Napoleon's Letters To Josephine Part 16

Hortense is usually in good health. Your fat son has been rather unwell, but is getting better. I think the ladies are playing "The Barber of Seville" to-night. The weather is perfect.

Rest a.s.sured that my truest wishes are ever for my little Josephine.--Yours ever,

BONAPARTE.

No. 4.

TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIeRES.

_Malmaison, June 27, 1802._

Your letter, dear little wife, has apprised me that you are out of sorts. Corvisart tells me that it is a good sign that the baths are having the desired effect, and that your health will soon be re-established. But I am most truly grieved to know that you are in pain.

Yesterday I went to see the Sevres manufactory at St. Cloud.

Best wishes to all.--Yours for life,

BONAPARTE.

_June 29th.--Pope withdraws excommunication from Talleyrand._

No. 5.

TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIeRES.

_Malmaison, July 1, 1802._

Your letter of June 29th has arrived. You say nothing of your health nor of the effect of the baths. I see that you expect to be home in a week; that is good news for your lover, who is tired of being alone!

You ought to have seen General Ney, who started for Plombieres; he will be married on his return.

Yesterday Hortense played Rosina in "The Barber of Seville" with her usual skill.

Rest a.s.sured of my love, and that I await your return impatiently.

Without you everything here is dreary.

BONAPARTE.

_August 2nd.--Napoleon Bonaparte made First Consul for life._ "_The conduct and the language of Bonaparte represents at once Augustus, Mahomet, Louis XI., Masaniello_" (Montgaillard, _an avowed enemy_).

_September 22nd._--Opening of the Ourcq Waterworks for the supply of Paris.

_September 25th.--Ma.s.s celebrated at St. Cloud for the first time.

In this month Napoleon annexes Piedmont, and the next sends Ney to occupy Switzerland._

_October 11th.--Birth of Napoleon Charles, son of Louis Bonaparte and Hortense._

_October 29th.--Napoleon and Josephine visit Normandy, and, contrary to expectation, receive ovations everywhere. They return to Paris, November 14th._

EVENTS OF 1803.

_February 19th._--New const.i.tution imposed by France on Switzerland.

_April 14th.--Bank of France reorganised by Bonaparte; it alone allowed to issue notes._

_April 27th._--Death of Toussaint-Louverture at Besancon.

_April 30th._--France sells Louisiana to U.S. for 4,000,000 (15 million dollars).

_May 22nd.--France declares war against England, chiefly respecting Malta. England having seized all French s.h.i.+ps in British harbours previous to war being declared, Napoleon seizes all British tourists in France._

_May 31st.--His soldiers occupy Electorate of Hanover._

_June 14th.--He visits North of France and Belgium, accompanied by Josephine, and returns to Paris August 12th._

_September 27th._--Press censors.h.i.+p established in France.

_November 30th._--French evacuate St. Domingo.

SERIES E

1804

"Everywhere the king of the earth found once more, to put a bridle on his pride, the inevitable lords of the sea."--BIGNON, v. 130.

SERIES E

(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 232-237.)

LETTER PAGE

No. 1. _Madame_ 232 _Pont de Bricques_ 232 _The wind having considerably freshened_ 232