Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History BookOpen Original Text osephine._
_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
to see the King of Bavaria, who has just arrived in Paris. I shall
come to see you to-night at eight o'clock, and return at ten.
I hope to see you to-morrow, and to see you cheerful and placid.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 6.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Trianon, Tuesday._
_My Dear_,--I lay down after you left me yesterday;[36] I am going to
Paris. I wish to hear that you are cheerful. I shall come to see you
during the week.
I have received your letters, which I am going to read in the
carriage.
NAPOLEON.
No. 7.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Paris, Wednesday, Noon, 27th December 1809._
Eugene told me that you were very miserable all yesterday. That is not
well, my dear; it is contrary to what you promised me.
I have been thoroughly tired in revisiting the Tuileries; that great
palace seemed empty to me, and I felt lost in it.
Adieu, dear. Keep well.
NAPOLEON.
No. 8.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Paris, Sunday, December 31_, 10 A.M., 1809.
_My Dear_,--To-day I have a grand parade; I shall see all my Old Guard
and more than sixty artillery trains.
The King of Westphalia is returning home, which will leave a house
vacant in Paris. I am sad not to see you. If the parade finishes
before 3 o'clock, I will come; otherwise, to-morrow.
Adieu, dear.
NAPOLEON.
No. 9.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Thursday Evening_, 1810.
_My Dear_,--Hortense, whom I saw this afternoon, has given me news of
you. I trust that you will have been able to see your plants to-day,
the weather having been fine. I have only been out for a few minutes
at three o'clock to shoot some hares.
Adieu, dear; sleep well.
NAPOLEON.
No. 10.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Friday_, 8 P.M., 1810.
I wished to come and see you to-day, but I cannot; it will be, I hope,
in the morning. It is a long time since I heard from you. I learnt
with pleasure that you take walks in your garden these cold days.
Adieu, dear; keep well, and never doubt my affection.
NAPOLEON.
No. 11.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Sunday_, 8 P.M., 1810.
I was very glad to see you yesterday; I feel what charms your society
has for me.
To-day I walked with Esteve.[37] I have allowed L4000 for 1810, for
the extraordinary expenses at Malmaison. You can therefore do as much
planting as you like; you will distribute that sum as you may require.
I have instructed Esteve to send L8000 the moment the contract for the
Maison Julien shall be made. I have ordered them to pay for your
_parure_ of rubies, which will be valued by the Department, for I do
not wish to be robbed by jewellers. So, there goes the L16,000 that
this may cost me.
I have ordered them to hold the million which the Civil List owes you
for 1810 at the disposal of your man of business, in order to pay your
debts.
You should find in the coffers of Malmaison twenty to twenty-five
thousand pounds; you can take them to buy your plate and linen.
I have instructed them to make you a very fine porcelain service; they
will take your commands in order that it may be a very fine one.
NAPOLEON.
No. 12.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.
_Wednesday_, 6 P.M., 1810.
_My Dear_,--I see no objection to your receiving the King of
Westphalia whenever you wish. The King and Queen of Bavaria will
probably come to see you on Friday.
I long to come to Malmaison, but you must really show fortitude and
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