Napoleon's Letters To Josephine Part 41

_January 27th.--Queen and Prince Regent of Portugal reach Rio de Janeiro._

_February 2nd.--French troops enter Rome._

_February 17th.--French occupy Pampeluna, and_

_February 29th.--Barcelona._

_March 19th.--Charles IV. abdicates, and his son proclaimed Ferdinand VII._

_March 20th.--G.o.doy imprisoned by Ferdinand._

_March 23rd.--Murat enters Madrid._

_March 27th.--Napoleon excommunicated._

_April 15th.--Napoleon arrives at Bayonne._

No. 1.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT BORDEAUX.

_Bayonne, April 16, 1808._

I have arrived here in good health, rather tired by a dull journey and a very bad road.

I am very glad you stayed behind, for the houses here are wretched and very small.

I go to-day into a small house in the country, about a mile from the town.

Adieu, dear. Take care of yourself.

No. 2.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT BORDEAUX.

_Bayonne, April 17, 1808._

I have just received yours of April 15th. What you tell me of the owner of the country-house pleases me. Go and spend the day there sometimes.

I am sending an order for you to have 20,000 francs per month additional while I am away, counting from the 1st of April.

I am lodged atrociously. I am leaving this place in an hour, to occupy a country-house (_bastide_) about a mile away. The Infant Don Carlos and five or six Spanish grandees are here, the Prince of the Asturias fifty miles away. King Charles and the Queen are due. I know not how I shall lodge all these people. Everything here is still most primitive (_a l'auberge_). The health of my troops in Spain is good.

It took me some time to understand your little jokes; I have laughed at your recollections. O you women, what memories you have!

My health is fairly good, and I love you most affectionately. I wish you to give my kind regards to everybody at Bordeaux; I have been too busy to send them to anybody.

NAPOLEON.

_April 20th.--Ferdinand arrives at Bayonne._

No. 3.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT BORDEAUX.

_April 21, 1808._

I have just received your letter of April 19th. Yesterday I had the Prince of the Asturias and his suite to dinner, which occasioned me considerable embarra.s.sment. I am waiting for Charles IV. and the Queen.

My health is good. I am now sufficiently recovered for the campaign.

Adieu, dear. Your letters always give me much pleasure.

NAPOLEON.

No. 4.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT BORDEAUX.

_Bayonne, April 23, 1808._

_My Dear_,--A son has been born to Hortense;[28] I am highly delighted. I am not surprised that you tell me nothing of it, since your letter is dated the 21st, and the child was only born on the 20th,[29] during the night.

You can start on the 26th, sleep at Mont de Marsan, and arrive here on the 27th. Have your best dinner-service sent on here on the 25th, in the evening. I have made arrangements for you to have a little house in the country, next to the one I have. My health is good.

I am waiting for Charles IV. and his wife.

Adieu, dear.

NAPOLEON.

_April 30th.--Charles IV. and the Queen arrive at Bayonne._

_May 1st.--Ferdinand gives back the crown to his father._

_May 2nd.--Murat subdues insurrection at Madrid._

_May 5th.--Treaty of Bayonne; Charles IV. and Ferdinand (May 6) surrender to Napoleon their rights to the Spanish crown._