masson, who has recently made a careful and complete study of +this period, describes the daily round. "Josephine, on getting out +of bed, takes conscientiously her baths and douches, then, as usual, +lies down again until _déjeuner_, 11 A.M., for which the whole of the +little Court are assembled at _The Palace_--wherever she lives, and +however squalid the dwelling-place, her abode always bears this name. +Afterwards she and her women-folk ply their interminable tapestry, +while the latest novel or play (sent by Barbier from Paris) is read +aloud. And so the day passes till five, when they dress for dinner at +six; after dinner a ride. At nine the Empress's friends assemble in +her room, Mlle. de Mackau sings; at eleven every one goes to bed." +This programme, however, varies with the weather. Here is St. +Amand's version (_Dernières Années de l'Impératrice Joséphine_, p. +237): "A little reading in the morning, an airing (_le promenade_) +afterwards, dinner at eight on account of the heat, games afterwards, +and some little music; so passed existence." + + +No. 4. + +_July 8th._--On July 5th, driving along the Chambéry road, Josephine +met the courier with a letter from Eugène describing the terrible fire +at Prince Schwartzenberg's ball, where the Princess de la Leyen, +mother of young Taschre's bride-elect, was burnt. It is noteworthy +that the Emperor makes no allusion to the conflagration. As, however, +this is the first letter since the end of May, others may have been +lost or destroyed. + +_You will have seen Eugène_--_i.e._ on his way to Milan, who arrived +at Aix on July 10th. He had just been made heir to the Grand Duchy of +Frankfort--a broad hint to him and to Europe that Italy would be +eventually united to France under Napoleon's dynasty. This was the +nadir of the Beauharnais family--Josephine _repudiée_, Hortense +unqueened and unwed,[90] and Eugène's expectations dissipated, and all +within a few short months. Eugène had left his wife ill at Geneva, +whither Josephine goes to visit her the next day, duly reporting her +visit to Napoleon in her letter of July 14th (see No. 5). Geneva was +always the home of the disaffected, and so the Empress had to be +specially tactful, and the De Rémusat reports: "She speaks of the +Emperor as of a brother, of the new Empress as the one who will give +children to France, and if the rumours of the latter's condition be +correct, I am certain she will be delighted about it." + +_That unfortunate daughter is coming to France_--_i.e._ to reside when +she is not at St. Leu (given to her by Napoleon) or at the waters. On +the present occasion she has been at Plombières a month or more. On +July 10th Napoleon instructs the Countess de Boubers to bring the +Grand Duke of Berg to Paris, "whom he awaits with impatience" +(_Brotonne_, 625). + + +No. 5. + +_The conduct of the King of Holland has worried me._--This was in +March, and by May the crisis was still more acute and Napoleon's +patience exhausted. On May 20th he writes: "Before all things be a +Frenchman and the Emperor's brother, and then you may be sure you are +in the path of the true interests of Holland. Good sense and policy +are necessary to the government of states, not sour unhealthy bile." +And three days later: "Write me no more of your customary twaddle; +three years now it has been going on, and every instant proves its +falsehood! This is the last letter I shall ever write you in my +life." + +Louis at one time determined on war, and rather than surrender +Amsterdam, to cut the dykes. The Emperor hears of this, summons his +brother, and practically imprisons him until he countermands the +defence of Amsterdam. + +On July 1st Louis abdicated and fled to Toeplitz in Bohemia. Napoleon +is terribly grieved at the conduct of his brother, who would never +realise that the effective Continental blockade was Napoleon's last +sheet-anchor to force peace upon England. + + +No. 6. + +_To die in a lake_--_i.e._ the Lake of Bourget, shut in by the Dent du +Chat, where a white squall had nearly capsized the sailing boat. +Josephine had been on July 26th to visit the abbey Haute-Combe, place +of sepulture of the Princes of Savoy, and the storm had overtaken her +on the return voyage. + + +No. 8. + +_Paris, this Friday._--A very valuable note of M. Masson (_Josephine +Repudiée_, 198) enables us to fix this letter at its correct date. He +says: "It has to do with the exile of Madame de la T---- (viz., the +Princess Louis de la Trémoille), which takes place on September 28th, +1810, and this 28th September is also a Friday: there is also the +question of Mlle. de Mackau being made a baroness" (and this lady had +not joined the Court of Josephine till May 1810); "lastly, the B---- +mentioned therein can only be Barante, the Prefect, whose dismissal +(from Geneva) almost coincides with this letter." It may be added +that the La Trémoille family was one of the oldest in France, allied +with the Condés, and consequently with the Bourbons. Barante's fault +had been connivance at the letters and conduct of Madame de Staël. + + +No. 9. + +_The only suitable places ... are either Milan or Navarre._--Milan had +been her own suggestion conveyed by Eugène, but Napoleon, two months +later, had told her she could spend the winter in France, and in spite +of danger signals ("inspired by diplomacy rather than devotion" [91]) +from Madame de Rémusat (in her fulsome and tedious "despatch" sent +from Paris in September, and probably inspired by the Emperor himself) +she manages to get to Navarre, and even to spend the first fortnight +of November at Malmaison. Before leaving Switzerland Josephine refuses +to risk an interview with Madame de Staël. "In the first book she +publishes she will not fail to report our conversation, and heaven +knows how many things she will make me say that I have never even +thought of." + + +No. 10. + +In spite of the heading Josephine was at Malmaison on this day, and +Napoleon writes Cambacérès: "My cousin, the Empress Josephine not +leaving for Navarre till Monday or Tuesday, I wish you to pay her a +visit. You will let me know on your return how you find her" +(_Brotonne_,721). The real reason is to hasten her departure, and she +gets to Navarre November 22nd (Thursday). + +_The Empress progresses satisfactorily._--Napoleon writes to this +effect to her father, the Emperor of Austria, on the same day: "The +Empress is very well.... It is impossible that the wife for whom I am +indebted to you should be more perfect. Moreover, I beg your Majesty +to rest assured that she and I are equally attached to you." + + +FOOTNOTES + + [87] On this occasion Baron Lejeune sees the Archduke Charles, and + remarks: "There was nothing in his quiet face with its grave + and gentle expression, or in his simple, modest, unassuming + manner, to denote the mighty man of war; but no one who met his + eyes could doubt him to be a genius." + + [88] "This gloomy and forsaken château," says St. Amand, "whose only + attraction was the half-forgotten memory of its vanished + splendours, was a fit image of the woman who came to seek + sanctuary there." + + [89] He endows the husband with £4000 a year, and the title of Count + Tascher. + + [90] "Une épouse sans époux, et une reine sans royaume"--St. Amand. + + [91] Aubenas. + + + + +SERIES O + + +No. 1. + +_The New Year._--On this occasion, instead of her usual gifts +(_étrennes_) she organised a lottery of jewels, of which Madame +Ducrest gives a full account. Needless to say, Josephine worked the +oracle so that every one got a suitable gift--including the old Bishop +(see next note). + +_More women than men._--The Bishop of Evreux (Mgr. Bourlier) was the +most welcome guest. He amused Josephine, and although eighty years of +age, could play _trictrac_ and talk well on any subject. Madame de +Rémusat wrote her husband concerning him, "We understand each other +very well, he and I." + +_Keep well._--At Navarre Josephine lost her headaches, and put on +flesh. + + +No. 2. + +There is a full account of the birth of the King of Rome in Napoleon's +letter to the Emperor of Austria on March 20 (No. 17,496). The letter +of this date to Josephine is missing, but is referred to by +D'Avrillon. It began, "My dear Josephine, I have a son. I am _au +comble de bonheur_." + +_Eugène._--Josephine much appreciated this allusion. "Is it possible," +she said, "for any one to be kinder than the Emperor, and more anxious +to mitigate whatever might be painful for me at the present moment, if +I loved him less sincerely? This association of my son with his own is +well worthy of him who, when he likes, is the most fascinating of all +men." She gave a costly ring to the page who brought the letter. + +On the previous day Eugène had arrived at Navarre,--sent by the +Emperor. "You are going to see your mother, Eugène; tell her I am sure +that she will rejoice more than any one at my happiness. I should have +already written to her if I had not been absorbed by the pleasure of +watching my boy. The moments I snatch from his side are only for +matters of urgent necessity. This event, I shall acquit myself of the +most pleasant of them all by writing to Josephine." + + +No. 4. + +Written in November 1811. + +_As fat as a good Normandy farmeress._--Madame d'Abrantès, who saw her +about this time, writes: "I observed that Josephine had grown very +stout[92] since the time of my departure for Spain. This change was at +once for the better and the worse. It imparted a more youthful +appearance to her face; but her slender and elegant figure, which had +been one of her principal attractions, had entirely disappeared. She +had now decided _embonpoint_, and her figure had assumed that matronly +air which we find in the statues of Agrippina, Cornelia, &c. Still, +however, she looked uncommonly well, and she wore a dress which became +her admirably. Her judicious taste in these matters contributed to +make her appear young much longer than she otherwise would. The best +proof of the admirable taste of Josephine is the marked absence of +elegance shown by Marie Louise, though both Empresses employed the +same milliners and dressmakers, and Marie Louise had a large sum +allotted for the expenses of her toilet." + +St. Amand says that 1811 was for Josephine a happy year, compared to +those which followed. + + + + +SERIES P + + +No. 1. + +Written from Konigsberg (M. Masson, in _Josephine Repudiée_, says +Dantzig; but on June 11th Napoleon writes to Eugène, "I shall be at +Konigsberg to-morrow," where his correspondence is dated from +henceforward). A day or two later he writes the King of Rome's +governess that he trusts to hear soon that the fifteen months old +child has cut his first four teeth. + + +No. 2. + +_Gumbinnen, June 20th._--From this place and on this date goes forth +the first bulletin of the _Grande Armée_. It gives a _résumé_ of the +causes of the war, dating from the end of 1810, when English influence +again gained ascendency. + +On July 29th he writes Hortense from Witepsk to congratulate her on +her eldest son's recovery from an illness. A week later he writes his +librarian for some amusing novels--new ones for choice, or old ones +that he has not read--or good memoirs. + +Josephine meanwhile has permission to go to Italy. Owing to her +grandson's illness she defers starting till July 16th. Through +frightful weather she reaches Milan _viâ_ Geneva on July 28th, and has +a splendid reception. On the 29th she writes to Hortense: "I have +found the three letters from Eugène, the last one dated the 13th; his +health is excellent. He still pursues the Russians, without being able +to overtake them. It is generally hoped the campaign may be a short +one. May that hope be realised!" Two days later she announces the +birth of Eugène's daughter Amelia, afterwards Empress of Brazil. +Towards the end of August Josephine goes to Aix and meets the Queen of +Spain with her sister Desirée Bernadotte, the former "kind and amiable +as usual," the latter "very gracious to me"--rather a new experience. +From Aix she goes to Prégny-la-Tour, on the Lake of Geneva, and shocks +the good people in various ways, says M. Masson, especially by +innuendoes against Napoleon; and he adds, "if one traces back to their +source the worst calumnies against the morals of the Emperor, it is +Josephine that one encounters there." She gets to Malmaison October +24th. Soon after his return from Moscow Napoleon pays her a visit, and +about this time she begins to see the King of Rome, whose mother has +always thought more of her daily music and drawing lessons than of +whether she was making her son happy or not. + +1812 closed in gloom, but 1813 was in itself terribly ominous to so +superstitious a woman as Josephine. Thirteen is always unlucky, and +moreover the numbers of 1813 add up to 13; also the doom-dealing year +began on a Friday. Every one felt the hour approaching. As Napoleon +said at St. Helena: "The star grew pale; I felt the reins slipping +from my hand, and I could do no more. A thunderbolt could alone have +saved us, and every day, by some new fatality or other, our chances +diminished. Sinister designs began to creep in among us; fatigue and +discouragement had won over the majority; my lieutenants became lax, +clumsy, careless, and consequently unfortunate; they were no longer +the men of the commencement of the Revolution, nor even of the time of +my good fortune. The chief generals were sick of the war; I had gorged +them too much with my high esteem, with too many honours and too much +wealth. They had drunk from the cup of pleasure, and wished to enjoy +peace at any price. _The sacred fire was quenched._" + +Up to August Fortune had smiled again upon her favourite. With +conscripts for infantry and without cavalry he had won Lutzen, +Bautzen, and Dresden; and even so late as September Byron was writing +that "bar epilepsy and the elements he would back Napoleon against the +field." But treachery and incompetence had undermined the Empire, and +Leipsic (that battle of giants, where 110,000 soldiers were killed and +wounded) made final success hopeless. In 1814 his brothers Lucien and +Louis rallied to him, and Hortense was for the only time proud of her +husband. She thinks if he had shown less suspicion and she less pride +they might have been happy after all. "My husband is a good Frenchman +... he is an honest man." Meanwhile, Talleyrand is watching to guide +the _coup de grâce_. Napoleon makes a dash for Lorraine to gather his +garrisons and cut off the enemy's supplies. The Allies hesitate and +are about to follow him, as per the rules of war. Talleyrand, the only +man who could ever divine Napoleon, sends them the message, "You can +do everything, and you dare nothing; dare therefore _once_!" Hortense +is the only _man_ left in Paris, and in vain she tries to keep Marie +Louise, whose presence would have stimulated the Parisians to hold the +Allies at bay. It is in vain. Unlike Prussia or Austria who fought +for months, or Spain who fought for years, after their capitals were +taken:-- + + "Like Nineveh, Carthage, Babylon and Rome, + France yields to the conqueror, vanquished at home." + +After Marmont's betrayal Napoleon attempts suicide, and when he +believes death imminent sends a last message to Josephine by +Caulaincourt, "You will tell Josephine that my thoughts were of her +before life departed." + +It was on Monday, May 23rd, that Josephine's illness commenced, after +receiving at dinner the King of Prussia and his sons (one afterwards +Wilhelm der Greise, first Emperor of Germany). Whether the sore throat +which killed her was a quinsy or diphtheria[93] is difficult to prove, +but the latter seems the more probable. Corvisart, who was himself ill +and unable to attend, told Napoleon that she died of grief and worry. +Before leaving for the Waterloo campaign Napoleon visited Malmaison, +and there, as Lord Rosebery reminds us, allowed his only oblique +reproach to Marie Louise to escape him: "Poor Josephine. Her death, of +which the news took me by surprise at Elba, was one of the most acute +griefs of that fatal year, 1814. She had her failings, of course; _but +she, at any rate, would never have abandoned me_." + + +FOOTNOTES + + [92] Mlle. d'Avrillon says that during the Swiss voyage Josephine + found it desirable, for the first time, to "wear whalebone in + her corsets." + + [93] The same question may be asked respecting the death of + Montaigne. + + + + +APPENDIX (1) + +A REPUTED POEM BY NAPOLEON I. + + +LE CHIEN, LE LAPIN, ET LE CHASSEUR. + +FABLE.--_Composée a l'âge de 13 ans, par_ NAPOLEON I. + + César, chien d'arrêt renommé, + Mais trop enflé de son mérite, + Tennait arrêté dans son gîte + Un malheureux lapin de peur inanimé. + "Rends-toi!" lui cria-t-il, d'une voix de tonerre + Qui fit au loin trembler les peuplades des bois. + "Je suis César, connu par ses exploits, + Et dont le nom remplit toute la terre." + A ce grand nom, Jeannot Lapin, + Recommandant a Dieu son âme pénitente, + Demande d'une voix tremblante: + "Trés-sérénissime mâtin, + Si je me rends quel sera mon destin?" + "Tu mourras." "Je mourrai!" dit la bête innocente. + "Et si je fuis?" "Ton trépas est certain." + "Quoi!" reprit l'animal qui se nourrit de thym, + "Des deux côtés je dois perdre la vie! + Que votre auguste seigneurie + Veuille me pardonner, puisqu'il me faut mourir, + Si j'ose tenter de m'enfuir." + Il dit, et fuit en héros de garenne. + Caton l'aurait blamé; je dis qu'il n'eut pas tort. + Car le chasseur le voit à peine + Qu'il l'ajuste, le tire--et le chien tombe mort + Que dirait de ceci notre bon La Fontaine? + Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera. + I'approuve fort cette méthode-là. + + + + +APPENDIX (2) + +GENEALOGY OF THE BONAPARTE FAMILY + + +Many more or less fictitious genealogies of the Bonapartes have been +published, some going back to mythical times. The first reliable +record, however, seems to be that of a certain Bonaparte of Sarzana, +in Northern Italy, an imperial notary, who was living towards the end +of the thirteenth century, and from whom both the Corsican and the +Trevisan or Florentine Bonapartes claim their origin. From him in +direct line was descended Francois de Sarzana, who was sent to Corsica +in 1509 to fight for the Republic of Genoa. His son Gabriel, having +sold his patrimony in Italy, settled in Ajaccio, where he bore the +honourable title of Messire, and where, being left a widower, he +assumed the tonsure and died Canon of the cathedral. + +From him an unbroken line of Bonapartes, all of whom in turn were +elected to the dignity of Elder of Ajaccio, brings us to Charles +Bonaparte Napoleon, father of the Emperor. + + + + +APPENDIX (3) + + REPUTED LETTERS OF NAPOLEON TO JOSEPHINE. TAKEN FROM THE MEMOIRS + OF MADAME DUCREST. + + +The author asked the advice of Monsieur Frédéric Masson about +these Letters, to which he at once received the courteous reply, "Il +faut absolument rejeter les Lettres publiées par Regnault Varin[94] et +reproduites par Georgette Ducrest; pas une n'est authentique." No one +who has read much of Napoleon's correspondence can in fact believe for +a moment in their authenticity. They are interesting, however, as +showing the sort of stuff which went to form our grandfathers' +fallacies about the relations of Napoleon and Josephine. Madame +Ducrest occasionally played and sang for Josephine after the +divorce. Her father was a nephew of Madame de Genlis. Madame +Ducrest married a musical composer, M. Bochsa, the then celebrated +author of _Dansomanie_ and _Noces de Gamache_. He afterwards +deserted her, and her voice having completely failed, she was +compelled to write her Memoirs to earn sustenance thereby. Of these +Memoirs M. Masson has said,[95] that "in the midst of apocryphal +documents, uncontroverted anecdotes, impossible situations, are yet +to be found some first-hand personal observations." + + +No. 1.--1796. + +FROM GENERAL BONAPARTE TO HIS WIFE. + +My first laurel, my love, must be for my country; my second shall be +for you. While beating Alvinzi I thought of France; when I had +defeated him I thought of you. Your son will present to you a standard +which he received from Colonel Morbach, whom he made prisoner with his +own hands. Our Eugène, you see, is worthy of his father; and I trust +you do not think me an unworthy successor of the great and unfortunate +general, under whom 1 should have been proud to learn to conquer. I +embrace you. + + BONAPARTE. + + +No. 2.--1804. + +TO GENERAL BONAPARTE. + +I have read over your letter, my dear, perhaps for the tenth time, and +I must confess that the astonishment it caused me has given way only +to feelings of regret and alarm. You wish to raise up the throne of +France, and that, not for the purpose of seating upon it those whom +the Revolution overthrew, but to place yourself upon it. You say, how +enterprising, how grand and, above all, useful is this design; but I +should say, how many obstacles oppose its execution, what sacrifices +will its accomplishment demand, and when realised, how incalculable +will be its results? But let us suppose that your object were already +attained, would you stop at the foundation of the new empire? That new +creation, being opposed by neighbouring states, would stir up war with +them and perhaps entail their ruin. Their neighbours, in their turn, +will not behold it without alarm or without endeavouring to gratify +their revenge by checking it. And at home, how much envy and +dissatisfaction will arise; how many plots must be put down, how many +conspiracies punished! Kings will despise you as an upstart, subjects +will hate you as an usurper, and your equals will denounce you as a +tyrant. None will understand the necessity of your elevation; all will +attribute it to ambition or pride. You will not want for slaves to +crouch beneath your authority until, seconded by some more formidable +power, they rise up to oppose you; happy will it be if poison or the +poignard!... But how can a wife, a friend dwell on these dreadful +anticipations! + +This brings my thoughts back to myself, about whom I should care but +little were my personal interests alone concerned. But will not the +throne inspire you with the wish to contract new alliances? Will you +not seek to support your power by new family connections? Alas! +whatever those connections may be, will they compensate for those +which were first knit by corresponding fitness, and which affection +promised to perpetuate? My thoughts linger on the picture which +fear--may I say love, traces in the future. Your ambitious project has +excited my alarm; console me by the assurance of your moderation. + + +No. 3.--_December 1809._ + +TO THE EMPEROR. + +My forebodings are realised! You have just pronounced the word which +separates us for ever; the rest is nothing more than mere formality. +Such, then, is the result, I shall not say of so many sacrifices (they +were light to me, since they had you for their object), but of an +unbounded friendship on my part and of the most solemn oaths on yours! +It would be a consolation for me if the state which you allege as your +motive were to repay my sacrifice by justifying your conduct! But that +public consideration which you urge as the ground for deserting me is +a mere pretence on your part. Your mistaken ambition has ever been, +and will continue to be, the guide of all your actions, a guide which +has led you to conquests and to the assumption of a crown, and is now +driving you on to disasters and to the brink of a precipice. + +You speak of the necessity of contracting an alliance, of giving an +heir to your empire, of founding a dynasty! But with whom are you +about to form an alliance? with the natural enemy of France, that +artful house of Austria, whose detestation of our country has its rise +in its innate feelings, in its system, in the laws of necessity. Do +you believe that this hatred, of which she has given us such abundant +proof, more particularly for the last fifty years, has not been +transferred by her from the kingdom of France to the French empire? +That the children of Maria Theresa, that skilful sovereign, who +purchased from Madame de Pompadour the fatal treaty of 1756, which you +never mention without shuddering; do you imagine, I repeat, that her +posterity, when inheriting her power, has not also inherited her +spirit? I am merely repeating what you have so often said to me; but +at that time your ambition was satisfied with humbling a power which +you now find it convenient to restore to its former rank. Believe me, +as long as you shall exercise a sway over Europe, that power will be +submissive to you; but beware of reverses of fortune. + +As to the necessity of an heir, I must speak out, at the risk of +appearing in the character of a mother prejudiced in favour of her +son; ought I, in fact, to be silent when I consider the interests of +one who is my only delight, and upon whom alone you had built all your +hopes? That adoption of the 12th of January 1806 was then another +political falsehood! Nevertheless the talents, the virtues of my +Eugène are no illusion. How often have you not spoken in his praise? I +may say more; you thought it right to reward him by the gift of a +throne, and have repeatedly said that he was deserving of greater +favours. Well, then! France has frequently re-echoed these praises; +but you are now indifferent to the wishes of France. + +I say nothing to you at present of the person who is destined to +succeed me, and you do not expect that I should make any allusion to +this subject. You might suspect the feelings which dictated my +language; nevertheless, you can never doubt of the sincerity of my +wishes for your happiness; may it at least afford me some consolation +for my sufferings. Great indeed will be that happiness if it should +ever bear any proportion to them! + + +No. 4. + +PART OF A LETTER SAID TO BE DATED BRIENNE, 1814. + +"... On revisiting this spot, where I passed my youthful days, and +contrasting the peaceful condition I then enjoyed with the state of +terror and agitation to which my mind is now a prey, often have I +addressed myself in these words: 'I have sought death in numberless +engagements; I can no longer dread its approach; I should now hail it +as a boon ... nevertheless, I could still wish to see Josephine once +more!'" + + +No. 5. + +TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT MALMAISON. + + _Fontainebleau, 16th April 1814_. + +_My dear Josephine_,--I wrote to you on the 8th instant (it was on a +Friday). You have perhaps not received my letter; fighting was still +going on; it is possible that it may have been stopped on its way. The +communications must now be re-established. My determination is taken; +I have no doubt of this note coming to your hands. + +I do not repeat what I have already told you. I then complained of my +situation; I now rejoice at it. My mind and attention are relieved +from an enormous weight; my downfall is great, but it is at least said +to be productive of good. + +In my retreat I intend to substitute the pen for the sword. The +history of my reign will gratify the cravings of curiosity. Hitherto, +I have only been seen in profile; I will now show myself in full to +the world. What facts have I not to disclose! how many men are +incorrectly estimated! I have heaped favours upon a countless number +of wretches; what have they latterly done for me? + +They have all betrayed me, one and all, save and except the excellent +Eugène, so worthy of you and of me. May he ever enjoy happiness under +a sovereign fully competent to appreciate the feelings of nature and +of honour! + +Adieu, my dear Josephine; follow my example and be resigned. Never +dismiss from your recollection one who has never forgotten, and never +will forget you! Farewell, Josephine. + + NAPOLEON. + +_P.S._--I expect to hear from you when I shall have reached the island +of Elba. I am far from being in good health. + + +FOOTNOTES + + [94] _Memoires et Correspondance de l'Impératrice Joséphine_, par _J. + B. J. Innocert Philadelphe Regnault Varin_. Paris, 1820, 8^o. + This book is not in the British Museum Catalogue. + + [95] _Josephine Impératrice et Reine_, Paris, 1899. + + + + +INDEX OF PERSONS + +_Excluding_ NAPOLEON _and_ JOSEPHINE, _which occur on nearly every +page_. + + + Abercromby, Sir Ralph, 49 + + Abrantès, Mdme. Junot, Duchesse d', 190, 199, 229, 230, 231, 242, 247, + 254, 261, 265, 266, 278, 312 + + Achille. (_See_ Murat) + + Agrippina, 312 + + Ainger, Canon, 298 + + Albufera, Duke of. (_See_ Suchet) + + Aldobrandini, Prince, 149 + + Alexander the Great, 185 + + Alison, Sir A. (historian), 74, 119, 255, 264, 272, 286 + + Alvinzi, Marshal, 30, 34, 35, 218, 221, 318 + + Amand, Saint, _see_ S. Imbert de (author), 4, 172, 199, 212, 221, 223, + 243, 245, 251, 256, 257, 267, 269, 302, 304, 307, 308, 312 + + Amelia (daughter of Eugène), 313 + + Angoulême, Duc d', 190, 196, 197 + + Anhalt, Prince of, 270 + + Arberg, Mdme. d', 176 + + Arch-Chancellor. (_See_ Cambacérès) + + Argenteau, D', 9 + + Arnault (author), 212 + + Artois, Comte d', 196, 197 + + Aubenas, 172, 200, 201, 216, 225, 226, 228, 241, 257, 259, 260, 297, + 299 + + Audenarde, D', 162, 302 + ---- Madame Lalaing, Viscountess d', 302, 307 + + Augereau, Marshal, 24, 38, 57, 70, 90, 154, 196, 214, 254, 255, 267 + + Auguié, Mlle. Aglaé Louise, 231 + + Auguste, Princess of Bavaria (then wife of Eugène). (_See_ Beauharnais, + Auguste) + + Augustus, Emperor, 52, 228 + + Austria, Emperor of, 186, 197, 218, 223, 240 + ---- Empress of, 186 + + Avrillon, Mlle, d', 82, 174, 225, 233, 256, 297, 299, 302, 305, 311, + 312 + + + Baccioli, Eliza (Bonaparte), 63, 122 + + Baden, Princess Wilhelmina of, 77, 236, 295 + ---- Grand Duchess of. (_See_ Beauharnais, Stephanie) + ---- Prince of, 242, 243, 245, 270 + + Bagration, General, 187, 188 + + Baird, General Sir David, 42, 49, 143 + + Bajazet, 272 + + Barante, De (Prefect of Geneva), 309, 310 + + Barbier (Napoleon's librarian), 307 + + Barras, Count de, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 38, 199, 205, 207, 221, 247, 248 + + Bathurst, Benj., 154 + + Bausset (Prefect of Imperial Palace), 267, 269, 273 + + Bavaria, Elector, then King of, 77, 122, 144, 159, 161, 242, 243, 265, + 266, 270, 299 + ---- Electress, then Queen of, 70, 161, 243, 265 + ---- Prince Royal of, 281 + + Bayard, Chevalier, 235, 243 + + Beauharnais, Eugène (Viceroy of Italy), 6, 21, 31, 44, 51, 58, 59, 60, + 63, 66, 68, 78, 106, 121, 140, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, + 150, 152, 159, 162, 164, 170, 171, 172, 179, 187, 188, 189, 190, + 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 216, 224, 228, 229, 234, 242, + 243, 244, 254, 256, 264, 265, 266, 276, 277, 282, 286, 287, 290, + 297, 299, 305, 308, 310, 311, 312, 313, 318, 320, 321 + + Beauharnais, Auguste (wife of Eugène), 121, 186, 242, 264, 265, 266, + 299 + ---- Hortense, 6, 10, 11, 12, 31, 44, 50, 51, 52, 53, 59, 66, 68, 78, + 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 93, 111, 112, 113, 127, + 137, 140, 144, 147, 149, 150, 151, 159, 160, 165, 172, 173, 175, + 176, 180, 216, 226, 227, 228, 229, 231, 235, 237, 244, 247, 254, + 259, 261, 262, 263, 268, 269, 288, 289, 296, 300, 308, 313, 314 + ---- Stephanie, 78, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 89, 242, 243, 244, 254, 271, + 295 + ---- Fanny (daughter of Count), 243 + + Beaujon (financier), 302 + + Beaulieu, General, 6, 7, 10, 11, 38, 204, 205, 208, 209 + + Becker, General, 81 + + Bellegarde, General, 49, 195, 197 + + Bennigsen or Beningsen, General, 90, 188, 193, 254 + + Bentinck, General, 193 + + Bentley, 227 + + Berg, Napoleon Louis, Grand Duke of, 82, 137, 144, 147, 148, 150, 172, + 173, 263, 308 + + Bernadotte, Marshal, 38, 41, 57, 80, 81, 83, 95, 106, 113, 174, 185, + 188, 192, 193, 246, 254, 255, 257, 279, 291, 292 + ---- Desirée (_née_ Clary), 38, 246, 313 + + Berthier, Marshal, 33, 57, 141, 214, 224, 229, 246, 251, 259, 265, 270, + 280, 292, 302, 303 + + Bertrand, General, 259, 287, 288, 290 + + Bessières, Marshal, 57, 106, 128, 136, 139, 149, 165, 190, 260, 290, + 303 + + Bignon, Baron (historian), 55, 75, 255, 258, 262 + + Billington, Mistress, 224 + + Bingham, Captain D. A., 204, 208, 256 + + Blake (Field-Marshal and Spanish General), 135, 136, 148, 181 + + Blucher, Field-Marshal, 83, 192, 193, 194, 195, 246, 250, 278, 291 + + Bonaparte, Joseph (King of Spain), 21, 38, 77, 128, 143, 150, 187, 191, + 196, 199, 200, 201, 228, 237, 258, 265, 266, 273, 296, 305 + ---- Louis, 50, 53, 59, 77, 172, 173, 214, 220, 228, 261, 263, 268, + 269, 279, 300, 302, 308, 309, 314 + ---- Jerome (King of Westphalia), 117 118, 160, 161, 242, 261, 270, + 301 + ---- Lucien, 228, 229, 230, 247, 253, 265, 266, 297, 314 + ---- Caroline. (_See_ Murat, Madame) + ---- Eliza. (_See_ Lucca, Princess of) + + Bonaparte Family, The, 317. (Appendix 2) + + Bonpland, Aimé, 226 + + Borghèse, Prince, 99, 115 + ---- Pauline, 99, 303 + + Boubers, Countess de, 308 + + Bouillet (lexicographer), 74, 248 + + Bouillon, Duke of, 304 + + Bourbon, Duchesse de, 302 + + Bourlier, Bishop of Evreux, 311 + + Bourrienne, L. de, 30, 31, 61, 155, 226, 228, 229, 230, 237, 239 + + Boyer (French general, "Pierre le Cruel"), 196 + + Brizzi, 89 + + Brock, General, 187 + + Brotonne, L. de, 190, 238, 260, 310 + + Browning, Oscar, 47 + + Bruix, Admiral, 232 + + Brune, Marshal, 34, 41, 43, 49, 57, 118, 221 + + Brunswick, Duke of, 245 + + Brutus, 294 + + Bulow, General von, 192, 194, 196 + + Burdett-Coutts, Mr., 218 + + Burke, Edmund, 38 + + Buxhowden, General, 72, 90 + + Byron, Lord, 183, 314 + + "B----" (probably Bourrienne), 60, 175 + + + Cabarrus, M. de, 248 + + Cadoudal, Georges (Vendéen chief and conspirator), 57 + + Cæsar, Julius, 232, 281, 286, 293 + + Calder, Sir Robert, 63 + + Cambacérès, Arch-Chancellor, 108, 114, 150, 188, 192, 236, 269, 271, + 281, + 284, 291, 292, 293, 296, 300, 302, 303, 310 + + Campan, Madame, 191, 242 + + Caracci, 209 + + Carnot (member of the Directory and "organiser of victory"), 200, 204, + 205, 206, 208, 209, 210, 217, 223 + + Castaños, General, Duke of Baylen, 136 + + Cathcart, Lord, 188 + + Caulaincourt, Duke of Vicenza, 1, 270, 315. + + Cesarotti, 199 + + Chabot, 219 + + Chabran, 219 + + Chambry, M., 58 + + Champagny, De (Duc de Cadore), 153, 262, 270, 271, 292, 298, 302 + + Championnet, General, 42 + + Charlemagne, 234, 296 + + Charles, Archduke, 19, 25, 34, 38, 42, 46, 66, 68, 143, 144, 145, 149, + 242, 279, 280, 282, 284, 304 + + Charles, Prince. (_See_ Charles, Archduke) + + Charles XII., 185. (_See_ Sweden, King of) + + Chauvet, 7, 199, 200 + + Chimay, Prince de, 248 + + Clarke, General, 196, 210, 221, 291, 292 + + Clary, Desirée. (_See_ Bernadotte, Desirée). + + Coburg, Prince of, 270 + + Cockburn, Admiral, 191 + + Colburn, 229 + + Colombier, Mlle. du, 224 + + Conches, Baron Feuillet de, 13 + + Constant, 229, 230, 232, 233, 236, 254, 265, 267, 268, 284, 292, 293, + 294, 296 + + Corbineau, Constant (one of three brothers, known as les trois Horaces), + 98, 99, 256 + + Corneille, 241 + + Cornelia, 312 + + Cornwallis, Lord, 41 + + Correggio, 205, 209 + + Corvisart, Baron, 52, 153, 233, 293, 305, 315 + + Courland, Duchess of, 270 + + Crassus, 185 + + Crétet, Count, 292 + + Cromwell, Oliver, 298 + + Czartoriski, Prince, 241 + + + Dahlmann, General, 98, 256 + + Dantzic, Duke of. (_See_ Lefebvre, Marshal) + + Darius, 185 + + Darmagnac, General, 98 + + Darmstadt, Prince of, 270 + + Daru, Count, 256, 257 + + David, King, 262 + + Davidowich, Baron (Austrian General), 27, 30 + + Davoust, Marshal, 44, 57, 69, 80, 81, 84, 89, 143, 187, 246, 247, 255, + 282, 292, 293 + + Decazes, Duke, 269 + + Decrès, Vice-Admiral, Minister of Marine, 225, 254, 256 + + Delille, Abbé, 190 + + Desaix, General, 14, 41, 42, 44, 46, 290 + + Despinois, General, 215 + + Dessalines ("James I."), of Hayti, 60 + + Didot, 172 + + Dietrich, Mdme. de, 240 + + Don Carlos, Infant, 126 + + Ducrest, Madame, 311, 317, 318 + + Duesberg (botanist), 225 + + Dumas, Matthieu, Count (General and historian), 255, 257, 258 + + Duphot, General, 38 + + Dupont, General, 65, 69, 101, 128, 267 + + Dupuis, 104, 260 + + Dupuy, 219 + + Durand, Madame, 301 + + Duroc, Marshal, 191, 228, 230, 252, 270, 275, 291 + + + Edward, the Black Prince, 222 + + Elchingen, Duke of. (_See_ Ney, Marshal) + + "Eleanore," 252 + + Enghien, Duc d', 57, 236, 276 + + England, King George II. of, 43 + ---- King George III. of, 43, 46, 64, 70, 218, 223, 238 + + Estève (General Treasurer of the Crown), 161 + + Eugène, Prince of Savoy, 286 + + Eugénie, Empress, 256 + ---- Hortense, Princess, 277 + + Evreux, Count d', 302 + + + Faipoult, Citizen, 204 + + Ferdinand, Archduke, 143, 147, 279 + ---- Prince of Asturias (afterwards Ferdinand VII.), 118, 123, 125, 126, + 127, 128, 194, 195, 196, 266, 268, 269 + + Fesch, Cardinal, 302 + + Fitzgerald, Lord Edward, 41 + + Fontanès, Marquis de, 302 + + Fouché (de Nantes, Duke of Otranto), 236, 259, 261, 262, 274, 275, + 276, 277, 279, 292, 294, 295, 297, 302, 306 + + Fox, C. J., 77 + + Foy, General, 191, 196 + + Francis II., Emperor of Austria (and Germany), 71, 77, 128, 291, 310, + 311 + + Franck, Doctor, 289 + + Frederick the Great, 67, 249, 283, 286 + + Frederick I. (Duke, Elector, and King of Wurtemberg), 238 + + Frederick William II., 38. (_See_ Prussia, King of) + + Frederick William III., 38. (_See_ Prussia, King of) + + Friand, General, 185 + + Fulton, Robert, 235 + + + Gaudin, Duke of Gaeta, 292 + + Genlis, Mdme. de, 318 + + George II. (_See_ England, King of) + + George III. (_See_ England, King of) + + Georges. (_See_ Cadoudal) + + Germany, Emperor of. (_See_ Austria, Emperor of) + + Gillray, James, 248 + + Giraudin, Stanislaus, 261 + + Godoy, Don Manuel, Prince of the Peace, 77, 123, 125 + + Goethe, J. W. Von, 177, 270 + + Gohier, Louis (member of the Directory), 43 + + Graham, Colonel, 35, 192, 214, 215 + + Gros, Baron (artist), 220, 221 + + Guesclin, Bertrand du, 235 + + + Hamilton, Lady, 249 + + Harpe, General La. (_See_ Laharpe, General) + + Harville, M. d', 70 + + Hatzfeld, Princess d', 83, 249 + + Haugwitz, Count von, 71 + + Hautpoult, General, 255 + + Haydn, Joseph, 74, 90 + + Heath, Baron, 60 + + Hédouville, General, 42, 92 + + Henri IV., 296 + + Hiller, General, 282, 284 + + Hoche, General Lazare, 34, 38, 209, 218 + + Hofer, Andreas, 146 + + Hohenlohe, Prince, 81 + + Hohenzollern-Hechingen, Prince of, 277 + + Holland, King of. (_See_ Bonaparte, Louis) + ---- Queen of. (_See_ Beauharnais, Hortense) + + Homer, 199 + + Hood, Robin, 39 + + Humbert, General, 41 + + Humboldt, Baron von, 226 + + Hume, Martin, 267 + + Hutchinson, General, 49 + + + Jacquin, Von (Austrian botanist), 225 + + Jahn, F. L. (German patriot), 278 + + Jeanne of France (Queen of Navarre), 304 + + Jellachich, General, 70, 145 + + Joan of Arc, 294 + + John, Archduke, 144, 147, 287, 290, 291 + ---- King of France, 222 + + Johnson, Dr., vi., 208 + + Jomini, Baron (Swiss strategist), 192, 194, 204, 206, 211, 213, 214, + 218 + + Joseph. (_See_ Bonaparte, Joseph) + + Josephine Maximilienne Auguste, 106 + + Joubert, General, 34, 35, 42, 43, 219, 220 + + Jouberthon, Madame (wife of Lucien), 266 + + Jourdan, Marshal, 11, 20, 25,42, 57, 191, 217 + + Julian, Emperor, 185 + + Julien, Mlle., 153 + + Jung, Thomas (or Iung), 228, 230, 251 + + Junot (Duc d'Abrantès), 9, 10, 42, 118, 128, 200, 212, 230, 231, 241, + 261 + + + Kalkreuth, Count (Russian Field-Marshal), 79 + + Kaunitz, Prince, 71 + + Keith, Lord, 46 + + Kellerman, Marshal (Duke of Valmy), 19, 57, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, + 214, 217 + + Kellermann, General, 46 + + Kilmaine, General, 19, 27, 215, 220 + + King. (_See_ Bonaparte, Joseph), 136 + + Kipling, R., 129 + + Kléber, General, 19, 20, 42, 43, 46, 290 + + Klein, General, 20 + + Kleist, 192 + + Kourakin, Alexander, 138, 274 + + Kray, Baron von (Austrian General), 42, 43, 44, 46 + + Kutusoff, General (Prince of Smolensk), 188, 189 + + + Labédoyère, Madame, 231 + + La Bruyère, 20 + + Lacépède, Count de, 189, 296 + + La Fontaine, 316 + + Lagrange (mathematician), 190 + + La Grassini, 223, 224, 228 + + Laharpe, General, 10, 200, 210 + + Lannes, Marshal (Duke of Montebello), 9, 45, 46, 57, 68, 69, 78, 80, 90, + 136, 143, 145, 147, 219, 275, 289, 290, 291 + + Lanusse, General François, 219 + + Larévellière-Lépeaux (Member of the Directory), 38, 43, 217 + + Larochefoucauld, Mdme. de, 234, 250 + + La Romana (Spanish General), 136, 138 + + Lasalle, General, 149, 291 + + Las Cases, Count de, 117, 207, 224, 229, 232, 259 + + Latouche-Tréville, Admiral, 235 + + Latour, Von, Count (Austrian General), 29 + + Laudon (Austrian General), 65 + + Lauriston, General, 147, 192, 193, 229, 256, 270 + + Lavalette, Count de, 220, 221, 276, 299 + ---- Madame, 226, 227, 231 + + Lebrun (statesman, Duke of Placentia), 71, 302 + ---- (the poet), 243 + + Leclerc, General, 50 + + Lecombe, General, 43 + + Lefebvre-Desnouettes, General, 139, 275 + + Lefebvre, Marshal, 57, 111, 112, 135, 145 + + Lejeune, Baron, 240, 252, 254, 257, 274, 275, 281, 282, 283, 303, 304 + + Lemarois, General, 67, 239, 256 + + "Leon," 252 + + Lestocq, General, 255 + + Letourneur (Member of the Directory), 198, 201 + + Leyen, Amélie de la, 305 + ---- Princess de la, 171, 308 + + Liverpool, Lord, 186 + + Livia (wife of Augustus), 228 + + Louis, Archduke, 143 + + Louis XI., 52 + + Louis XII., 296 + + Louis XV., 267 + + Louis XVI., 230 + + Louis XVIII. (_See_ Angoulême, Duc d') + + Lucca, Eliza Bonaparte, Princess of, 265 + + Lynedoch, Lord. (_See_ Graham, Col.) + + L----, Mdme. (_See_ Larochefoucauld, Mdme. de) + + + Macdonald, Marshal, 41, 42, 145, 147, 150, 192, 196, 287, 292 + + Mack, General, 41, 64, 66, 239, 246 + + Macpherson, James, 199 + + Madison, President, 143, 190 + + Maelzel, Leonard (German mechanic), 292 + + Mahmoud IV., 128, 136 + + Mahomet, 52 + + Makau, Madame de, 175, 176, 307, 309 + + Malet, General, 188, 189 + + "Maman" (Madame Mère, mother of Napoleon), 45, 50, 224, 227 + + Marbot, Baron, 187, 267, 274, 275, 283, 284, 288, 290, 291 + + Marchesi (artiste), 224 + + Marescalchi, 303 + + Marest, M. de, 213 + + Maret (Duc de Bassano), 57, 67, 187, 189, 270, 271, 292, 302, 304 + + Marie Antoinette, 230, 249 + + Marie Louise, 157, 164, 165, 167, 172, 174, 175, 176, 177, 197, 271, + 296, 298, 301, 302, 304, 306, 310, 312, 314, 315 + + Marie Thérèse, 284, 285, 320 + + Marie Victoire, Infanta, 267 + + Marmont, Marshal, 69, 150, 187, 196, 197, 198, 207, 210, 211, 222, 248, + 292, 315 + + Masaniello, 52 + + Massena, Marshal (Duke of Rivoli), 24, 28, 34, 35, 38, 42, 43, 44, 46, + 57, 66, 68, 69, 71, 77, 144, 174, 180, 200, 205, 213, 215, 220, + 221, 223, 238, 282, 290, 292 + + Masson, M. Frédéric, 61, 224, 239, 242, 247, 250, 252, 296, 297, 303, + 305, 307, 309, 312, 313, 317, 318 + + Maximilian, Archduke, 285 + + Meerfeldt or Meerveldt, Count von, 69, 145 + + Melas, General, 43, 46, 224 + + Melito, Count Miot de, 246 + + Melville, Lord, 277 + + Ménage, Gilles (scholar), 213 + + Menard, 219 + + Méneval, Baron de, 229, 232, 237, 239, 244, 246, 254, 255, 264, 283, + 289, 295, 296, 297 + + Menou, General Baron de, 49 + + Merlin (member of the Directory), 43 + + Metternich, Prince, 153, 275 + ---- Madame de, 300 + + Michael Angelo, 205 + + Michaud, L. G., 162, 231, 264, 277 + + Michelet, Jules (historian), 212 + + Michot (actor), 229 + + Miollis, Adjutant-General, 24 + + Modena, Duke of, 11 + + Moltke, Von, 271 + + Moncey, Marshal, 57 + + Monclas, 26 + + Monnier, General J. C., 43 + + Montaigne, Michel de, 315 + + Montebello, Duke of. (_See_ Lannes, Marshal) + + Montebello, Duchess of (La Maréchale Lannes), 145, 147, 289 + + Montesquiou, Madame de, 175 + + Montgaillard, l'Abbé de (historian), 38, 42, 43, 52, 66, 90, 128, 137, + 144, 162, 185, 191, 193, 286 + + Montholon, Count de, 255 + + Moore, Sir John, 143, 273, 275, 277 + + Morbach, Colonel, 318 + + Moreau, General, 14, 19, 20, 25, 29, 30, 38, 43, 44, 46, 57, 188, 192, + 205, 217, 223, 279 + + Mortier, Marshal, 57, 69, 84, 153, 179, 188, 196, 224 + + Moscati, 36, 37 + + Moulin, General (member of the Directory), 43 + + Mourad Bey, 41, 42 + + Moustache, 44, 114, 115, 140 + + Müller (Swiss historian), 270 + + Murat, King of Naples, 9, 16, 22, 23, 45, 46, 57, 64, 66, 69, 79, 81, + 83, 86, 97. 99, 125, 127, 128, 148, 188, 189, 190, 194, 195, 211, + 212, 219, 224, 235, 240, 254, 265, 269, 270, 276, 287, 298, 302, + 303 + ---- Madame Caroline, Queen of Naples, 99, 158, 190, 235, 252, 254, 261, + 290, 298 + + Mustapha IV., 112 + + "M----," 45. (See "Maman") + + + Napier, Sir William, 123, 141, 275, 277, 278 + + Naples, King of. (_See_ Bonaparte, Joseph) + + Napoleon Charles Bonaparte (eldest son of Hortense), 53, 79, 80, 81, 82, + 84. 89, 93, 110, 137, 228, 247 + + Napoleon Louis (second son of Hortense). (_See_ Berg, Grand Duke of) + + Napoleons ("the two"), sons of Hortense and Louis, 68, 79, 80, 84, 86, + 90, 151, 174 + + Napoleon III. (Charles Louis Napoleon, third son of Hortense), 127, 238, + 269, 303, 307 + + Nassau, Prince of, 270 + + Necker, M., 224 + + Nelson, Lord, 41, 49 + + Nero, Emperor, 236 + + Ney, Marshal (Prince of the Moskowa), 20, 52, 53, 57, 64, 65, 69, 83, + 88, 90, 173, 187, 188, 189, 192, 231, 239, 255 + ----, Madame, 231, 304 + + Nicolas, Sir Harris (historian), 74 + + + O'Donnell (Spanish General), 181 + + O'Meara, Dr., 272 + + Oscar, Prince (son of Bernadotte), 106 + + Ossian, 4, 199 + + Oudet, General, 279 + + Oudinot, Marshal, Duke of Reggio, 143, 150, 187, 189, 192, 196, 270, + 292 + + Ouvrard (financier), 248 + + + Paër, Ferdinando (musical composer), 89, 91, 242 + + Paget, Lord, 293 + + Palafox y Melzi, Duke of Saragossa, 136 + + Palatine, The Archduke (Joseph-Antoine of Hungary), 148 + + Palmerston, Lord, 272 + + Paoli, General de, 209 + + Parma, Grand Duke of, 11, 204 + + Pasquier, E. D., Duke, 162, 253, 268, 270, 276, 281 + + Paterson, Miss (repudiated wife of Jerome Bonaparte), 301 + + Paul, Princess, 70 + + Paul I. (_See_ Russia, Czar of) + + Pauline. (_See_ Borghèse, Princess) + + Pavon, 226 + + Pelet, General and Baron, 279, 280, 282, 283, 284, 290 + + Perceval, Spencer (British Premier), 185 + + Perignon, Marshal, 57 + + Périgord, Edmond de, 270 + + Permon, Madame (mother of Madame D'Abrantès), 230 + + Philip Augustus, King of France, 296 + + Philippon, General, 185 + + Pichegru, General, 57 + + Pignatelli, Prince of Strongoli, and Minister of Ferdinand, King of + Naples, 21 + + Pijon, General, 219 + + Pitt, William, 77 + + Pius VI., Pope, 14, 37, 41, 43, 195, 206, 210, 211, 218, 222 + + Pius VII., Pope, 49, 52, 60, 148, 186, 189, 190, 225, 237, 300, 301 + + Pompadour, Madame de, 302, 320 + + Poniatowski, Prince, and Marshal of France, 193 + + Portugal, Prince Regent of, 125 ---- Queen of, 125 + + Pradt, Abbé de, 277 + + Primate, The Prince, 270 + + Prince Regent, 226. (_See_ George IV.) + + Princess, 121. (_See_ Beauharnais, Auguste) + + Provera (Austrian General), 34, 35 + + Prussia, Frederick William II., King of, 38 + ---- Frederick William III., King of, 38, 64, 67, 78, 79, 114, 116, + 143, 191, 197, 236, 240, 245, 249, 270, 271, 315 + ---- Louise, Queen of, 79, 116, 117, 143, 245, 248, 249 + ---- Prince Louis of, 78 + ---- Prince William of, 270 + + P----, Madame de, 106 + + + Quesdonowich (Austrian General), 24 + + + Racine, 241 + + Rampon, Colonel, 9, 219 + + Raphael, 209 + + Rapp, Count, 194, 226, 227, 285, 294, 295 + + Raynouard (author), 241 + + Redcliffe, Stratford de, 186 + + Regnauld, Count (State Secretary of the Imperial Court), 296 + + Rémusat, Madame de, 222, 237, 239, 298, 301, 307, 308, 310, 311 + + Renard, Madame Château, 6, 8, 10 + + Renaudin, Madame de, 216 + + Rewbell (member of the Directory), 38 + + Reynier, General, 77, 193, 292 + + Rheims, Mayoress of, 233 + + Richard Coeur de Lion, 284 + + Richmond, Madame, 99 + + Rivoli, Duc de, 35. (_See_ Massena) + + Rochefoucauld. (_See_ Larochefoucauld, Mdme. de) + + Roger-Ducos (member of the Directory), 43 + + Rollo the Sea King, 304 + + Rome, King of (Napoleon II.), "l'Aiglon," 179, 268, 311, 313 + + Rosebery, Lord, 234, 276, 315 + + Rose, J. H., 214, 215 + + Rostopchin, Count and General, 188 + + Ruiz, 226 + + Russia, Alexander I., Emperor of, 67, 71, 115, 116, 131, 132, 143, 179, + 185, 188, 190, 191, 197, 241, 243, 249, 264, 269, 270, 271, 272, + 303 + ---- Catherine II., Czarina of, 30 + ---- Paul I., Czar of, 49 + + + Sacken, General, 195, 196 + + Saint Amand, Imbert de, 4, 172, 199, 212, 221, 223, 243, 245, 251, 256, + 257, 267, 269, 302, 304, 307, 308, 312 + + Saint Cyr, Gouvion, Marquis and Marshal, 20, 43, 187, 188, 193 + + Saint-Hilaire, General, 219 + + Saliceti, C., 213 + + Sardinia, King of, 205 + + Sarrazin, General, 133 + + Sauret, General, 24, 213, 215 + + Savary (Duc de Rovigo), 99, 108, 125, 158, 165, 239, 241, 246, 251, 258, + 271, 272, 274, 276, 277, 292, 294, 297 + + Saxe-Hildburghausen, Princess of, 238 + + Saxony, Elector, then King of, 89, 117, 270 + + Saxe-Weimar, Prince of, 270, 271 + ---- Princess of, 270 + + Schérer, General (French), 42, 198 + + Schwartzenberg, Marshal, 192, 193, 194, 300, 303, 308 + + Scott, Sir Walter, 208, 222, 277 + + Sebastiani, General, 272 + + Ségur, General Count, 241 + + Selim III., 112 + + Serbelloni, M., 216 + + Serent, Madame de, 70 + + Serrurier, Marshal, 25, 57, 215 + + Sevigné, Madame de, 260 + + Shakespeare, 249 + + Sièyes, Abbé and Count (member of the Directory), 42 + + Smith, Sir Sydney, 60 + + Soult, Marshal, Duke of Dalmatia, 57, 65, 79, 83, 113, 114, 136, 139, + 143, 145, 150, 151, 164, 179, 191, 192, 193, 194, 196, 197, 229, + 270, 275, 278, 292 + + Spain, Charles II. of, and his Queen, 267 + ---- Charles IV., King of, 112, 118, 123, 125, 126, 127, 228 + ---- Queen of (mother of Ferdinand VII.), 118, 126, 127, 268 + ---- Queen of (wife of Joseph), 313 + + Stabs, 294 + + Stadion, Count von (Austrian diplomatist), 278 + + Staël, Madame de, Holstein, 310 + + Stein, Baron Von, 278 + + Stephanie. (See Beauharnais) + + Stevenson, R. L., 298 + + Stuart, Marie, 249 + + Suchet, Marshal (Duke of Albufera), 148, 170, 180, 181, 185, 186, 191, + 192, 193 + + Sullivan, Sir A., 249 + + Sussi, 6 + + Suwarrow, Marshal, 42, 43 + + Sweden, Charles XII., King of, 185 + ---- Charles XIII., King of, 147 + ---- Gustavus Adolphus IV., King of, 143, 243 + + + Talleyrand-Périgord, Prince, 38, 52, 67, 68, 79, 81, 121, 197, 225, + 233, 236, 237, 238, 240, 242, 245, 246, 260, 268, 270, 271, + 272, 275, 276, 277, 279, 300, 302, 303, 314 + + Tallien, "Thermidorian," 7, 237, 247, 254 + ---- Madame (Princesse de Chimay), 6, 7, 8, 15, 82, 198, 247, 248 + + Talma, 270 + + Tamerlane, 272 + + Tascher, Louis, 98, 114, 137, 171, 256, 305 + ---- Henri, 305 + + Tasso, 245 + + Tennant, Charles, 13, 45 + + Thiard, M. de, 106, 243, 260 + + Thibaut, M., 225 + + Thiers, M. (statesman), 265, 273, 275, 296, 302 + + Tolly, Barclay de, 187, 188 + + Tolstoi, Count, 274 + + Tone, Wolfe, 41 + + Tour and Taxis, Princess of, 270, 278 + + Toussaint-Louverture, 49, 50, 53 + + Treilhard, Count (member of the Directory), 43 + + Trémoille, Princess de la, 309, 310 + + Trèves, Elector of, 65 + + Tschitchagow, Admiral, 188 + + Turenne, M. de, 116 + ---- Marshal, 286 + + Tuscany, Grand Duke of, 216 + + T----, Madame, 24. (Probably Madame Tallien) + + T----, Madame de la, 175. (_See_ Trémoille) + + T----, 60. (Probably Talleyrand) + + T----, 96. (Probably Tallien) + + T----, de, 106. (_See_ Thiard, M. de) + + T----, 237. (_See_ Tallien) + + + Valerian, Emperor, 185 + + Vandamme, General, 86, 92, 192 + + Van Dyck, 209 + + Varin, Regnault, 317 + + Vaubois, General, 16, 27, 30, 31, 46, 220 + + Verhuell, Admiral, 269 + + Veronese, Paul, 209 + + Victoire, Marie, 267. (_See_ Marie) + + Victor, Marshal, 35, 136, 143, 150, 219 + + Villars, Marshal, 43 + + Villeneuve, Admiral, 63 + + Vincent, General, 270 + + Virgil, 21, 212 + + + + Walewski, Marie, 250, 252, 253, 293 + + Washington, George, 43, 223 + + Wattier, General, 176 + + Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 128, 145, 150, 174, 176, 180, + 185, 186, 187, 188, 192, 193, 196, 197, 278, 290, 291, 292 + + Westphalia, King of. (_See_ Bonaparte, Jerome) + + Wieland, C. M., 270 + + Wilhelmina, Princess, 236. (_See_ Baden, Princess of) + + William I., Emperor of Germany, 245, 315 + + Windham, William (British Secretary at War), 213 + + Wittgenstein, General and Count, 187, 188, 192 + + Woodward (and Cates), 74 + + Wrede, Marshal (Bavarian Marshal), 193 + + Wurmser, Marshal, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 32, 35, 38, 213, 214, 215, 216, + 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 224 + + Wurtemberg, Duke of, 64, 68, 77 + ---- Electress of, 64, 70, 238 + ---- King of, 242, 270, 295 + ---- Prince Royal of, 196 + + Würzburg, Grand Duke of, 78, 244 + + + Xenophon, 205 + + Xerxes, 281 + + + York, Duke of, 43 + ---- General von, 189, 195 + + + Zingarelli, N. (musician), 242 + + +THE END + + + Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. + Edinburgh & London + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Napoleon's Letters to Josephine, by +Henry Foljambe Hall + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAPOLEON'S LETTERS TO JOSEPHINE *** + +***** This file should be named 37499-8.txt or 37499-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/9/37499/ + +Produced by StevenGibbs, Hélène de Mink, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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