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