January 9.—The clergy of Paris annul the religious marriage of Napoleon with Josephine(soBiographie Universelle, Michaud; Montgaillard gives January 18).Confirmed by the Metropolitan Officialité, January 12(Pasquier).
January 9.—The clergy of Paris annul the religious marriage of Napoleon with Josephine(soBiographie Universelle, Michaud; Montgaillard gives January 18).Confirmed by the Metropolitan Officialité, January 12(Pasquier).
No. 14.
To the Empress, at Malmaison.
Trianon, January 17, 1810.
My Dear,—D'Audenarde, whom I sent to you this morning, tells me that since you have been at Malmaison you have no longer any courage. Yet that place is full of our happy memories, which can and ought never to change, at least on my side.
I want badly to see you, but I must have some assurance thatyou are strong and not weak; I too am rather like you, and it makes me frightfully wretched.
Adieu, Josephine; good-night. If you doubted me, you would be very ungrateful.
Napoleon.
No. 15.
To the Empress, at Malmaison.
January 20, 1810.
My Dear,—I send you the box that I promised you the day before yesterday—representing the Island of Lobau. I was rather tired yesterday. I work much, and do not go out.
Adieu, dear.
Napoleon.
No. 16.
To the Empress, at Malmaison.
Noon, Tuesday, 1810.
I hear that you are making yourself miserable; this is too bad. You have no confidence in me, and all the rumours that are being spread strike you; this is not knowing me, Josephine. I am much annoyed, and if I do not find you cheerful and contented, I shall scold you right well.
Adieu, dear.
Napoleon.
No. 17.
To the Empress, at Malmaison.
Sunday, 9P.M., 1810.
My Dear,—I was very glad to see you the day before yesterday.
I hope to go to Malmaison during the week. I have had all your affairs looked after here, and ordered that everything be brought to the Elysée-Napoléon.
Please take care of yourself.
Adieu, dear.
Napoleon.
No. 18.
To the Empress, at Malmaison.
January 30, 1810.
My Dear,—Your letter to hand. I hope the walk you had yesterday, in order to show people your conservatories, has done you good.
I will gladly see you at the Elysée, and shall be very glad to see you oftener, for you know how I love you.
Napoleon.
No. 19.
To the Empress, at Malmaison.
Saturday, 6P.M., 1810.
I told Eugène that you would rather give ear to the vulgar gossip of a great city than to what I told you; yet people should not be allowed to invent fictions to make you miserable.
I have had all your effects moved to the Elysée. You shall come to Paris at once; but be at ease and contented, and have full confidence in me.
Napoleon.
February 2.—Soult occupies Seville. The Junta takes refuge at Cadiz.February 6.—Guadeloupe surrenders to the English.February 7.—Convention of marriage between the Emperor Napoleon and the Archduchess Marie Louise.
February 2.—Soult occupies Seville. The Junta takes refuge at Cadiz.
February 6.—Guadeloupe surrenders to the English.
February 7.—Convention of marriage between the Emperor Napoleon and the Archduchess Marie Louise.
No. 20.
To the Empress, at the Elysée-Napoleon.
February 19, 1810.
My Dear,—I have received your letter. I long to see you, but the reflections that you make may be true. It is, perhaps,not desirable that we should be under the same roof for the first year. Yet Bessières' country-house is too far off to go and return in one day; moreover I have rather a cold, and am not sure of being able to go there.
Adieu, dear.
Napoleon.
No. 21.
To the Empress, at the Elysée-Napoleon.
Friday, 6P.M., 1810.
Savary, as soon as he arrived, brought me your letter; I am sorry to see you are unhappy. I am very glad that you saw nothing of the fire.
I had fine weather at Rambouillet.
Hortense told me that you had some idea of coming to a dinner at Bessières, and of returning to Paris to sleep. I am sorry that you have not been able to manage it.
Adieu, dear. Be cheerful, and consider how much you please me thereby.
Napoleon.
No. 22.
To the Empress, at Malmaison.
March 12, 1810.
My Dear,—I trust that you will be pleased with what I have done for Navarre. You must see from that how anxious I am to make myself agreeable to you.
Get ready to take possession of Navarre; you will go there on March 25, to pass the month of April.
Adieu, dear.
Napoleon.
April 1.—Civil marriage of Napoleon and Marie Louise.(Religious marriage, April 2.)
April 1.—Civil marriage of Napoleon and Marie Louise.(Religious marriage, April 2.)
1810
April 2nd—December 31st(after the Marriage with Marie Louise).
"Bella gerant alii, tu, felix Austria! nube."
(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages304-310.)
No. 1.
Letter of the Empress Josephine to the Emperor Napoleon.
Navarre, April 19, 1810.
Sire,-I have received, by my son, the assurance that your Majesty consents to my return to Malmaison, and grants to me the advances asked for in order to make the château of Navarre habitable. This double favour, Sire, dispels to a great extent the uneasiness, nay, even the fears which your Majesty's long silence had inspired. I was afraid that I might be entirely banished from your memory; I see that I am not. I am therefore less wretched to-day, and even as happy as henceforward it will be possible for me to be.
I shall go at the end of the month to Malmaison, since your Majesty sees no objection to it. But I ought to tell you, Sire, that I should not so soon have taken advantage of the latitude which your Majesty left me in this respect had the house of Navarre not required, for my health's sake and for that of my household, repairs which are urgent. My idea is to stay at Malmaison a very short time; I shall soon leave it in order to go to the waters. But while I am at Malmaison, your Majesty may be sure that I shall live there as if I were a thousand leagues from Paris. I have made a great sacrifice, Sire, and every day I realise more its full extent. Yet that sacrifice will be, as it ought to be, a complete one on my part. Your Highness, amid your happiness, shall be troubled by no expression of my regret.
I shall pray unceasingly for your Majesty's happiness, perhaps even I shall pray that I may see you again; but your Majestymay be assured that I shall always respect our new relationship. I shall respect it in silence, relying on the attachment that you had to me formerly; I shall call for no new proof; I shall trust to everything from your justice and your heart.
I limit myself to asking from you one favour: it is, that you will deign to find a way of sometimes convincing both myself and myentouragethat I have still a small place in your memory and a great place in your esteem and friendship. By this means, whatever happens, my sorrows will be mitigated without, as it seems to me, compromising that which is of permanent importance to me, the happiness of your Majesty.
Josephine.
No. 1a.
(Reply of the Emperor Napoleon to the preceding.)
To the Empress Josephine, at Navarre.
Compiègne, April 21, 1810.
My Dear,—I have yours of April 18th; it is written in a bad style. I am always the same; people like me do not change. I know not what Eugène has told you. I have not written to you because you have not written to me, and my sole desire is to fulfil your slightest inclination.
I see with pleasure that you are going to Malmaison and that you are contented; as for me, I shall be so likewise on hearing news from you and in giving you mine. I say no more about it until you have compared this letter with yours, and after that I will leave you to judge which of us two is the better friend.
Adieu, dear; keep well, and be just for your sake and mine.
Napoleon.
April 23rd.—Battle of Lerida. Suchet defeats Spaniards.
April 23rd.—Battle of Lerida. Suchet defeats Spaniards.
No. 2.
Reply of the Empress Josephine.
A thousand, thousand loving thanks for not having forgotten me. My son has just brought me your letter. With what impetuosity I read it, and yet I took a long time over it, for there was not a word which did not make me weep; but these tears were very pleasant ones. I have found my whole heart again—such as it will always be; there are affections which are life itself, and which can only end with it.
I was in despair to find my letter of the 19th had displeased you; I do not remember the exact expressions, but I know what torture I felt in writing it—the grief at having no news from you.
I wrote you on my departure from Malmaison, and since then how often have I wished to write you! but I appreciated the causes of your silence and feared to be importunate with a letter. Yours has been the true balm for me. Be happy, be as much so as you deserve; it is my whole heart which speaks to you. You have also just given me my share of happiness, and a share which I value the most, for nothing can equal in my estimation a proof that you still remember me.
Adieu, dear; I again thank you as affectionately as I shall always love you.
Josephine.
No. 2a.
To the Empress Josephine, at the Château Navarre.
Compiègne, April 28, 1810.
My Dear,—I have just received two letters from you. I am writing to Eugène. I have ordered that the marriage of Tascher with the Princess de la Leyen shall take place.
To-morrow I shall go to Antwerp to see my fleet and to give orders about the works. I shall return on May 15th.
Eugène tells me that you wish to go to the waters; trouble yourself about nothing. Do not listen to the gossip of Paris; itis idle and far from knowing the real state of things. My affection for you does not change, and I long to know that you are happy and contented.
Napoleon.
No. 3.
To the Empress Josephine, at Malmaison.
My Dear,—I have your letter. Eugène will give you tidings of my journey and of the Empress. I am very glad that you are going to the waters. I trust they may do you good.
I wish very much to see you. If you are at Malmaison at the end of the month, I will come to see you. I expect to be at St. Cloud on the 30th of the month. My health is very good ... it only needs to hear that you are contented and well. Let me know in what name you intend to travel.
Never doubt the whole truth of my affection for you; it will last as long as I. You would be very unjust if you doubted it.
Napoleon.
July 1st.—Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland, abdicates in favour of his son.
July 1st.—Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland, abdicates in favour of his son.
No. 4.
To the Empress Josephine, at the Waters of Aix, in Savoy.
Rambouillet, July 8, 1810.
My Dear,—I have your letter of July 8th. You will have seen Eugène, and his presence will have done you good. I learn with pleasure that the waters are beneficial to you. The King of Holland has just abdicated the throne, while leaving the Regency, according to the Constitution, in the hands of the Queen. He has quitted Amsterdam and left the Grand Duke of Berg behind.
I have reunited Holland to France, which has, however, the advantage of setting the Queen at liberty, and that[38]unfortunategirl is coming to Paris with her son the Grand Duke of Berg—that will make her perfectly happy.
My health is good. I have come here to hunt for a few days. I shall see you this autumn with pleasure. Never doubt my friendship; I never change.
Keep well, be cheerful, and believe in the truth of my attachment.
Napoleon.
July 9th.—Holland incorporated with the French Empire.July 10th.—Ney takes Ciudad Rodrigo, after twenty-five days open trenches.
July 9th.—Holland incorporated with the French Empire.
July 10th.—Ney takes Ciudad Rodrigo, after twenty-five days open trenches.
No. 5.
To the Empress Josephine, at the Waters of Aix, in Savoy.
St. Cloud, July 20, 1810.
My Dear,—I have received your letter of July 14th, and note with pleasure that the waters are doing you good, and that you like Geneva. I think that you are doing well to go there for a few weeks.
My health is fairly good. The conduct of the King of Holland has worried me.
Hortense is shortly coming to Paris. The Grand Duke of Berg is on his way; I expect him to-morrow.
Adieu, dear.
Napoleon.
No. 6.
To the Empress Josephine, at the Waters of Aix, in Savoy.
Trianon, August 10, 1810.
Your letter to hand. I was pained to see what a risk you had run. For an inhabitant of the isles of the ocean to die in a lake would have been a fatality indeed!
The Queen is better, and I hope her health will be re-established. Her husband is in Bohemia, apparently not knowing what to do.
I am fairly well, and beg you to believe in my sincere attachment.
Napoleon.
August 21st.—Swedes elect Marshal Bernadotte Crown Prince of Sweden.August 27th.—Massena takes Almeida.
August 21st.—Swedes elect Marshal Bernadotte Crown Prince of Sweden.
August 27th.—Massena takes Almeida.
No. 7.
To the Empress Josephine, at the Waters of Aix, in Savoy.
St. Cloud, September 14, 1810.
My Dear,—I have your letter of September 9th. I learn with pleasure that you keep well. There is no longer the slightest doubt that the Empress has entered on the fourth month of her pregnancy; she is well, and is much attached to me. The young Princes Napoleon are very well; they are in the Pavillon d'Italie, in the Park of St. Cloud.
My health is fairly good. I wish to learn that you are happy and contented. I hear that one of yourentouragehas broken a leg while going on the glacier.
Adieu, dear. Never doubt the interest I take in you and the affection that I bear towards you.
Napoleon.
September 27th.—Battle of Busaco.Like Ebersburg, another of Massena's expensive and unnecessary frontal attacks. He loses 5000 men, but next day turns the position of Wellington, who continues to retire.
September 27th.—Battle of Busaco.Like Ebersburg, another of Massena's expensive and unnecessary frontal attacks. He loses 5000 men, but next day turns the position of Wellington, who continues to retire.
No. 8.
To the Empress, at Malmaison.
Paris, this Friday.
My Dear,—Yours to hand. I am sorry to see that you have been ill; I fear it must be this bad weather.
Madame de la T—— is one of the most foolish women of the Faubourg. I have borne her cackle for a very long time; I am sick of it, and have ordered that she does not come again to Paris. There are five or six other old women that I equally wish to send away from Paris; they are spoiling the young ones by their follies.
I will name Madame de Makau Baroness since you wish it, and carry out your other commissions.
My health is pretty good. The conduct of B—— appears to me very ridiculous. I trust to hear that you are better.
Adieu, dear.
Napoleon.
No. 9.
To the Empress Josephine, at Geneva.
Fontainebleau, October 1, 1810.
I have received your letter. Hortense, whom I have seen, will have told you what I think. Go to see your son this winter; come back to the waters of Aix next year, or, still better, wait for the spring at Navarre. I would advise you to go to Navarre at once, if I did not fear you would get tired of it. In my view, the only suitable places for you this winter are either Milan or Navarre; after that, I approve of whatever you may do, for I do not wish to vex you in anything.
Adieu, dear. The Empress is as I told you in my last letter. I am naming Madame de Montesquiou governess of the Childrenof France. Be contented, and do not get excited; never doubt my affection for you.
Napoleon.
October 6th.—Wellington reaches the lines of Torres Vedras.November 9th.—Opening of St. Quentin Canal at Paris.
October 6th.—Wellington reaches the lines of Torres Vedras.
November 9th.—Opening of St. Quentin Canal at Paris.
No. 10.
To the Empress Josephine, at Navarre.
Fontainebleau, November 14, 1810.
My Dear,—I have received your letter. Hortense has spoken to me about it. I note with pleasure that you are contented. I hope that you are not very tired of Navarre.
My health is very good. The Empress progresses satisfactorily. I will do the various things you ask regarding your household. Take care of your health, and never doubt my affection for you.
Napoleon.
No. 11.
To the Empress Josephine, at Navarre.
I have your letter. I see no objection to the marriage of Mackau with Wattier, if he wishes it; this general is a very brave man. I am in good health. I hope to have a son; I shall let you know immediately.
Adieu, dear. I am very glad that Madame d'Arberg[39]has told you things which please you. When you see me, you will find me with my old affection for you.
Napoleon.
December 3rd.—English take Mauritius.
December 3rd.—English take Mauritius.
1811
"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).
"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).
"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).
(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages311-312.)
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 theKing of Rome—"a pompous title buried in the tomb of the Ostrogoths."
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 theKing 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.
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, 8A.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.
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.
1812
"'Tis the same landscape which the modern Mars sawWho march'd to Moscow, led by Fame, the siren!To lose by one month's frost, some twenty yearsOf conquest, and his guard of grenadiers."—Byron(Don Juan, canto x. stanza 58).
"'Tis the same landscape which the modern Mars sawWho march'd to Moscow, led by Fame, the siren!To lose by one month's frost, some twenty yearsOf conquest, and his guard of grenadiers."—Byron(Don Juan, canto x. stanza 58).
"'Tis the same landscape which the modern Mars saw
Who march'd to Moscow, led by Fame, the siren!
To lose by one month's frost, some twenty years
Of conquest, and his guard of grenadiers."
—Byron(Don Juan, canto x. stanza 58).
(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages312-315.)
Montgaillard sums up his tirade against Napoleon for the Russian campaign by noting that it took the Romanstenyears to conquer Gaul, while Napoleon "would not givetwoto the conquest of that vast desert of Scythia which forced Darius to flee, Alexander to draw back, Crassus to perish; where Julian terminated his career, where Valerian covered himself with shame, and which saw the disasters of Charles XII."January 9th.—Suchet captures Valencia, 18,000 Spanish troops, and 400 cannon. The marshal is made Duke of Albuféra.January 15th.—Imperial decree ordains 100,000 acres to be put under cultivation of beetroot, for the manufacture of indigenous sugar.January 19th.—Taking of Ciudad Rodrigo by Wellington.January 26th.—French, under General Friand, occupy Stralsund and Swedish Pomerania.February 24th.—Treaty of alliance between France and Prussia; the latter to support France in case of a war with Russia.March 13th.—Senatus Consultus divides the National Guards into three bans, to include all capable men not already in military service. They are not to serve outside France. A hundred cohorts, each 970 strong, of the first ban (men between 20 and 26), put at disposal of Government.March 14th.—Treaty between France and Austria; reciprocal help, in need, of 30,000 men and 60 guns. The integrity of European Turkey mutually guaranteed.March 26th.—Treaty between Russia and Sweden. Bernadotte is promised Norway by Alexander.April 7th.—The English take Badajoz by assault. "The French General, Philippon, with but 3000 men, has been besieged thrice within thirteen months by armies of 50,000 men" (Montgaillard).April 24th.—Alexander leaves St. Petersburg, to take command of his Grand Army.May 9th.—Napoleon leaves Paris for Germany.May 11th.—Assassination of English Prime Minister, Perceval.
Montgaillard sums up his tirade against Napoleon for the Russian campaign by noting that it took the Romanstenyears to conquer Gaul, while Napoleon "would not givetwoto the conquest of that vast desert of Scythia which forced Darius to flee, Alexander to draw back, Crassus to perish; where Julian terminated his career, where Valerian covered himself with shame, and which saw the disasters of Charles XII."
January 9th.—Suchet captures Valencia, 18,000 Spanish troops, and 400 cannon. The marshal is made Duke of Albuféra.
January 15th.—Imperial decree ordains 100,000 acres to be put under cultivation of beetroot, for the manufacture of indigenous sugar.
January 19th.—Taking of Ciudad Rodrigo by Wellington.
January 26th.—French, under General Friand, occupy Stralsund and Swedish Pomerania.
February 24th.—Treaty of alliance between France and Prussia; the latter to support France in case of a war with Russia.
March 13th.—Senatus Consultus divides the National Guards into three bans, to include all capable men not already in military service. They are not to serve outside France. A hundred cohorts, each 970 strong, of the first ban (men between 20 and 26), put at disposal of Government.
March 14th.—Treaty between France and Austria; reciprocal help, in need, of 30,000 men and 60 guns. The integrity of European Turkey mutually guaranteed.
March 26th.—Treaty between Russia and Sweden. Bernadotte is promised Norway by Alexander.
April 7th.—The English take Badajoz by assault. "The French General, Philippon, with but 3000 men, has been besieged thrice within thirteen months by armies of 50,000 men" (Montgaillard).
April 24th.—Alexander leaves St. Petersburg, to take command of his Grand Army.
May 9th.—Napoleon leaves Paris for Germany.
May 11th.—Assassination of English Prime Minister, Perceval.
May 17th-28th.—Napoleon at Dresden; joined there by the Emperor and Empress of Austria, and a fresh"parterreof kings".May 28th.—-Treaty of Bucharest, between Turkey and Russia. The Pruth as boundary, and Servia restored to Turkey. This treaty, so fatal to Napoleon, and of which he only heard in October, was mainly the work of Stratford de Redcliffe, then aged twenty-five. Wellington, thinking the treaty his brother's work, speaks of it as "the most important service that ever fell to the lot of any individual to perform."
May 17th-28th.—Napoleon at Dresden; joined there by the Emperor and Empress of Austria, and a fresh"parterreof kings".
May 28th.—-Treaty of Bucharest, between Turkey and Russia. The Pruth as boundary, and Servia restored to Turkey. This treaty, so fatal to Napoleon, and of which he only heard in October, was mainly the work of Stratford de Redcliffe, then aged twenty-five. Wellington, thinking the treaty his brother's work, speaks of it as "the most important service that ever fell to the lot of any individual to perform."
No. 1.
June 12th.—Suchet defeats an Anglo-Spanish army outside Tarragona.
June 12th.—Suchet defeats an Anglo-Spanish army outside Tarragona.
To the Empress Josephine, at Malmaison.
June 12th, 1812.
My Dear,—I shall always receive news from you with great interest.
The waters will, I hope, do you good, and I shall see you with much pleasure on your return.
Never doubt the interest I feel in you. I will arrange all the matters of which you speak.
Napoleon.
June 16th.—Lord Liverpool Prime Minister of England.June 18th.—United States declares war against England concerning rights of neutrals.June 19th.—The captive Pope (Pius VII.) brought to Fontainebleau.
June 16th.—Lord Liverpool Prime Minister of England.
June 18th.—United States declares war against England concerning rights of neutrals.
June 19th.—The captive Pope (Pius VII.) brought to Fontainebleau.
No. 2.
To the Empress Josephine, at Malmaison.
Gumbinnen, June 20th, 1812.
I have your letter of June 10th. I see no obstacle to your going to Milan, to be near the Vice-Reine. You will do well to goincognito. You will find it very hot.
My health is very good. Eugène is well, and is doing good work. Never doubt the interest I have in you, and my friendship.
Napoleon.
June 22nd.—Napoleon from his headquarters, Wilkowyszki, declares war against Russia. His army comprised 550,000 men and 1200 cannon, and he held sway at this epoch over 85,000,000 souls—half the then population of Europe.June 24th.—French cross the Niemen, over 450,000 strong.[40]Of these 20,000 are Italians, 80,000 from Confederation of the Rhine, 30,000 Poles, 30,000 Austrians, and 20,000 Prussians. The Russian army numbers 360,000.June 28th.—French enter Wilna, the old capital of Lithuania.Napoleon remains here till July 16th, establishing a provisional government, and leaving his Foreign Minister, Maret, there.July 12th.—Americans invade Canada.July 18th.—Treaty of peace between England and Sweden; and between Russia and the Spanish Regency at Cadiz.July 22nd.—Battle of Salamanca(Arapiles). Marmont defeated by Wellington, and badly wounded. French lose nearly 8000 men and 5000 prisoners; English loss, 5200. The Spanish Regency had decided to submit to Joseph Bonaparte, but this battle deters them. French retire behind the Douro.July 23rd.—Combat of Mohilow, on the Dneiper. Davoust defeats Bagration.July 28th.—French enter Witepsk.August 1st.—Treaty of alliance between Great Britain and Russia. English fleet henceforward guards the Gulf of Riga. Combat of Obaiarzma, on the bank of the Drissa. Marshal Oudinot defeats Wittgenstein. Russians lose 5000 men and 14 guns.August 9th.—Battle of Brownstown (near Toronto). Americans defeated; surrender August 16th with 2500 men and 33 guns to General Brock.August 12th.—Wellington enters Madrid.August 17th-18th.—Battle and capture of Smolensk. Napoleon defeats Barclay de Tolly; Russians lose 12,000, French less than half.August 18th.—Battle of Polotsk, fifty miles from Witepsk, down the Dwina. St. Cyr defeats Wittgenstein's much larger army, and takes 20 guns. (St. Cyr made marshal for this battle, August 27th.)August 19th.—Combat of Volontino-Cova, beyond Smolensk. Ney defeats Russians.August 27th.—Norway guaranteed Sweden in lieu of Finland by Russia.August 28th.—Interview at Abo, in Finland, between Alexander, Bernadotte, and Lord Cathcart (English ambassador). Decided that Sweden shall join the crusade against France, and that Moreau be imported from U.S.A. to command another army.August 29th.—Viazma, burnt by Russians, entered by the French.September 7th.—Battle of Borodino (La Moskowa). Nearly all the Russian generals are present: Barclay de Tolly, Beningsen, Bagration (who is killed), all under Kutusoff. Russians lose 30,000 men, French 20,000, including many generals who had survived all the campaigns of the Revolution. The French, hungry and soaked in rain, have no energy to pursue.September 14th.—Occupation of Moscow; fired by emissaries of Rostopchin, its late governor. Of 4000 stone houses only 200 remain, of 8000 wooden ones 500. Over 20,000 sick and wounded burnt in their beds. Fire lasts till September 20th.September 18th.—Russian Army of the Danube under Admiral Tschitchagow joins the Army of Reserve.September 26th.—Russian troops from Finland disembark at Riga.September 30th.—Napoleon finds a copy of Treaty of Bucharest at Moscow.October 11th.—Admiral Tschitchagow with 36,000 men reaches Bresc, on the Bug, threatening the French communications with Warsaw.October 17th-19th.—Second combat of Polotsk. Wittgenstein again defeated by St. Cyr, who is wounded.October 18th.—Combat of Winkowo; Kutusoff defeats Murat. Americans defeated at Queenston Heights, on the Niagara, and lose 900 men.October 19th.—Commencement of the Retreat from Moscow.October 22nd.—Burgos captured by Wellington.October 23rd.—Conspiracy of Malet at Paris; Cambacérès to the rescue. Evacuation of Moscow by Mortier after forty days' occupation. The French army now retreating has only half its original strength, and the best cavalry regiments boast only 100 horses.October 24th.—Battle of Malo-Jaroslavitz. Eugène with 17,000men defeats Kutusoff with 60,000; but Napoleon finds the enemy too strong and too tenacious to risk the fertile Kaluga route.November 3rd.—Battle of Wiazma. Rearguard action, in which Ney and Eugène are distinguished.November 9th.—Napoleon reaches Smolensk and hears of Malet conspiracy.November 14th.—Evacuation of Smolensk.November 16th.—Russian Army (of the Danube) takes Minsk, and cuts off the French from the Niemen.November 16th-19th.—Combat of Krasnoi, twenty-five miles west of Smolensk. Kutusoff with 30,000 horse and 70,000 foot tries to stop the French, who have only 25,000 effective combatants. Magnificent fighting by Ney with his rearguard of 6000.November 21st.—Russians seize at Borizow the bridges over the Beresina, which areNovember 23rd.—Retaken by Oudinot.November 26th-28th.—French cross the Beresina, but lose 20,000 prisoners and nearly all their cannon (150).November 29th.—Napoleon writes Maret he has heard nothing of France or Spain for fifteen days.December 3rd.—Twenty-ninth bulletin dated Malodeczna, fifty miles west of Borisow.December 5th.—Napoleon reaches Smorgoni, and starts for France.December 10th.—Murat, left in command, evacuates Wilna. French retreat in utter rout; "It is not General Kutusoff who routed the French, it is General Morosow" (the frost), said the Russians.December 14th.—Napoleon reaches Dresden, andDecember 18th.—Paris.December 19th.—Evacuation of Kovno and passage of the Niemen.December 20th.—Napoleon welcomed by the Senate in a speech by the naturalist Lacépède: "The absence of your Majesty, sire, is always a national calamity."December 30th.—Defection of the Prussian General York and Convention of Taurogen, near Tilsit, between Russia and Prussia. This defection is the signal for the uprising of Germany from the Oder to the Rhine, from the Baltic to the Julienne Alps.
June 22nd.—Napoleon from his headquarters, Wilkowyszki, declares war against Russia. His army comprised 550,000 men and 1200 cannon, and he held sway at this epoch over 85,000,000 souls—half the then population of Europe.
June 24th.—French cross the Niemen, over 450,000 strong.[40]Of these 20,000 are Italians, 80,000 from Confederation of the Rhine, 30,000 Poles, 30,000 Austrians, and 20,000 Prussians. The Russian army numbers 360,000.
June 28th.—French enter Wilna, the old capital of Lithuania.Napoleon remains here till July 16th, establishing a provisional government, and leaving his Foreign Minister, Maret, there.
July 12th.—Americans invade Canada.
July 18th.—Treaty of peace between England and Sweden; and between Russia and the Spanish Regency at Cadiz.
July 22nd.—Battle of Salamanca(Arapiles). Marmont defeated by Wellington, and badly wounded. French lose nearly 8000 men and 5000 prisoners; English loss, 5200. The Spanish Regency had decided to submit to Joseph Bonaparte, but this battle deters them. French retire behind the Douro.
July 23rd.—Combat of Mohilow, on the Dneiper. Davoust defeats Bagration.
July 28th.—French enter Witepsk.
August 1st.—Treaty of alliance between Great Britain and Russia. English fleet henceforward guards the Gulf of Riga. Combat of Obaiarzma, on the bank of the Drissa. Marshal Oudinot defeats Wittgenstein. Russians lose 5000 men and 14 guns.
August 9th.—Battle of Brownstown (near Toronto). Americans defeated; surrender August 16th with 2500 men and 33 guns to General Brock.
August 12th.—Wellington enters Madrid.
August 17th-18th.—Battle and capture of Smolensk. Napoleon defeats Barclay de Tolly; Russians lose 12,000, French less than half.
August 18th.—Battle of Polotsk, fifty miles from Witepsk, down the Dwina. St. Cyr defeats Wittgenstein's much larger army, and takes 20 guns. (St. Cyr made marshal for this battle, August 27th.)
August 19th.—Combat of Volontino-Cova, beyond Smolensk. Ney defeats Russians.
August 27th.—Norway guaranteed Sweden in lieu of Finland by Russia.
August 28th.—Interview at Abo, in Finland, between Alexander, Bernadotte, and Lord Cathcart (English ambassador). Decided that Sweden shall join the crusade against France, and that Moreau be imported from U.S.A. to command another army.
August 29th.—Viazma, burnt by Russians, entered by the French.
September 7th.—Battle of Borodino (La Moskowa). Nearly all the Russian generals are present: Barclay de Tolly, Beningsen, Bagration (who is killed), all under Kutusoff. Russians lose 30,000 men, French 20,000, including many generals who had survived all the campaigns of the Revolution. The French, hungry and soaked in rain, have no energy to pursue.
September 14th.—Occupation of Moscow; fired by emissaries of Rostopchin, its late governor. Of 4000 stone houses only 200 remain, of 8000 wooden ones 500. Over 20,000 sick and wounded burnt in their beds. Fire lasts till September 20th.
September 18th.—Russian Army of the Danube under Admiral Tschitchagow joins the Army of Reserve.
September 26th.—Russian troops from Finland disembark at Riga.
September 30th.—Napoleon finds a copy of Treaty of Bucharest at Moscow.
October 11th.—Admiral Tschitchagow with 36,000 men reaches Bresc, on the Bug, threatening the French communications with Warsaw.
October 17th-19th.—Second combat of Polotsk. Wittgenstein again defeated by St. Cyr, who is wounded.
October 18th.—Combat of Winkowo; Kutusoff defeats Murat. Americans defeated at Queenston Heights, on the Niagara, and lose 900 men.
October 19th.—Commencement of the Retreat from Moscow.
October 22nd.—Burgos captured by Wellington.
October 23rd.—Conspiracy of Malet at Paris; Cambacérès to the rescue. Evacuation of Moscow by Mortier after forty days' occupation. The French army now retreating has only half its original strength, and the best cavalry regiments boast only 100 horses.
October 24th.—Battle of Malo-Jaroslavitz. Eugène with 17,000
men defeats Kutusoff with 60,000; but Napoleon finds the enemy too strong and too tenacious to risk the fertile Kaluga route.
November 3rd.—Battle of Wiazma. Rearguard action, in which Ney and Eugène are distinguished.
November 9th.—Napoleon reaches Smolensk and hears of Malet conspiracy.
November 14th.—Evacuation of Smolensk.
November 16th.—Russian Army (of the Danube) takes Minsk, and cuts off the French from the Niemen.
November 16th-19th.—Combat of Krasnoi, twenty-five miles west of Smolensk. Kutusoff with 30,000 horse and 70,000 foot tries to stop the French, who have only 25,000 effective combatants. Magnificent fighting by Ney with his rearguard of 6000.
November 21st.—Russians seize at Borizow the bridges over the Beresina, which are
November 23rd.—Retaken by Oudinot.
November 26th-28th.—French cross the Beresina, but lose 20,000 prisoners and nearly all their cannon (150).
November 29th.—Napoleon writes Maret he has heard nothing of France or Spain for fifteen days.
December 3rd.—Twenty-ninth bulletin dated Malodeczna, fifty miles west of Borisow.
December 5th.—Napoleon reaches Smorgoni, and starts for France.
December 10th.—Murat, left in command, evacuates Wilna. French retreat in utter rout; "It is not General Kutusoff who routed the French, it is General Morosow" (the frost), said the Russians.
December 14th.—Napoleon reaches Dresden, and
December 18th.—Paris.
December 19th.—Evacuation of Kovno and passage of the Niemen.
December 20th.—Napoleon welcomed by the Senate in a speech by the naturalist Lacépède: "The absence of your Majesty, sire, is always a national calamity."
December 30th.—Defection of the Prussian General York and Convention of Taurogen, near Tilsit, between Russia and Prussia. This defection is the signal for the uprising of Germany from the Oder to the Rhine, from the Baltic to the Julienne Alps.
1813.