NAPOLEON AND THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 64, 27 October 1864, Page 3

NAPOLEON AND THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE.

The Paris correspondent of the Times, in a recent communication, says , — In the 15th Tolume of the " Napoleon Correspondence " to which I once before alluded, there are some amusing letters thrown together with some of the most important ones, and bearing the same date. A great many were written while Napoleon wa3 at tho camp of Finkinstein, awaiting the result of the operations of the famous siege of Dantzic. The Empress Josephine was at Malmaison, where by the order of the Emperor she kept a most brilliant Court. Some busybodies had been telling her that her husband was in correspondence with certain ladies in Paris, and Josephine thought it well to pretend to be jealous ! That she reproached him is evident from a few short answers from him here and there. The first is dated the 10th af May 1807 :— " I have just had your letter. I don't understand what you say about ladies being in correspondence with me. The only person I love is my little Josephine, so good, so sulky, and capricious, and knows how to pick a quarrel with the same charm she puts into everything, for she is always amiable, except when she is jealous, and then — she is a very devil. But, to return to these ladies. If I did think of any one of them, I assure yoa I should wish them to be pretty rosebuds. Is any one of those you write about a rosebud ? " 1 desire you shall never have any one to dine with you but tho3e who have dined with me ; that the list shall be the same for your receptions, and that you never admit to your intimacy either ambassadors or strangers. If you act otherwise you displease me. In a word, do not let yourself be surrounded by persons whom I do not know, and who would not visit you if I were there. Good bye — your devoted " Napoleon." The same day this epistle, half-loving and halfimperious, was penned, he wrote a letter of instructions, filling four printed pages, to G-eneral G-ardane, who wa3 just then setting out on a political mission to Persia ; a scolding despatch to G-eneral Junot ; a letter to G-eneral Dejean ; a note for General Ckoseeloixp, on tKe necessity of strengthening the fortress of Marienburg ; and ] a sharp letter to Prince Eugene, also on military j subjects. The one to Junot, who was then in Paris, is worth giving : — " I have your letter of the 29 th of April. lam gres-tly dissatisfied at your not having obeyed my orders. I ordered that there should be a parade every day in the Place Vendome, and that the GJ-orernor should be present, were there only a picket of sixty men. You should have done it. I flatter myself that henceforth you will cany out my intentions more exactly, and will not take what I say to you for nonsense. Theparade must take place every day in Paris. I don't want a parade of show, but one of service. I have your of the 30th of April. lam also dissatisfied that, instead of setting out as I ordered, you stay ten days in Paris. You have a strange notion of your duties and of military service ! Ido not now you for the same man you were," Josephine persisted in affecting jealousy ; and the Emperor, who was still at Tilsit, -wrote her these few lines, which 2>ro\>abljr did not much tranquilise her : " July 6, 1807. " I have your letter of the 25th of June. I see with pain that you are selfish, and that the success of my arms gives you no pleasure. The handsome Queen of Prusia comes to dine with me today. lam very well, and long much to see you when destiny shall have marked the hour. It is possible that hour will not be long delayed. Good-bye — a thousand compliments." On, the same day he wrote a memorandum or _ summary of the points at issue between the , Russian and French Plenipotentiaries, a letter to Cambaceres, one to Prince Talleyrand, One to the Emperor of Russia, one to Prince Eugene, one to General Savary, and one to M. Lacuee about the conscription. The following day (the 7th of July) he write* to Josephine from Tilsit :— ]„.[ tr My dear, the Queen of Prussia dined yesterday>vith,me. I had to defend myself against her efforts to oblige me to grant sonic more concessions to her husband. I was gallant, but I stuck to my policy. The Queen is' very, amiable. I shall tell you all about it; I cannot, do so now without being too long. By the time you read this letter peace will have been concluded with ' Prussia and Russia, and Jerome will be recognised King of Westphalia, with three millions of population. This is for your own ear only. Good bye, Ilove you, and wish to seeyouconteritand gay." To Cambaceres, the King of Saxony,. Prince Jerome, Marshal Berthier, and the Council of State, he wrofe lotterß the jpanie day. ' , : ■;On the following day (the Bth) he; once more ; writes to Josephine, whom he seems to take plea-* sure in tormenting : — • '.: ■ '- ■ .... "The Queen of Prussia is really charming! She is fiillpf coquetry towards mo ; bxxt dpn't^ pray, be jealous. lam an oil-cloth, ixbm whioh pi tb.ii coquetry flows off. It would coat ate too much to ylftjrthe gallant," .