Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History BookOpen Original Text urs of November 27th received, from which I see that your little
head is quite turned. I am reminded of the verse--
"Desir de femme est un feu qui devore."
Still you must calm yourself. I wrote you that I was in Poland; that,
when we were established in winter quarters, you could come; you will
have to wait a few days. The greater one becomes, the less one can
consult one's wishes--being dependent on events and circumstances. You
can come to Frankfort or Darmstadt. I am hoping to send for you in a
few days; that is, if circumstances will permit. The warmth of your
letter makes me realise that you, like other pretty women, know no
bounds. What you will, must be; but, as for me, I declare that of all
men I am the greatest slave; my master has no pity, and this master is
the nature of things.
Adieu, dear; keep well. The person that I wished to speak to you about
is Madame L----, of whom every one is speaking ill; they assure me
that she is more Prussian than French woman. I don't believe it, but I
think her an idiot who talks nothing but trash.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_December 6th.--Thorn (on the Vistula) occupied by Ney._
No. 20.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Posen, December 9, 1806._
Yours of December 1st received. I see with pleasure that you are more
cheerful; that the Queen of Holland wishes to come with you. I long to
give the order; but you must still wait a few days. My affairs
prosper.
Adieu, dear; I love you and wish to see you happy.
NAPOLEON.
No. 21.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Posen, December 10, 1806_, 5 P.M.
An officer has just brought me a rug, a gift from you; it is somewhat
short and narrow, but I thank you for it none the less. I am in fair
health. The weather is very changeable. My affairs prosper pretty
well. I love you and long for you much.
Adieu, dear; I shall write for you to come with at least as much
pleasure as you will have in coming.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
A kiss to Hortense, Stephanie, and Napoleon.
* * * * *
_December 11th.--Davoust forces the passage of the Bug._
No. 22.
_December 12th.--Treaty of peace and alliance between France and
Saxony signed at Posen._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Posen, December 12th, 1806_, 7 P.M.
_My Dear_,--I have not received any letters from you, but know,
nevertheless, that you are well. My health is good, the weather very
mild; the bad season has not begun yet, but the roads are bad in a
country where there are no highways. Hortense will come then with
Napoleon; I am delighted to hear it. I long to see things shape
themselves into a position to enable you to come.
I have made peace with Saxony. The Elector is King and one of the
confederation.
Adieu, my well-beloved Josephine.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
A kiss to Hortense, Napoleon, and Stephanie.
Paeer, the famous musician, his wife, a virtuoso whom you saw at Milan
twelve years ago, and Brizzi are here; they give me a little music
every evening.
No. 23.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_December 15, 1806_, 3 P.M.
_My Dear_,--I start for Warsaw. In a fortnight I shall be back; I hope
then to be able to send for you. But if that seems a long time, I
should be very glad if you would return to Paris, where you are
wanted. You well know that I am dependent on events. All my affairs go
excellently. My health is very good; I am as well as possible.
Adieu, dear. I have made peace with Saxony.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_December 17th._--Turkey declares war on Russia. (_So Montgaillard;
but Napoleon refers to it in the thirty-ninth bulletin, dated
December 7th, while Haydn dates it January 7th._)
No. 24.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Warsaw, December 20, 1806_, 3 P.M.
I have no news from you, dear. I am very well. The last two days I
have been at Warsaw. My affairs prosper. The weather is very mild, and
even somewhat humid. It has as yet barely begun to freeze; it is
October weather.
Adieu, dear; I should much have liked to see you, but trust that in
five or six days I shall be able to send for you.
Kindest regards to the Queen of Holland and to her little
Napoleons.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_December 22nd.--Napoleon crosses the Narew, and the next day
defeats Russians at Czarnowo; also_
_December 24th.--At Nasielsk._
_December 26th.--Ney defeats Lestocq at Soldau; Lannes defeats
Beningsen at Pultusk_;
_December 28th.--And Augereau defeats Buxhowden at Golymin._
No. 25.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Golymin, December 29, 1806_, 5 A.M.
I write you only a line, my dear. I am in a wretched barn. I have
beaten the Russians, taken thirty pieces of cannon, their baggage,
and 6000 prisoners; but the weather is frightful. It is raining; we
have mud up to our knees.
In two days I shall be at Warsaw, whence I shall write you.--Yours
ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 26.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Pultusk, December 31, 1806._
I have had a good laugh over your last letters. You idealise the fair
ones of Great Poland in a way they do not deserve. I have had for two
or three days the pleasure of hearing Paeer and two lady singers, who
have given me some very good music. I received your letter in a
wretched barn, having mud, wind, and straw for my only bed. To-morrow
I shall be at Warsaw. I think all is over for this year. The army is
entering winter quarters. I shrug my shoulders at the stupidity of
Madame de L----; still you should show her your displeasure, and
counsel her not to be so idiotic. Such things become common property,
and make many people indignant.
For my part, I scorn ingratitude as the worst fault in a human heart.
I know that instead of comforting you, these people have given you
pain.
Adieu, dear; I am in good health. I do not think you ought to go to
Cassel; that place is not suitable. You may go to Darmstadt.
NAPOLEON.
No. 27.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Warsaw, January 3, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I have received your letter. Your grief pains me; but one
must bow to events. There is too much country to travel between
Mayence and Warsaw; you must, therefore, wait till circumstances
allow me to come to Berlin, in order that I may write you to come
thither. It is true that the enemy, defeated, is far away; but I have
many things here to put to rights. I should be inclined to think that
you might return to Paris, where you are needed. Send away those
ladies who have their affairs to look after; you will be better
without people who have given you so much worry.
My health is good; the weather bad. I love you from my heart.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_January 5th.--Capture of Breslau, with 7000 men, by Vandamme and
Hedouville._
No. 28.
_January 7th.--English Orders in Council against Berlin Decree._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Warsaw, January 7, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I am pained by all that you tell me; but the season being
cold, the roads very bad and not at all safe, I cannot consent to
expose you to so many fatigues and dangers. Return to Paris in order
to spend the winter Previous Next |