Napoleon's Letters to Josephine, 1796-1812
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_).
Eugene is well. Prince Aldobrandini is wounded, but slightly.
Bessieres 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 PLOMBIERES.
_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 PLOMBIERES.
_In the Camp, before Znaim, July 13, 1809._
I send you the suspension of arms concluded yesterday with the
Austrian General. Eugene is on the Hungary side, and is well. Send a
copy of the suspension of arms to Cambaceres, 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 PLOMBIERES.
_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. Eugene 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 PLOMBIERES.
_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. Eugene 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 PLOMBIERES.
_Schoenbrunn, August 7, 1809._
I see from your letter that you are at Plombieres, 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 Plombieres; 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 Eugene 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 Ocana.
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] Boispreau, 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'Elysee_ 302-3
No. 20. _Bessieres' 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