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

You speak of the necessity of contracting an alliance, of giving an heir to your empire, of founding a dynasty! But with whom are you about to form an alliance? with the natural enemy of France, that artful house of Austria, whose detestation of our country has its rise in its innate feelings, in its system, in the laws of necessity. Do you believe that this hatred, of which she has given us such abundant proof, more particularly for the last fifty years, has not been transferred by her from the kingdom of France to the French empire? That the children of Maria Theresa, that skilful sovereign, who purchased from Madame de Pompadour the fatal treaty of 1756, which you never mention without shuddering; do you imagine, I repeat, that her posterity, when inheriting her power, has not also inherited her spirit? I am merely repeating what you have so often said to me; but at that time your ambition was satisfied with humbling a power which you now find it convenient to restore to its former rank. Believe me, as long as you shall exercise a sway over Europe, that power will be submissive to you; but beware of reverses of fortune.

As to the necessity of an heir, I must speak out, at the risk of appearing in the character of a mother prejudiced in favour of her son; ought I, in fact, to be silent when I consider the interests of one who is my only delight, and upon whom alone you had built all your hopes? That adoption of the 12th of January 1806 was then another political falsehood! Nevertheless the talents, the virtues of my Eugène are no illusion. How often have you not spoken in his praise? I may say more; you thought it right to reward him by the gift of a throne, and have repeatedly said that he was deserving of greater favours. Well, then! France has frequently re-echoed these praises; but you are now indifferent to the wishes of France.

I say nothing to you at present of the person who is destined to succeed me, and you do not expect that I should make any allusion to this subject. You might suspect the feelings which dictated my language; nevertheless, you can never doubt of the sincerity of my wishes for your happiness; may it at least afford me some consolation for my sufferings. Great indeed will be that happiness if it should ever bear any proportion to them!

No. 4.

Part of a Letter said to be dated Brienne, 1814.

"... On revisiting this spot, where I passed my youthful days, and contrasting the peaceful condition I then enjoyed with the state of terror and agitation to which my mind is now a prey, often have I addressed myself in these words: 'I have sought death in numberless engagements; I can no longer dread its approach; I should now hail it as a boon ... nevertheless, I could still wish to see Josephine once more!'"

No. 5.

To the Empress Josephine, at Malmaison.

Fontainebleau, 16th April 1814 .

My dear Josephine ,—I wrote to you on the 8th instant (it was on a Friday). You have perhaps not received my letter; fighting was still going on; it is possible that it may have been stopped on its way. The communications must now be re-established. My determination is taken; I have no doubt of this note coming to your hands.

I do not repeat what I have already told you. I then complained of my situation; I now rejoice at it. My mind and attention are relieved from an enormous weight; my downfall is great, but it is at least said to be productive of good.

In my retreat I intend to substitute the pen for the sword. The history of my reign will gratify the cravings of curiosity. Hitherto, I have only been seen in profile; I will now show myself in full to the world. What facts have I not to disclose! how many men are incorrectly estimated! I have heaped favours upon a countless number of wretches; what have they latterly done for me?

They have all betrayed me, one and all, save and except the excellent Eugène, so worthy of you and of me. May he ever enjoy happiness under a sovereign fully competent to appreciate the feelings of nature and of honour!

Adieu, my dear Josephine; follow my example and be resigned. Never dismiss from your recollection one who has never forgotten, and never will forget you! Farewell, Josephine.

Napoleon.

P.S. —I expect to hear from you when I shall have reached the island of Elba. I am far from being in good health.

14 Un millier de baise (sic).

15So Tennant ( t'en offrir un ): but Baron Feuillet de Conches, an expert in Napoleonic graphology, renders the expression t'en souffrir un .

16Bonaparte's courier.

17The date of this letter is May 29, 1800. See Notes.

18 J'ai couché aujourd'hui — i.e. a few hours' morning sleep.

19The month Brumaire—i.e. before November 21st.

20Countess de Serent, the Empress's lady-in-waiting.

21 VI. Nivose , which for the year 1805 was December 27 (see Harris Nicolas' "Chronology of History"). Haydn, Woodward, Bouillet, all have December 26th; Alison and Biographie Universelle have December 27th; but, as usual, the "Correspondence of Napoleon I." is taken here as the final court of appeal.

22Murat and Borghèse.

23Eugène's eldest daughter, the Princess Josephine Maximilienne Auguste, born March 14, 1807; married Bernadotte's son, Prince Oscar, June 18, 1827.

24 Toute diablesse.

25Charles Napoleon, Prince Royal of Holland, died at the Hague, May 5, 1807.

26 Presumed date.

27His Coronation Day.

28Charles Louis Napoleon, afterwards Napoleon III.

29At 17 Rue Lafitte.

30At Bayonne.

31General Lefebvre—Desnouettes.

32Napoleon Louis, Prince Royal of Holland, and Grand Duke of Berg from March 3, 1809.

33Her two grandsons, who, with Hortense, their mother, were at Baden.

34Boispréau, belonging to Mademoiselle Julien.

35Also Meme's Memoirs of Josephine , p. 333.

36The Empress, with Hortense, had been to dine at Trianon.

37General Treasurer of the Crown.

38So Collection Didot , followed by Aubenas. St. Amand has "ton infortunée fille."

39Josephine's chief maid-of-honour.

40Averaged from early historians of the campaigns. Marbot gives the numbers 155,400 French and 175,000 Allies. Allowing for the secession of the Austrian and Prussian contingents and for 30,000 prisoners, he gives the actual French death-roll by February 1813 at 65,000. This is a minimum estimate.

41No. 89 of Napoleon III.'s Correspondence of Napoleon I., vol. i., the last letter signed Buonaparte; after March 24 we only find Bonaparte.

42Compelled to surrender Genoa, before Marengo takes place, he swears to the Austrian general he will be back there in fourteen days, and keeps his word.

43Two days later he evidently feels this letter too severe, and writes: "All goes well. Pillage is less pronounced. This first thirst of an army destitute of everything is quenched. The poor fellows are excusable; after having sighed for three years at the top of the Alps, they arrive in the Promised Land, and wish to taste of it."

44Bingham, with his customary ill-nature, remarks that Bonaparte, "in spite of the orders of the Directory, took upon himself to sign the armistice." These orders, dated March 6th, were intended for a novice, and no longer applicable to the conqueror of two armies, and which a Despatch on the way, dated April 25th, already modified. Jomini admits the wisdom of this advantageous peace, which secured Nice and Savoy to France, and gave her all the chief mountain-passes leading into Italy.

45Murat, says Marmont, who hated him, was the culprit here.

46J. H. Rose in Eng. Hist. Review , January 1899.

47See Essay by J. H. Rose in Eng. Hist. Review , January 1899.