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