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A great deal of nonsense will be talked of the battle of Eylau; the
bulletin tells everything; our losses are rather exaggerated in it
than minimised.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 53.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Osterode_, _March 13, 1807_, 2 P.M.
_My Dear_,--I learn that the vexatious tittle-tattle that occurred in
your salon at Mayence has begun again; make people hold their tongues.
I shall be seriously annoyed with you if you do not find a remedy. You
allow yourself to be worried by the chatter of people who ought to
console you. I desire you to have a little character, and to know how
to put everybody into his (or her) proper place.
I am in excellent health. My affairs here are good. We are resting a
little, and organising our food supply.
Adieu, dear; keep well.
NAPOLEON.
No. 54.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Osterode, March 15, 1807._
I received your letter of the 1st of March, from which I see that you
were much upset by the catastrophe of Minerva at the opera. I am very
glad to see that you go out and seek distractions.
My health is very good. My affairs go excellently. Take no heed of all
the unfavourable rumours that may be circulated. Never doubt my
affection, and be without the least uneasiness.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 55.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
Osterode, March 17, 1807.
_My Dear_,--It is not necessary for you to go to the small plays and
into a private box; it ill befits your rank; you should only go to the
four great theatres, and always into the Royal box. Live as you would
do if I were at Paris.
My health is very good. The cold weather has recommenced. The
thermometer has been down to 8 deg..--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 56.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Osterode_, _March 17, 1807_, 10 P.M.
I have received yours of March 5th, from which I see with pleasure
that you are well. My health is perfect. Yet the weather of the past
two days has been cold again; the thermometer to-night has been at
10 deg., but the sun has given us a very fine day.
Adieu, dear. Very kindest regards to everybody.
Tell me something about the death of that poor Dupuis; have his
brother told that I wish to help him.
My affairs here go excellently.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 57.
_March 25th.--Abolition of slave trade in Great Britain by
Parliament._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_March 25, 1807._
I have received your letter of March 13th. If you really wish to
please me, you must live exactly as you live when I am at Paris. Then
you were not in the habit of visiting the second-rate theatres or
other places. You ought always to go into the Royal box. As for your
home life: hold receptions there, and have your fixed circles of
friends; that, my dear, is the only way to deserve my approbation.
Greatness has its inconveniences; an Empress cannot go where a private
individual may.
Very best love. My health is good. My affairs prosper.
NAPOLEON.
No. 58.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Osterode_, _March 27, 1807_, 7 P.M.
_My Dear_,--Your letter pains me. There is no question of your dying.
You are in good health, and you can have no just ground for grief.
I think you should go during May to St. Cloud; but you must spend the
whole month of April at Paris.
My health is good. My affairs prosper.
You must not think of travelling this summer; nothing of that sort is
feasible. You ought not to frequent inns and camps. I long as much as
you for our meeting and for a quiet life.
I can do other things besides fight; but duty stands first and
foremost. All my life long I have sacrificed everything to my
destiny--peace of mind, personal advantage, happiness.
Adieu, dear. See as little as possible of that Madame de P----. She
is a woman who belongs to the lowest grade of society; she is
thoroughly common and vulgar.
NAPOLEON.
I have had occasion to find fault with M. de T----. I have sent him to
his country house in Burgundy. I wish no longer to hear his name
mentioned.
No. 59.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Osterode, April 1, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I have just got your letter of the 20th. I am sorry to see
you are ill. I wrote you to stay at Paris the whole month of April,
and to go to St. Cloud on May 1st. You may go and spend the Sundays,
and a day or two, at Malmaison. At St. Cloud you may have your usual
visitors.
My health is good. It is still quite cold enough here. All is quiet.
I have named the little princess Josephine.[23] Eugene should be well
pleased.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 60.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein, April 2, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I write you a line. I have just moved my headquarters into
a very fine chateau, after the style of Bessieres', where I have
several fireplaces, which is a great comfort to me; getting up often
in the night, I like to see the fire.
My health is perfect. The weather is fine, but still cold. The
thermometer is at four to five degrees.
Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 61.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein_, _April 6, 1807_, 3 P.M.
_My Dear_,--I have received your letter, from which I see you have
spent Holy Week at Malmaison, and that your health is better. I long
to hear that you are thoroughly well.
I am in a fine chateau, where there are fireplaces, which I find a
great comfort. It is still very cold here; everything is frozen.
You will have seen that I have good news from Constantinople.
My health is good. There is nothing fresh here.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 62.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein_, _April 10, 1807_, 6 P.M.
_My Dear_,--My health is excellent. Here spring is beginning; but as
yet there is no vegetation. I wish you to be cheerful and contented,
and never to doubt my attachment. Here all goes well.
NAPOLEON.
No. 63.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein_, _April 14, 1807_, 7 P.M.
I have received your letter of April 3rd. I see from it that you are
well, and that it has been very cold in Paris. The weather here is
very unsettled; still I think the spring has come at length; already
the ice has almost gone. I am in splendid health.
Adieu, dear. I ordered some time ago for Malmaison all that you ask
for,--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 64.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein, April 18, 1807._
I have received your letter of April 5th. I am sorry to see from it
that you are grieved at what I have told you. As usual, your little
Creole head becomes flurried and excited in a moment. Let us not,
therefore, speak of it again. I am very well, but yet the weather is
rainy. Savary is very ill of a bilious fever, before Dantzic; I hope
it will be nothing serious.
Adieu, dear; my very best wishes to you.
NAPOLEON.
No. 65.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Finckenstein_, _April 24, 1807_, 7 P.M.
I have received your letter of the 12th. I see from it that your
health is good, and that you are very happy at the thought of going to
Malmaison.
The weather has changed to fine; I hope it may continue so.
There is nothing fresh here. I am Previous Next |