Napoleonic Literature
The Corsican
A Diary of Napoleon's Life in His Own Words

1807


January 2d, Warsaw:
(To the Countess Walewska.) I saw only you, I admired only you, I desire only you. A quick answer will calm the impatient ardour of N.

3d. (To Josephine.) I have received your letter, dear friend. Your disappointment touches me, but one must submit to circumstances. It is a very great distance from Mainz to Warsaw; so that events must allow of my returning to Berlin before I write to you to come there. I am inclined to think you had better go back to Paris, where your presence is necessary. I am well; the weather is wretched.

4th. (To Countess Walewska.) Was I mistaken? You have deprived me of sleep! Oh, grant a little joy, a little happiness, to a poor heart that is ready to adore you. Is it so difficult to obtain an answer? You owe me two. N.

6th. (To the Princess Augusta.) I have received your letter. For your sake I have given orders that the House of Strelitz is to be treated considerately. Your grandmother will not be disturbed, and yet your aunt, the Queen of Prussia, has behaved so badly! But she is so unfortunate to-day, that I mustn't speak of her any more. Write to me soon that we have got a big boy, and if you should give us a daughter, let us hope she will be as lovable and as good as you are. Your affectionate father.

12th. (To the Countess Walewska.) Oh come! come!

All your wishes shall be complied with. Your country will become more dear to me if you take compassion on my poor heart. N.

14th. Until the affairs of Poland are definitely regulated by a treaty of peace, the administration shall be entrusted to a Provisional Government.

15th. (To the Countess Walewska.) Marie, my sweet Marie, my first thought is for you, my first wish is to see you again. You will come again, will you not? You have promised that you would. If not, the eagle would wing its way to you!

23d. (To Josephine.) It is out of the question that I should allow women to undertake such a journey: bad roads, unsafe, and quagmires. Go back to Paris; be gay and happy; perhaps I shall soon be back myself. I laughed over your saying that you had taken a husband to live with him; in my ignorance I supposed that the wife was made for the husband, the husband for his country, his family, and fame; excuse my ignorance, one is always learning at the hands of our pretty women.

Good-bye, dear friend; pray believe that I regret not being able to send for you; say to yourself: Here is a proof of how precious I am to him.

27th. (To Baron La Bouillerie.) I wish you to buy 6 per cents when they fall below 78, and that no one should know it is you buying.
 

The enemy seem to be manœuvring with a view to holding Elbing. Such being the case, I am raising my camps to make a countermarch. It appears that General Bennigsen commands the army now.
 

28th. (To the King of Naples.) Monsieur mon Frère: It was not without keen emotion that I received the letter of Your Majesty and your good wishes for my happiness. Your destiny, my successes, have placed vast countries between us: you in the south touch the Mediterranean; I touch the Baltic; but by the combination of our efforts we tend towards the same result. Your kingdom is rich and populated; by the grace of God it will become powerful and happy. Accept my most sincere wishes for the prosperity of your reign, and always rely on my fraternal affection.

30th. I am starting, in the saddle, at 5 A. M.

Orders for headquarters to move immediately, to reach Makow to-night.

Przasnysz:
As the enemy are pushing the Prince of Ponte Corvo's corps, we must keep close to the wind so that they can't get away again. We shall have news to-night.

31st, Willenberg:
The whole army is marching.

February 1st. (To the Empress.) Your letter of the 20th of January has pained me; it is altogether too depressed. The mischief is that you've got no religion! You say that happiness makes your joy: that is not generous; you should say the happiness of others makes my joy: that is not conjugal; you should say, the happiness of my husband makes my joy: that is not maternal; you should say the happiness of my children makes my joy; and since the nations, your husband, your children cannot be happy without a little glory, you must not say fie to it. Josephine, your heart is excellent, but your mind is weak; your instinct is sure, but your reasoning not altogether so.

Come, no more quarrelling; I want you gay and contented with your lot, and obeying not with tears and scolding, but with a joyous heart, and not unhappily. Good-bye, dear friend, I am off to my outposts to-night.
 

I am manœvring against the enemy; unless they retreat promptly I may possibly cut them off.
 

2d. I have just finished reading Lacretelle's History of the Directoire.

3d, Passenheim:
Up to the present we keep pushing the enemy back. One can see that our movement has alarmed them; and that they are trying to meet it. The country reports from all sides are to the effect that they are in full retreat.

5th, Schlitt:
I am pursuing the Russian army. I have driven it from every position. I shall throw it back beyond the Niemen.

7th, Eylau:
Parts of the two armies passed the night of the 6th to the 7th in each other's presence. The enemy retreated during the night.

At dawn the French advance guard started and got into contact with the enemy's rearguard between the wood and the little town of Eylau. Several regiments of the enemy's light infantry that held it were attacked and in part captured. We soon reached Eylau and found the enemy in position.

9th. We had a great battle yesterday; victory is mine, but my losses are very heavy; the enemy's losses, which were heavier, do not console me. The great distance at which I find myself makes my losses even more acutely felt.

(Bulletin.) A mile or two from the little town ofPreussich-Eylau is a plateau that commands the débouché from the plain. Marshal Soult ordered the 46th and 18th of the line to carry it. The troops penetrated the town of Eylau. The enemy had placed several regiments in the church and cemetery. They made a desperate resistance at this point, and, after a struggle most destructive for both sides, at ten o'clock at night we remained masters of the position. We passed the night where we were.

At daybreak the enemy opened their attack with a brisk cannonade of the town of Eylau and of St. Hilaire's division. The Emperor took up his station at the church which the enemy had so long defended the day before. He ordered up Augereau's corps, and cannonaded the hill (opposite) with forty guns of the Imperial Guard.

Just as the corps of Marshal Augereau and St. Hilaire's division were going into action, snow so dense that one could not see at two paces blotted out the two armies. In the darkness our columns lost their direction, inclining too much to the left, and became unsteady. This distressing darkness lasted half an hour. Then, the sky having cleared , the Grand Duke of Berg at the head of the cavalry, supported by Marshal Bessières, commanding the (cavalry of the) Guard, passed in front of St. Hilaire's division, and charged the enemy's army; this manœuvre, as daring in its execution as was ever seen and that covered our cavalry with glory, had become necessary because of the state of our (infantry) columns. Meanwhile Marshal Davout's corps was debouching on the enemy's flank. The snow, which fell at intervals through the day, had also retarded his advance and the formation of his attack.

The victory, long uncertain, was won when Marshal Davout gained the plateau and outflanked the enemy, who, after desperate efforts to regain their ground, fell back in retreat.

The army will return to its cantonments and take up winter quarters again.

14th. The country is covered with dead and wounded.

18th, Landsberg:
The army is going into quarters. I am anxious it should have a month or six weeks' rest.

The battle of Eylau was at first claimed as a victory by several of the enemy's generals. At Koenigsberg this was believed during the whole of the morning of the 9th.

March 1st, Osterode:
(To the King of Naples.) The staff, colonels, officers, have not undressed in two months, some not in four; I myself have gone two weeks without getting out of my boots; we are in the midst of snow and mud, without wine, without brandy, without bread, eating potatoes and meat, making long marches and countermarches, without any kind of luxury, and fighting with bayonets and grapeshot; the wounded often compelled to go fifty leagues in open sleighs. Therefore it is a pretty poor joke to compare us with the army of Naples, making war in a lovely country, where one can get wine, oil, bread, cloth, sheets, social life, and even women. After having destroyed the Prussian monarchy, we are fighting against what is left of the Prussians, against the Russians, the Kalmucks, the Cossacks, the northern tribes that long ago invaded the Roman Empire. We are making war in the strictest sense of that term. In the midst of these great fatigues we have all been more or less sick. As for myself I have never been stronger, and have become fatter.

5th. I am displeased with the absurd notes inserted in the Moniteur. Berthier wrote from the battlefield, in a state of fatigue, and with no idea that his message would get into print.

11th. (To General Clarke.) Colonel Aubert's report makes me laugh. We may conclude that that officer, finding himself in a fire that was too hot for him, lost his head; that is the thing to say to M. de Bray. The battle was won by four o'clock in the afternoon, when Marshal Davout was fully engaged. I was rather exposed to artillery fire, but it was necessary. It is possible that to a person who did not realize what was happening the battle appeared doubtful; but I, knowing that my columns were arriving, could be anxious only about the half hour's snow we got. As for 15,000 French having been routed, that is a horrible calumny; a few laggards and wagons took to flight because the cry was raised that the Cossacks were on them; it resulted in the stampede of 800 or 900 led horses. The colonel has magnified this into the flight of 15,000 men. Had he been at Marengo, at Rivoli, and at twenty other battles I have fought, he would understand that to go under fire and to encourage the troops in person is not of necessity to consider that a battle is lost. In any case, it's all a pack of lies; this officer was presumably not there, for I was not on foot for one moment of the battle.

12th. (To Talleyrand.) I have 300,000 rations of biscuit at Warsaw; it takes eight days to get from Warsaw to Osterode; perform miracles and be sure to send us 50,000 rations a day. To defeat the Russians is child's play, provided I can get bread. The importance of the duty I set you is greater than all the negotiations in the world.

13th. The weather is cold again. There is nothing new, - small outpost affairs of no importance. We are resting, a little. I am making use of this to secure supplies, to blockade Dantzig, and to make ready for its siege.

14th. An alliance with Russia would be very valuable. Only women and children are capable of supposing that (I) would go and lose myself in the deserts of Russia.

15th. The Munich Gazette states that the Russians won the battle of Eylau.

20th. (To Daru.) I have received your letter of the 18th of March. I do not share your views in any particular. Order all the employés to rejoin. I have been making war for a good long time. Carry out my orders without discussion. Your arguments are bad; I have been telling you so for three months; you persist in your opinion. You say that we can withdraw one or two employés from Erfurt; my purpose is to withdraw every one. Repeat your orders. If I accepted all your arguments I would not have 6000 men with the army; and if I accepted the arguments of every governor of a fortress my whole army would not suffice to hold the country. The question for you is not, therefore, is such and such an employé useful in such a place? but rather: is he more useful there than at headquarters? This is a commonplace for any one who has any experience of warfare. In any case, even if every one disagrees with my views, it is my will.

26th. I have written to the Minister of Police to send Mme. de Staël back to Geneva, while leaving her at liberty to go abroad if she should prefer it. This woman continues her intrigues. She came back near Paris against my orders. She is a perfect pest.

27th. (To the Empress.) Dear friend; Your letter has caused me pain. There is no occasion for you to die; you are well, and have no reasonable cause for worry. You must give up all idea of a journey this summer; it is not possible. I am as anxious to see you as you are to see me, and even to lead a quiet life. I know how to do other things than wage war, but duty must come first. All my life I have sacrificed everything, my repose, my interests, my happiness, to my destiny.

(To Prince Eugène.) I congratulate you on the happy delivery of the Princess. Is Augusta disappointed at not getting a boy? Tell her that when one begins with a daughter one always has at least twelve children. Have your daughter called Josephine.

29th. (To General Savary.) Proceed to Dantzig. Your mission has (two) objects: the first is to post me as to the real state of things, after you have made careful inquiries; the second, to encourage poor Marshal Lefebvre, who is getting worried and excited beyond reason, and showing very little for it in results.

31st. (To Cambacérès.) Junot is always writing to me on heavy mourning paper, which produces the most sinister effect on me when I read his letters. Tell him that it is contrary to etiquette, and that one never writes to a superior displaying the tokens of a personal grief.

April 2d, Finkenstein:
I have placed my headquarters here, in a country where forage is plentiful, and where my cavalry can be maintained. I am in a splendid castle with chimneys in all the rooms, which is a very pleasant thing.

4th. I am off to-night at a gallop for Warsaw, which I shall reach tomorrow. I shall stay two days to give audiences to the Persian and Turkish ambassadors, and to make some administrative arrangements.

(To the King of Holland.) A prince who in the first year of his reign gets so great a reputation for benevolence is a prince who in the second year is despised. The affection inspired by kings must be a virile one, a blend of respectful fear and of high esteem. When it is said of a king that he is a good man, the reign is a failure.

Your quarrels with the Queen are known to the public. Show in your private life the paternal and soft character that you display in your administration, and in your administration the rigour you display in your family life. You treat your young wife as though she were a regiment. Let her dance as much as she likes, she is just of the age. I have a wife of forty, and from the battlefield I write to her to go and dance, but you expect a young woman of twenty to live in a cloister, to be like a nurse, always washing the baby! You put too much of yourself in your private, and not enough in your public, life. It is only the interest I feel in you makes me tell you all this. You ought to have been given a wife like some of those I have known in Paris. She would have fooled you when your back was turned, and kept you at her knees. It is not my fault, for I have told her so.

As for the rest, you may do foolish things in your own kingdom; that is all right: but I have no intention that you should do the same in mine. You offer your Orders to everybody; many individuals who have not the least claim have written to me about them. I am annoyed that you do not perceive how this transgresses what is due from you to me. My intention is that none of my subjects shall wear your Orders, as I myself am resolved not to wear them. If you ask for my reasons, my answer must be that you have as yet accomplished nothing to deserve that men should wear your portrait on their breasts.

6th. (To Cambacérès.) I have received your letter of the 27th of March, and regret to see that your health is not good. If you would stop drugging yourself you would be a great deal better; but it's the inveterate habit of the inveterate bachelor!

12th. (To M. Talleyrand, Prince of Benevento.) General Gardanne wishes to proceed to Persia. Maret will draw up his credentials and instructions. They turn on (the following) points:

Investigate the resources of Persia from the military point of view, studying particularly the obstacles that would have to be overcome by a French army of 40,000 men marching to India with the help of the Persian and Turkish governments. Deal with Persia in regard to England by urging her to prevent the passage of English dispatches and messages, and to hamper the trade of the East India Company in every way possible.

13th. The trenches have been opened against Dantzig. I hope to have the city in a month, if our gunpowder holds out.

14th. (To Joseph.) Since you ask for my views on Neapolitan affairs, I must tell you that I do not like the preamble (to the decree) for the suppression of the monasteries. In matters that touch religion, the wording should be in terms of religion and not of philosophy. That is the great art of the ruler, one which the man of letters does not possess. The secret of it lies in giving to each edict the style and the character of the special craftsman it involves. Now a learned monk, who should be in favour of the suppression of the monasteries, would not have expressed himself in that manner. Men will accept misfortune if insult be not added.

19th. (Notes.) There have been historiographers of France, but it is true to say that they have accomplished nothing. And yet an institution of this sort might serve a purpose; but it would be best to avoid the word historiographer. It is accepted that the historian is a judge who is to be the organ of posterity, and so many qualities, so many perfections, are expected of him that it is difficult to believe that a good history can be made to order. What can be obtained to order from men of well-regulated talent are historical monographs, the results of laborious research, setting out authentic documents, with critical observations that tend to clear up our view of events. If these researches and these documents are framed in a good narrative, a piece of work of this sort will bear some sort of resemblance to history, and yet its author would not be a historian in the sense in which we use the word.

(To Fouché.) Among the thousand and one products of Mme. de Staël's pen that fall into my hands, you may judge from the inclosed letter how excellent a French patriot she is. One day an aristocratic toady and the next a nationalizing democrat, in truth one can hardly restrain one's indignation in seeing all the shapes that this . . . takes. I shall not tell you the plans this ridiculous clique have made in the happy event of my death, as a Minister of Police may be supposed to know all about that.

24th. (To Prince Jerome.) Make war seriously. You must be up at one in the morning. Your troops must be under arms at two, and you must be on the spot to receive reports from the reconnaissances sent out in all directions. You must not turn in again until eight, when you are sure there is nothing new. I am watching your operations; success does not alter the case, and I cannot as yet see that you are waging war.
 

Our batteries opened on Dantzig this morning; they are within 80 yards of the walls.

The Emperor of Russia has joined his army.

26th. I covered over thirty leagues on horseback to-day.

May 4th. (To Joseph.) Prince Jerome is doing well; I am very pleased with him, and unless I am mistaken there is the stuff of a first-rate man in him. However, you may rest assured that he does not suspect it, as I drop on him in all my letters.

I am fairly satisfied with Louis; but he is too much given to benevolence, and this goes badly with the dignity of the crown. He takes very little heed of the advice that I give him, but I continue offering it to him, and in time experience will show him that he has made many mistakes. I am very well. We are at last getting signs of summer.

10th. (To Josephine.) I have your letter. I don't know what you mean by ladies who correspond with me. I love only my little Josephine, good, sulky, capricious, who can quarrel gracefully, as she does everything else, for she is always fascinating except when she is jealous, and then she becomes a little devil.

21st. There should be at Toulon better frigates than the Muiron. I want that ship, which brought me back from Egypt, to be kept as a monument, and placed so that it may be preserved, if possible, for several centuries. I would feel a superstitious foreboding if any misfortune happened to the frigate.

26th. Dantzig has fallen: our troops entered the city this morning.

June 5th. Marshal Ney sends me word that he was attacked this morning at six. Is it a real attack? I shall know in a few hours. I have ordered my cavalry to concentrate. We shall soon be on the move.

It would suit me if the enemy are sparing me the trouble of seeking them out. I had intended to open operations on the 10th.

6th. The armies are manœuvring. It looks as though the enemy did not know what they are about, since after having allowed us to capture Dantzig they are now jamming themselves up against our fortified positions.

8 P.M.:
What will the enemy do? Will they continue marching on Allenstein, while we still occupy Liebstadt? All this may result in some curious events. I shall reach Saalfeld in an hour.

7th, Saalfeld:
I am still guessing as to what the enemy really intended. To-day I am bringing together at Mohrungen my infantry and cavalry reserves; I shall try to get at the enemy and fight a general action to finish the business.

(To Bernadotte.) You will find Talleyrand at Dantzig. You had better reassure him, as he is fairly frightened.

8th, Alt Reichau:
I made a feint against the enemy this morning at eight. They showed about 20 guns, 10,000 infantry, and 7000 or 8000 cavalry.

13th, Eylau:
(To the Grand Duke of Berg.) If the enemy should show up at Domnau to-day you might still push Marshal Soult out towards Koenigsberg, placing Marshal Davout between Domnau and Koenigsberg, to oppose the march of the enemy's army.

The enemy's movements are quite undecided.

3 P. M.:
(To Marshal Lannes.) I want your whole corps in position at Domnau, with outposts towards Friedland.

9 P. M.:
(To Lannes.) My staff officer has just come in. He does not give me sufficient information to judge if it is the enemy's army that is debouching at Friedland, or only a detachment. Marshal Mortier is moving his cavalry to support yours, and is starting with his corps. Subject to the information I may receive, I shall send Marshal Nek to your support at one in the morning.

14th, bivouac near Posthenen:
At three we heard the cannon. The enemy was debouching by the bridge at Friedland.

(Orders.) Marshal Ney will command on the right, supporting the position of General Oudinot. Marshal Lannes will be in the centre, from Heinrichsdorf to about opposite Posthenen. The grenadiers of Oudinot will bear a little to the left, to draw the enemy in that direction. Marshal Lannes will deploy on as great a depth as he can, and may therefore form two lines. Marshal Mortier will be on the left. General Victor and the Imperial Guard will be in reserve and will form behind Posthenen. I will be with the reserve. The advance must always be right wing forward, and it must be left to Marshal Ney to begin the movement; he will wait for my orders before advancing.

As soon as the right goes forward, the artillery must redouble its fire along the whole line in the proper direction for protecting this wing.

Have you a good memory?

(Marbot: Pretty fair, sire.)

Well, what anniversary is this to-day, the 14th of June?

(That of Marengo.)

Yes, yes, that of Marengo; and I am going to drub the Russians, just as I drubbed the Austrians!

15th, Friedland:
(To the Empress.) I write only a line, as I am very tired; I have been bivouacking a good many days on end. My children have worthily celebrated the anniversary of Marengo; the battle of Friedland will be equally famous and glorious for my people. The whole Russian army is routed; 80 guns, 30,000 men captured or killed; 25 Russian generals killed, wounded, or prisoners; the Russian Guard smashed; - it is a worthy sister of Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena. The bulletin will tell you the rest. My losses are not heavy; I outmanœuvred the enemy. Good-bye, dear friend, I am just getting into the saddle.

18th, Skaisgirren:
My headquarters are here. I intend to march on Tilsit, and to engage the enemy should they have the impudence to stand their ground.

19th, Tilsit:
My health is good; the army is superb.
 

A curious incident which made the soldiers laugh, occurred for the first time near Tilsit; we met a horde of Kalmucks, who fought with bows and arrows.

20th. I control the Niemen. I shall probably conclude an armistice this evening.

22d. An armistice has been signed.

(To the Grand Army.) Soldiers! On the 5th of June the Russian army attacked us in our cantonments. The enemy had mistaken the reason for our inactivity. They discovered too late that our slumber was that of the lion.

In the actions of Guttstadt, of Heilsberg, and in the ever-memorable one of Friedland, in a ten days' campaign, we have captured 120 guns, 7 flags, killed, wounded, or captured 60,000 Russians, taken the enemy's magazines, ambulances, and hospitals, the fortress of Koenigsberg, 300 ships that were in its port laden with military supplies, 160,000 muskets that England had sent to arm our enemies.

From the banks of the Vistula we have darted to those of the Niemen with the swiftness of the eagle. At Austerlitz you celebrated the anniversary of the coronation; this year you have worthily commemorated the battle of Marengo which brought the war of the Second Coalition to an end.

Frenchmen, you have been worthy of yourselves and of me. You will return to France covered with laurels, and after having secured a glorious peace containing guarantees for its permanence. The end must come, and our country must be able to live quietly, freed from the malign influence of England. The rewards I will grant will prove all my gratitude and my affection for you.

24th. The Emperor of Russia is within a league, and, I am told, desires an interview. I do not much care about it, and yet I shall not refuse. Things are quite different now.

Duroc went off at three in the afternoon to present my compliments to the Emperor Alexander.

25th. I have just seen the Emperor Alexander in the midst of the Niemen on a raft on which was erected a splendid pavilion. I am very pleased with him; he is a handsome and excellent young Emperor, and has more intelligence than is generally supposed. He is coming to stay in the town of Tilsit.

30th. The Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia are both staying here, and dine with me every day.

July 3d. (To Fouché.) See to it that no more abuse of Russia takes place, directly or indirectly. Everything points to our policy being brought into line with that of this Power on a permanent basis.

5th. The Queen of Prussia had decided ability, a good education and fine manners; it was she, really, had reigned for more than fifteen years; and, in spite of all my efforts and skill, she retained command of our conversation, and always got back to her subject, perhaps even too much so, and yet with perfect propriety and in a manner that aroused no antagonism. In truth, the matter was an important one for her, and time was short and precious.
 

I proceeded to call on her, but she received me on the tragic note, like Chimène: - Sire, Justice! Justice! Magdeburg! - She continued after this fashion, which embarrassed me very much; at last, to shift the ground, I asked her to sit down, - there is nothing that cuts into a tragic scene better, for when people are seated, it becomes a comedy. She had on a superb collar of pearls; so I complimented her on them: - Ah! what lovely pearls! -

6th. The beautiful Queen of Prussia dines with me to-night.

(To the Emperor of Russia.) I am sending a summary to your Majesty of the difficulties our negotiators have met with, and a mezzotermine that disposes of them. I hope Your Majesty will approve, for I should be glad to hear that the treaty of peace can be signed this very day.

7th. (To Josephine.) The Queen of Prussia dined with me yesterday. I had to defend myself from making some concessions she wanted to obtain for her husband. I was merely gallant, and stuck to my policy. She is very agreeable.
 

She was tormenting me for Magdeburg; she wanted to obtain a promise from me. I kept refusing politely. There was a rose on the chimney; I took it, and offered it to her. She drew her hand back, saying: - If it is with Magdeburg! - I answered at once: - But, Madam, it is I am offering the rose! - After this conversation I conducted her to her carriage; she asked for Duroc, whom she liked, and began to cry, saying: - I have been deceived!
 

I have just concluded peace. People tell me I am wrong and that I shall be taken in; but, faith, we have made enough war, and must give the world repose.

9th. The Emperor Alexander and I parted to-day after spending twenty days together here. We gave one another tokens of the greatest friendship.

10th, Koenigsberg:
I am staying in the old castle, cradle of the Prussian monarchy.

18th, Dresden:
(To Josephine.) I reached Dresden yesterday at five in the evening. I was one hundred hours in my carriage without getting out. Here, I am the guest of the King of Saxony, with whom I am very pleased. I am now halfway back to you. One of these fine nights I shall turn up at Saint Cloud like a jealous husband; - be warned!
 

It takes many years and skilful ministers to change the financial system of a country. I view men of science and clever men as I do coquettes; it pays to see them, to converse with them, but not to choose a wife or a minister from among them.

19th. (To Talleyrand.) We must immediately provide for the closing to England of the ports of Spain and Portugal. As soon as you reach Paris you will notify the Portuguese minister that on the 1st of September the ports of Portugal must be closed to England.

22d. (To Prince Eugène.) I have received the letter from the Pope which you forwarded. Answer His Holiness in some such terms:

"Holy Father: I have placed Your Holiness' letter before the Emperor, my revered Father and Sovereign, who has replied to me in a long letter from Dresden, from which I will quote an extract to Your Holiness to make you understand the views of His Majesty, and so as not to conceal the real state of affairs. -

My son, I perceive by his Holiness' letter, which he certainly never wrote himself, that I am threatened. I would not tolerate this from any other Pope. What does Pius VII wish to do when he denounces me to Christendom? Put an interdict on my throne? Excommunicate me? Does he imagine that their muskets will drop from my soldiers' fingers? Or is it to place a dagger in my people's hands to assassinate me? Frenzied Popes, born for the misfortune of men, have already preached this infamous doctrine. I shall doubtless hear that the Holy Father intends to apply the scissors to my head and to lock me up in a monastery! Does he suppose that the present century has reverted to the ignorance and the brutishness of the ninth century? Does he take me for Louis le Débonnaire?

The present Pope has too much power; priests are not made to rule; let them follow the example of St. Peter, St. Paul, and the holy Apostles, who were certainly worth any Julius, Boniface, Gregory, or Leo. Jesus Christ declared that his kingdom was not of this world. Why will not the Popes render unto Cæsar that which is Cæsar's? Is he something greater on earth than was Jesus Christ? But is there anything in common between the interests of religion and the prerogatives of the Court of Rome? Is religion to be based on anarchy, on civil war, on revolt? Is that preaching the doctrine of Jesus Christ? The Pope threatens me with an appeal to the people. In truth, I begin to blush and to feel ashamed at all the foolery that the Court of Rome makes me endure; and perhaps it will not be long, if they insist on creating disturbances in my States, before I refuse to recognise the Pope as anything more than bishop of Rome, the equal of, and on the same rank as the bishops of my States. I would not hesitate to convene the Gallican, Italian, German, and Polish churches in a Council, to settle affairs without the Pope, and to protect my people against the pretensions of the Court of Rome. My crown proceeds from God and from the will of my people; only to God and to my people am I answerable for it. For the Court of Rome I shall always be Charlemagne, and never Louis le Débonnaire. -

Holy Father, this letter was not intended to be seen by Your Holiness. I intreat you to put an end to this quarrel. The Emperor's complaint is justified."

Send this letter to the Pope, and inform me when M. Alquier presents it.

29th, Saint Cloud:
I have reached Paris in good health. A year ago I arranged the marriage of Prince Jerome with the Princess Catherine of Würtemberg; it is to take place some time this month.

August 2d. Unless England accepts the mediation of Russia, Denmark will have to declare war against her, or I shall declare war against Denmark.

12th. (To Champagny.) I would like you to write a confidential letter to M. de Metternich in some such terms as these: "What vertigo has seized people at Vienna? What enemy threatens you? You are calling the whole population to arms; your princes beat up the country like knights errant; what would you say if your neighbours did the same? Do you wish to bring on a crisis? Knowing as we do that you have no alliance with Russia, the help of England is clearly of no service to you. The Emperor cannot understand what you are about; up to the present he has taken no military steps. Can you inform me confidentially what it all means, and how we can prevent a crisis occurring?"

Make your letter pleasant, guarded in terms, confidential in form; but let them perceive clearly what will happen.

26th. The English disembarked near Copenhagen on the 16th. They are bombarding the city.

September 7th, Rambouillet:
(To Eugène.) Your aide-de-camp Bataille has lost his dispatches; he deserves to he punished; place him under arrest for a few days. It is allowable for an aide-de-camp to lose his breeches travelling, but never his dispatches nor his sword.

16th. (To the Emperor Alexander.) I thank Your Majesty for your splendid gift of furs. I have nothing so fine to offer in return. I hope, however, that some porcelain from Sèvres which I am sending may prove acceptable.

I have no news from England, and have no idea as to her policy. I am getting my fleet and my flotillas ready, and I think the moment is not far off when we shall be able to drive the English from the Continent.

28th, Fontainebleau:
(To General Savary, at St. Petersburg.) I have your letter of the 9th. M. de Champagny is replying to it in detail.

I had no notion you could be so gallant as now appears. However, the furbelows for your fair Russian ladies shall be sent. I wish to pay the account myself. When you present them, you can say that I happened to open the dispatch in which you asked for them, and that I insisted on choosing them myself. You know my taste in frills is pretty good. Talleyrand will send them some actors and actresses.

Herewith you will find two letters for the Empress. You will only present them after having first ascertained that they will be politely received, and answered.

October 1st. (To Prince Eugène.) My Son: The Empress is sending a wreath of Hortensias to the Vicereine. I would like you to have it valued, without the Princess' knowledge, by some good jewellers, and to let me know the valuation, so that I may judge at what sort of rate these gentlemen are accustomed to rob me.

12th. (To Champagny.) I consider that we are in a state of war with Portugal; I expect my troops to reach Burgos on the 1st of November; if Spain wants more troops, she has but to ask and I will send them. Junot's corps must amount to nearly 20,000 men.

As the English may possibly send troops to Lisbon, I would like to know what number of troops Spain is placing in the field. But make it clear that this must not be like the last war; we must push straight for Lisbon.

30th. I have hunted a great deal these last six weeks.

November 7th. (To Savary.) M. de Tolstoi presented his credentials to me yesterday at Fontainebleau. I wore the ribbon of St. Andrew all day. The manner in which he has been distinguished has already resulted in protests from some of the members of the diplomatic corps. M. de Tolstoi talked at great length about the evacuation of Prussia.

8th. (To General Junot.) I assume that as a result of my last dispatch you have quickened your march; it was too slow; ten days are precious; all the English troops and the Copenhagen expedition have returned to England.

13th. Order for the 1st division of the 2d corps to start from Bayonne on the 22d of November for Vittoria, there to act as a garrison to maintain communication with General Junot.

14th. There are many canals I must build: one from Dijon to Paris, one from the Rhine to the Saône, and another from the Rhine to the Scheldt. I have staked all the glory of my reign on changing the appearance of my Empire. The carrying out of these great works is as necessary to the prosperity of my people as it is to my own satisfaction.

I also attach the utmost importance and the greatest glory to stamping out pauperism. One must not live without leaving some evidence behind to commend one's memory to posterity.

15th. (To Jerome Napoleon, King of Westphalia.) My Brother: I inclose you herewith the Constitution of your kingdom. This Constitution embraces the conditions on which I abandon my rights, won by conquest, over your country. You must observe it strictly. Do not listen to those who will tell you that your people, accustomed to servitude, will accept your benefits with ingratitude. What the people of Germany impatiently expect is that men who are not born noble, but who have ability, should have an equal right to your regard and to employment; it is that all kinds of serfage, and the intermediate stages between the sovereign and the people, should be entirely abolished. The benefits of the Code Napoleon, the publicity of trials, the establishment of the jury, will distinguish your monarchy.

23d, Milan:
I have been at Milan these last two days.

24th. (To Joseph.) I saw Lucien for several hours at Mantua and talked with him. His manner of thinking and speaking are so far removed from mine that I could hardly tell what he wanted. If only he would divorce Mme. Joubersthon I would not interfere with his tastes or affections.

Here is what I propose: let him promise to send his daughter to Paris, and place her entirely at my disposal, for there is not a moment to lose, events are developing rapidly, and my destiny must be accomplished.

December 6th, Venice:
(To Marshal Victor.) I have received the letter in which you inform me that Prince Augustus is behaving badly in Berlin. I am not surprised, because he has no sense. He spent his time paying his attentions to Mme. de Staël at Coppet, and could only have got bad notions in that quarter. See that he is informed that the first time he chatters you will have him arrested and sent to a castle, and that you will send him Mme. de Staël for consolation. There is nothing so flat as these Prussian princes!

(To Maret.) I see by your reports that conversation still turns on subjects that must pain the Empress, and that are in every way improper.

17th, Milan:
The British Isles are declared to be in a state of blockade by sea as well as by land.

23d. (To General Clarke.) Order General Dupont to have his headquarters at Valladolid on the 10th of January, to concentrate his corps there, keeping an eye quietly on the bridge over the Douro, and placing a detachment at Salamanca as though he intended to move on Lisbon.

Order Marshal Moncey to organize the corps of observation of the Atlantic Coast, and to enter Spain at once, so that his leading division may reach Vittoria on the 15th of January.


(If you surfed directly to this page, please go to the Napoleonic Literature Home Page to see the wealth of information that's available on this website.)