Adieu, dear; I am in good health.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

No. 19.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Posen, December 3, 1806_, 6 P.M.

Yours of November 27th received, from which I see that your little head is quite turned. I am reminded of the verse--

"Desir de femme est un feu qui devore."

Still you must calm yourself. I wrote you that I was in Poland; that, when we were established in winter quarters, you could come; you will have to wait a few days. The greater one becomes, the less one can consult one's wishes--being dependent on events and circ.u.mstances. You can come to Frankfort or Darmstadt. I am hoping to send for you in a few days; that is, if circ.u.mstances will permit. The warmth of your letter makes me realise that you, like other pretty women, know no bounds. What you will, must be; but, as for me, I declare that of all men I am the greatest slave; my master has no pity, and this master is the nature of things.

Adieu, dear; keep well. The person that I wished to speak to you about is Madame L----, of whom every one is speaking ill; they a.s.sure me that she is more Prussian than French woman. I don't believe it, but I think her an idiot who talks nothing but trash.

NAPOLEON.

_December 6th.--Thorn (on the Vistula) occupied by Ney._

No. 20.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Posen, December 9, 1806._

Yours of December 1st received. I see with pleasure that you are more cheerful; that the Queen of Holland wishes to come with you. I long to give the order; but you must still wait a few days. My affairs prosper.

Adieu, dear; I love you and wish to see you happy.

NAPOLEON.

No. 21.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Posen, December 10, 1806_, 5 P.M.

An officer has just brought me a rug, a gift from you; it is somewhat short and narrow, but I thank you for it none the less. I am in fair health. The weather is very changeable. My affairs prosper pretty well. I love you and long for you much.

Adieu, dear; I shall write for you to come with at least as much pleasure as you will have in coming.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

A kiss to Hortense, Stephanie, and Napoleon.

_December 11th.--Davoust forces the pa.s.sage of the Bug._

No. 22.

_December 12th.--Treaty of peace and alliance between France and Saxony signed at Posen._

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Posen, December 12th, 1806_, 7 P.M.

_My Dear_,--I have not received any letters from you, but know, nevertheless, that you are well. My health is good, the weather very mild; the bad season has not begun yet, but the roads are bad in a country where there are no highways. Hortense will come then with Napoleon; I am delighted to hear it. I long to see things shape themselves into a position to enable you to come.

I have made peace with Saxony. The Elector is King and one of the confederation.

Adieu, my well-beloved Josephine.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

A kiss to Hortense, Napoleon, and Stephanie.

Paer, the famous musician, his wife, a virtuoso whom you saw at Milan twelve years ago, and Brizzi are here; they give me a little music every evening.

No. 23.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_December 15, 1806_, 3 P.M.

_My Dear_,--I start for Warsaw. In a fortnight I shall be back; I hope then to be able to send for you. But if that seems a long time, I should be very glad if you would return to Paris, where you are wanted. You well know that I am dependent on events. All my affairs go excellently. My health is very good; I am as well as possible.

Adieu, dear. I have made peace with Saxony.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

_December 17th._--Turkey declares war on Russia. (_So Montgaillard; but Napoleon refers to it in the thirty-ninth bulletin, dated December 7th, while Haydn dates it January 7th._)

No. 24.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.