Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History BookOpen Original Text ss the present order. She may
possibly come to your apartments, to enter them by night; forbid your
porter to admit her.
* * * * *
I shall soon be at Malmaison. I warn you to have no lovers there that
night; I should be sorry to disturb them. Adieu, dear; I long to see
you and assure you of my love and affection.
NAPOLEON.
No. 10.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_November 6, 1806_, 9 P.M.
Yours to hand, in which you seem annoyed at the bad things I say about
women; it is true that I hate intriguing women more than anything. I
am used to kind, gentle, persuasive women; these are the kind I like.
If I have been spoilt, it is not my fault, but yours. Moreover, you
shall learn how kind I have been to one who showed herself sensible
and good, Madame d'Hatzfeld. When I showed her husband's letter to her
she admitted to me, amid her sobs, with profound emotion, and frankly,
"Ah! it is indeed his writing!" While she was reading, her voice went
to my heart; it pained me. I said, "Well, madame, throw that letter on
the fire, I shall then have no longer the power to punish your
husband." She burnt the letter, and seemed very happy. Her husband now
feels at ease; two hours later he would have been a dead man. You see
then how I like kind, frank, gentle women; but it is because such
alone resemble you.
Adieu, dear; my health is good.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_November 6th and 7th.--Blucher and his army (17,000 men)
surrender at Lubeck to Soult, Murat, and Bernadotte._
_November 8th.--Magdeburg surrenders to Ney, with 20,000 men,
immense stores, and nearly 800 cannon._
No. 11.
_November 9th.--Napoleon levies a contribution of 150 million
francs on Prussia and her allies._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Berlin, November 9, 1806._
_My Dear_,--I am sending good news. Magdeburg has capitulated, and on
November 7th I took 20,000 men at Lubeck who escaped me last week. The
whole Prussian army, therefore, is captured; even beyond the Vistula
there does not remain to Prussia 20,000 men. Several of my army corps
are in Poland. I am still at Berlin. I am very fairly well.
Adieu, dear; heartiest good wishes to Hortense, Stephanie, and the two
little Napoleons.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_November 10th.--Davoust occupies Posen. Hanover occupied by
Marshal Mortier._
No. 12.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Berlin, November 16, 1806._
I received your letter of November 11th. I note with satisfaction that
my convictions give you pleasure. You are wrong to think flattery was
intended; I was telling you of yourself as I see you. I am grieved to
think that you are tired of Mayence. Were the journey less long, you
might come here, for there is no longer an enemy, or, if there is, he
is beyond the Vistula; that is to say, more than three hundred miles
away. I will wait to hear what you think about it. I should also be
delighted to see M. Napoleon.
Adieu, my dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
I have still too much business here for me to return to Paris.
* * * * *
_November 17th.--Suspension of arms signed at Charlottenburg._
_November 19th.--French occupy Hamburg._
_November 20th.--French occupy Hameln._
_November 21st.--French occupy Bremen. Berlin decree. Napoleon
interdicts trade with England._
No. 13.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_November 22, 1806_, 10 P.M.
Your letter received. I am sorry to find you in the dumps; yet you
have every reason to be cheerful. You are wrong to show so much
kindness to people who show themselves unworthy of it. Madame L----
is a fool; such an idiot that you ought to know her by this time, and
pay no heed to her. Be contented, happy in my friendship, and in the
great influence you possess. In a few days I shall decide whether to
summon you hither or send you to Paris.
Adieu, dear; you can go at once, if you like, to Darmstadt, or to
Frankfort; that will make you forget your troubles.
Kindest regards to Hortense.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_November 25th.--Napoleon leaves Berlin._
No. 14.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Kustrin, November 26, 1806._
I am at Kustrin, making a tour and spying out the land a little; I
shall see in a day or two whether you should come. You can keep ready.
I shall be very pleased if the Queen of Holland be of the party. The
Grand Duchess of Baden must write to her husband about it.
It is 2 A.M. I am just getting up; it is the usage of war.
Kindest regards to you and to every one.
NAPOLEON.
No. 15.
_November 27th.--Napoleon arrives at Posen._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Meseritz, November 27, 1806_, 2 A.M.
I am about to make a tour in Poland. This is the first town there.
To-night I shall be at Posen, after which I shall send for you to come
to Berlin, so that you can arrive there the same day as I. My health
is good, the weather rather bad; it has rained for the past three
days. My affairs prosper. The Russians are in flight.
Adieu, dear; kindest regards to Hortense, Stephanie, and the little
Napoleons.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_November 28th.--Murat enters Warsaw. French occupy Duchies of
Mecklenburg._
No. 16.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Posen, November 29, 1806, Noon._
I am at Posen, capital of Great Poland. The cold weather has set in; I
am in good health. I am about to take a circuit round Poland. My
troops are at the gates of Warsaw.
Adieu, dear; very kindest regards, and a hearty embrace.
No. 17.
_December 2nd.--Glogau surrenders to Vandamme._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Posen, December 2, 1806._
To-day is the anniversary of Austerlitz. I have been to a city ball.
It is raining; I am in good health. I love you and long for you. My
troops are at Warsaw. So far the cold has not been severe. All these
fair Poles are Frenchwomen at heart; but there is only one woman
for me. Would you know her? I could draw her portrait very well;
but I should have to flatter it too much for you to recognise
yourself;--yet, to tell the truth, my heart would only have nice
things to say to you. These nights are long, all alone.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 18.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_December 3, 1806, Noon._
Yours of November 26th received. I notice two things in it. You say I
do not read your letters: it is an unkind thought. I take your bad
opinion anything but kindly. You tell me that perhaps it is a mere
phantasy of the night, and you add that you are not jealous. I found
out long ago that angry persons always assert that they are not angry;
that those who are afraid keep on repeating that they have no fear;
you therefore are convinced of jealousy. I am delighted to hear it!
Nevertheless, you are wrong; I think of nothing less, and in the
desert plains of Poland one thinks little about beauties....
I had yesterday a ball of the provincial nobility--the women
good-looking enough, rich enough, dowdy enough, although in Paris
fashions.
Adieu, dear; I am in good health.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 19.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Posen, December 3, 1806_, 6 P.M.
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