Napoleon's Letters To Josephine Part 27

_November 17th.--Suspension of arms signed at Charlottenburg._

_November 19th.--French occupy Hamburg._

_November 20th.--French occupy Hameln._

_November 21st.--French occupy Bremen. Berlin decree. Napoleon interdicts trade with England._

No. 13.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_November 22, 1806_, 10 P.M.

Your letter received. I am sorry to find you in the dumps; yet you have every reason to be cheerful. You are wrong to show so much kindness to people who show themselves unworthy of it. Madame L---- is a fool; such an idiot that you ought to know her by this time, and pay no heed to her. Be contented, happy in my friendship, and in the great influence you possess. In a few days I shall decide whether to summon you hither or send you to Paris.

Adieu, dear; you can go at once, if you like, to Darmstadt, or to Frankfort; that will make you forget your troubles.

Kindest regards to Hortense.

NAPOLEON.

_November 25th.--Napoleon leaves Berlin._

No. 14.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Kustrin, November 26, 1806._

I am at Kustrin, making a tour and spying out the land a little; I shall see in a day or two whether you should come. You can keep ready.

I shall be very pleased if the Queen of Holland be of the party. The Grand d.u.c.h.ess of Baden must write to her husband about it.

It is 2 A.M. I am just getting up; it is the usage of war.

Kindest regards to you and to every one.

NAPOLEON.

No. 15.

_November 27th.--Napoleon arrives at Posen._

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Meseritz, November 27, 1806_, 2 A.M.

I am about to make a tour in Poland. This is the first town there.

To-night I shall be at Posen, after which I shall send for you to come to Berlin, so that you can arrive there the same day as I. My health is good, the weather rather bad; it has rained for the past three days. My affairs prosper. The Russians are in flight.

Adieu, dear; kindest regards to Hortense, Stephanie, and the little Napoleons.

NAPOLEON.

_November 28th.--Murat enters Warsaw. French occupy Duchies of Mecklenburg._

No. 16.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Posen, November 29, 1806, Noon._

I am at Posen, capital of Great Poland. The cold weather has set in; I am in good health. I am about to take a circuit round Poland. My troops are at the gates of Warsaw.

Adieu, dear; very kindest regards, and a hearty embrace.

No. 17.

_December 2nd.--Glogau surrenders to Vandamme._

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Posen, December 2, 1806._

To-day is the anniversary of Austerlitz. I have been to a city ball.

It is raining; I am in good health. I love you and long for you. My troops are at Warsaw. So far the cold has not been severe. All these fair Poles are Frenchwomen at heart; but there is only one woman for me. Would you know her? I could draw her portrait very well; but I should have to flatter it too much for you to recognise yourself;--yet, to tell the truth, my heart would only have nice things to say to you. These nights are long, all alone.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

No. 18.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_December 3, 1806, Noon._

Yours of November 26th received. I notice two things in it. You say I do not read your letters: it is an unkind thought. I take your bad opinion anything but kindly. You tell me that perhaps it is a mere phantasy of the night, and you add that you are not jealous. I found out long ago that angry persons always a.s.sert that they are not angry; that those who are afraid keep on repeating that they have no fear; you therefore are convinced of jealousy. I am delighted to hear it!

Nevertheless, you are wrong; I think of nothing less, and in the desert plains of Poland one thinks little about beauties....

I had yesterday a ball of the provincial n.o.bility--the women good-looking enough, rich enough, dowdy enough, although in Paris fashions.