Letters of Napoleon

Manawatu Herald, 21 April 1894, Page 3

Letters of Napoleon

A number of letters of Napoleon I are pnblished in the new number ot th© flouville Revue. In 1806, about a month before Eylau Napoleon wrote on Pecember Ist to Fonebe', his Minister of Police, the following characteristic letter :— " I vend you a paroel directed to the Emperor of Russia. Ido not think these is any mystery about it. Still I ihould like to know who is the man of letters who corresponds with the Emperor. You can send him the paroel." In September, 1807, he wrote from Eambouillet to Fouche* : — " Give orders that the man Eahn, innerioan Consul at Genoa, should be arrested for wearing a Maltese Cross given by the English, and as being, an English agent, seize, search, and examine his papers, and keep his close confinement 'au secret ' until you have reported to me. By accepting a foreign decoration this individual is no longer an American citizen. lam very sorry that you should have communicated wilb :J tbe American Ebassey. My police know no Embassies, I am the mister of my own house, and wheu I .suspect a man I have him arrested {rain if he were the Ambassador jumgelf." In September, J 808, from Metz, Napoleon wrote to Fouche* :— " The Publicithe publishes theological articles ; these should be left to preachers. I thought I had made the, newspapers understand that they must i leave such things alone. What can . it matter whether priests are 'Irrarfted' or not? The State must not be disturbed by such nonsense." -On February 18th, 1808, M. Fouohe was ordered to give a passjPt. to '< La oettbre Pamela/ and lo\ have a conversation with her about Ireland. Perhapi the most eharaeteristie of theie letter* is one

dated 1810, to the Duke de Rovigo, who had succeeded Fouche. He was instructed to tell the natives of the Belgian and Trana-Alpine Department who " may have marriageable daughters, that they must not dispose of them without my consent, it being my intention to marry them to Frenchmen who have distinguished themselves in action."