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 friends.h.i.+p, 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 fas.h.i.+ons.