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