Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History BookI 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 ma |