Читать книгу The Collected Works of Napoleon Bonaparte - Charles Downer Hazen, Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne - Страница 193
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Оглавление1811
"Nun steht das Reich gesichert, wie gegründet,
Nun fühlt er froh im Sohne sich gegründet.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Und sei durch Sie dies letzte Glück beschieden—
Der alles wollen kann, will auch den Frieden."
—Goethe (Ibro der Kaiserin von Frankreich Majestät).
No. 1.
To the Empress Josephine, at Navarre.
Paris, January 8th, 1811.
I have your New Year's letter. I thank you for its contents. I note with pleasure that you are well and happy. I hear that there are more women than men at Navarre.
My health is excellent, though I have not been out for a fortnight. Eugène appears to have no fears about his wife; he gives you a grandson.
Adieu, dear; keep well.
Napoleon.
February 19th.—Soult defeats Spaniards at the Gébora, near Badajoz.
February 28th.—French occupy Duchy of Oldenburg, to complete the line of the North Sea blockade against England. This occupation embitters the Emperor of Russia and his family.
March 10th.—Mortier captures Badajoz after a siege of 54 days.
March 20th.—Birth of the King of Rome—"a pompous title buried in the tomb of the Ostrogoths."
No. 2.
To the Empress Josephine, at Navarre.
Paris, March 22nd, 1811.
My Dear,—I have your letter. I thank you for it.
My son is fat, and in excellent health. I trust he may continue to improve. He has my chest, my mouth, and my eyes. I hope he may fulfil his destiny. I am always well pleased with Eugène; he has never given me the least anxiety.
Napoleon.
April 4th.—Battle of Fuentes d'Onoro. Massena attacks English, and is repulsed.
June 18th.—Wellington raises siege of Badajoz, and retires on Portugal.
June 29th.—French storm Tarragona, whereupon Suchet created Marshal.
No. 3.
To the Empress Josephine, at Malmaison.
Trianon, August 25th, 1811.
I have your letter. I see with pleasure that you are in good health. I have been for some days at Trianon. I expect to go to Compiègne. My health is very good.
Put some order into your affairs. Spend only £60,000, and save as much every year; that will make a reserve of £600,000 in ten years for your grandchildren. It is pleasant to be able to give them something, and be helpful to them. Instead of that, I hear you have debts, which would be really too bad. Look after your affairs, and don't give to every one who wants to help himself. If you wish to please me, let me hear that you have accumulated a large fortune. Consider how ill I must think of you, if I know that you, with £125,000 a year, are in debt.
Adieu, dear; keep well.
Napoleon.
No. 4.
To the Empress Josephine, at Malmaison.
Friday, 8 A.M., 1811.
I send to know how you are, for Hortense tells me you were in bed yesterday. I was annoyed with you about your debts. I do not wish you to have any; on the contrary, I wish you to put a million aside every year, to give to your grandchildren when they get married.
Nevertheless, never doubt my affection for you, and don't worry any more about the present embarrassment.
Adieu, dear. Send me word that you are well. They say that you are as fat as a good Normandy farmeress.
Napoleon.
October 25th-26th.—Battle of Murviedro and capture of Sagunto: Blake and O'Donnell heavily defeated by Suchet.
December 20th.—Senatus Consultus puts 120,000 conscripts (born in 1792) at disposal of Government for 1812.
December 26th.—Suchet defeats Spanish, and crosses Guadalaviar.
