Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History BookOpen Original Text the battle of Marengo.
The battle of Friedland will be as celebrated for my people, and
equally glorious. The entire Russian army routed, 80 pieces of cannon
captured, 30,000 men taken or slain, 25 Russian generals killed,
wounded, or taken, the Russian Guard wiped out. The battle is worthy
of her sisters--Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena. The bulletin will tell you
the rest. My loss is not considerable. I out-manoeuvred the enemy
successfully.
Be content and without uneasiness.
Adieu, dear; my horse is waiting.
NAPOLEON.
You may give this news as official, if it arrives before the bulletin.
They may also fire salvoes. Cambaceres will make the proclamation.
No. 78.
_June 16th.--Koenigsberg captured by Soult--"what was left to the
King of Prussia is conquered."_
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Friedland_, _June 16, 1807_, 4 P.M.
_My Dear_,--Yesterday I despatched Moustache with the news of the
battle of Friedland. Since then I have continued to pursue the enemy.
Koenigsberg, which is a town of 80,000 souls, is in my power. I have
found there many cannon, large stores, and, lastly, more than 160,000
muskets, which have come from England.
Adieu, dear. My health is perfect, although I have a slight
catarrh caused by bivouacking in the rain and cold. Be happy and
cheerful.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_June 17th.--Neisse, in Silesia, with 6000 men, surrenders to the
French; also_
_June 18th--Glatz._
No. 79.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, June 19, 1807._
This morning I despatched Tascher to you, to calm all your fears. Here
all goes splendidly. The battle of Friedland has decided everything.
The enemy is confounded, overwhelmed, and greatly weakened.
My health is good, and my army is superb.
Adieu, dear. Be cheerful and contented.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_June 21st.--Armistice concluded at Tilsit._
No. 80.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, June 22, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I have your letter of June 10th. I am sorry to see you are
so depressed. You will see by the bulletin that I have concluded a
suspension of arms, and that we are negotiating peace. Be contented
and cheerful.
I despatched Borghese to you, and, twelve hours later, Moustache;
therefore you should have received in good time my letters and the
news of the grand battle of Friedland.
I am wonderfully well, and wish to hear that you are happy.--Yours
ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 81.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, June 25, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I have just seen the Emperor Alexander. I was much pleased
with him. He is a very handsome, young, and kind-hearted Emperor; he
has more intelligence than people usually give him credit for.
To-morrow he will lodge in the town of Tilsit.
Adieu, dear. I am very anxious to hear that you are well and happy. My
health is very good.
NAPOLEON.
No. 82.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, July 3, 1807._
_My Dear_,--M. de Turenne will give you full details of all that
has occurred here. Everything goes excellently. I think I told you
that the Emperor of Russia drinks your health with much cordiality.
He, as well as the King of Prussia, dines with me every day. I
sincerely trust that you are happy. Adieu, dear. A thousand loving
remembrances.
NAPOLEON.
No. 83.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, July 6, 1807._
I have your letter of June 25th. I was grieved to see that you were
selfish, and that the success of my arms should have no charm for
you.
The beautiful Queen of Prussia is to come to-morrow to dine with me.
I am well, and am longing to see you again, when destiny shall so
order it. Still, it may be sooner than we expect.
Adieu, dear; a thousand loving remembrances.
NAPOLEON.
No. 84.
_July 7th.--Peace signed between France and Russia._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, July 7, 1807._
_My Dear_,--Yesterday the Queen of Prussia dined with me. I had to be
on the defence against some further concessions she wished me to make
to her husband; but I was very polite, and yet held firmly to my
policy. She is very charming. I shall soon give you the details, which
I could not possibly give you now unless at great length. When you
read this letter, peace with Prussia and Russia will be concluded, and
Jerome acknowledged King of Westphalia, with a population of three
millions. This news is for yourself alone.
Adieu, dear; I love you, and wish to know that you are cheerful and
contented.
NAPOLEON.
No. 85.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Tilsit, July 8,[26] 1807._
The Queen of Prussia is really charming; she is full of _coquetterie_
for me; but don't be jealous; I am an oil-cloth over which all that
can only glide. It would cost me too much to play the lover.
NAPOLEON.
No. 12,875 of the _Correspondence_ (taken from Las Cases).
* * * * *
_July 9th.--Peace signed between France and Prussia, the latter
resigning all its possessions between the Rhine and the Elbe._
No. 86.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.
_Dresden, July 18, 1807, Noon._
_My Dear_,--Yesterday I arrived at Dresden at 5 P.M., in excellent
health, although I remained a hundred hours in the carriage without
getting out. I am staying here with the King of Saxony, with whom I am
highly pleased. I have now therefore traversed more than half the
distance that separates us.
It is very likely that one of these fine nights I may descend upon St.
Cloud like a jealous husband, so beware.
Adieu, dear; I shall have great pleasure in seeing you.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_July 25th._--Plot of Prince Ferdinand of Asturias against his
parents, the King and Queen of Spain.
_July 27th.--Napoleon arrives at St. Cloud,_ 5 A.M.
_August 19th.--Napoleon suppresses the French Tribunate._
_August 20th.--Marshal Brune captures Stralsund from the Swedes._
_September 1st.--The Ionian Isles become part of the French
Empire._
_September 5th to 7th._--Bombardment of Copenhagen by the
English.
_September 7th.--Occupation of Rugen by Marshal Brune._
_October 6th._--War between Russia and Sweden.
_October 16th.--Treaty of alliance between France and Denmark._
_October 17th.--Junot with 27,000 men starts for Portugal, with
whom France has been nominally at war since 1801._
_October 27th.--Treaty of Fontainebleau signed between France and
Spain. (Plot of Prince Ferdinand against his father discovered at
Madrid the same day.)_
_November 8th._--Russia declares war against England.
_November 15th.--Napoleon constitutes the kingdom of Westphalia,
with his brother Jerome as king._
_November 26th.--Junot enters Abrantes, and on_
_November 30th, enters Lisbon._
_December 9th._--Trade suspended between England and the United
States (_re_ rights of neutrals).
_December 23rd.--France levies a contribution of 100 million
francs on Portugal._
FOOTNOTES
[22] Murat and Borghese.
[23] Eugene's eldest daughter, the Princess Josephine Maximilienne
Auguste, born March 14, 1807; married Bernadotte's son, Prince
Oscar, June 1 Previous Next |