Array Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne - The Collected Works of Napoleon Bonaparte

I despatched Borghèse 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 Abrantès, 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.

Table of Contents

"Napoleon was received with unbounded adulation by all the towns of Italy.... He was the Redeemer of France, but the Creator of Italy."—Alison, Hist. of Europe (vol. xi. 280).

November 16th.—Napoleon leaves Fontainebleau.

November 22nd-25th.—At Milan.

No. 1.

To the Empress, at Paris.

Milan, November 25, 1807.

My Dear ,—I have been here two days. I am very glad that I did not bring you here; you would have suffered dreadfully in crossing Mont Cenis, where a storm detained me twenty-four hours.

I found Eugène in good health; I am very pleased with him. The Princess is ill; I went to see her at Monza. She has had a miscarriage; she is getting better.

Adieu, dear.

Napoleon.

November 29th to December 7th.—At Venice (writes Talleyrand, "This land is a phenomenon of the power of commerce").

No. 2.

To the Empress, at Paris.

Venice, November 30, 1807.

I have your letter of November 22nd. The last two days I have been at Venice. The weather is very bad, which has not prevented me from sailing over the lagoons in order to see the different forts.

I am glad to see you are enjoying yourself at Paris.

The King of Bavaria, with his family, as well as the Princess Eliza, are here.

I am spending December 2nd 27here, and that past I shall be on my way home, and very glad to see you.

Adieu, dear.

Napoleon.

No. 3.

To the Empress, at Paris.

Udine, December 11, 1807.

My Dear ,—I have your letter of December 3rd, from which I note that you were much pleased with the Jardin des Plantes. Here I am at the extreme limit of my journey; it is possible I may soon be in Paris, where I shall be very glad to see you again. The weather has not as yet been cold here, but very rainy. I have profited by this good season up to the last moment, for I suppose that at Christmas the winter will at length make itself felt.

Adieu, dear.—Yours ever,

Napoleon.

December 12th.—At Udine.

December 14th.—At Mantua.

December 16th.—At Milan (till December 26th).

December 17th.—His Milan decree against English commerce.

December 27th-28th.—At Turin.

1808.

January 1st.—At Paris.