Napoleon's Letters To Josephine - Part 38
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Part 38

_June 21st.--Armistice concluded at Tilsit._

No. 80.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.

_Tilsit, June 22, 1807._

_My Dear_,--I have your letter of June 10th. I am sorry to see you are so depressed. You will see by the bulletin that I have concluded a suspension of arms, and that we are negotiating peace. Be contented and cheerful.

I despatched Borghese to you, and, twelve hours later, Moustache; therefore you should have received in good time my letters and the news of the grand battle of Friedland.

I am wonderfully well, and wish to hear that you are happy.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

No. 81.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.

_Tilsit, June 25, 1807._

_My Dear_,--I have just seen the Emperor Alexander. I was much pleased with him. He is a very handsome, young, and kind-hearted Emperor; he has more intelligence than people usually give him credit for.

To-morrow he will lodge in the town of Tilsit.

Adieu, dear. I am very anxious to hear that you are well and happy. My health is very good.

NAPOLEON.

No. 82.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.

_Tilsit, July 3, 1807._

_My Dear_,--M. de Turenne will give you full details of all that has occurred here. Everything goes excellently. I think I told you that the Emperor of Russia drinks your health with much cordiality.

He, as well as the King of Prussia, dines with me every day. I sincerely trust that you are happy. Adieu, dear. A thousand loving remembrances.

NAPOLEON.

No. 83.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.

_Tilsit, July 6, 1807._

I have your letter of June 25th. I was grieved to see that you were selfish, and that the success of my arms should have no charm for you.

The beautiful Queen of Prussia is to come to-morrow to dine with me.

I am well, and am longing to see you again, when destiny shall so order it. Still, it may be sooner than we expect.

Adieu, dear; a thousand loving remembrances.

NAPOLEON.

No. 84.

_July 7th.--Peace signed between France and Russia._

TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.

_Tilsit, July 7, 1807._

_My Dear_,--Yesterday the Queen of Prussia dined with me. I had to be on the defence against some further concessions she wished me to make to her husband; but I was very polite, and yet held firmly to my policy. She is very charming. I shall soon give you the details, which I could not possibly give you now unless at great length. When you read this letter, peace with Prussia and Russia will be concluded, and Jerome acknowledged King of Westphalia, with a population of three millions. This news is for yourself alone.

Adieu, dear; I love you, and wish to know that you are cheerful and contented.

NAPOLEON.

No. 85.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.

_Tilsit, July 8,[26] 1807._

The Queen of Prussia is really charming; she is full of _coquetterie_ for me; but don't be jealous; I am an oil-cloth over which all that can only glide. It would cost me too much to play the lover.

NAPOLEON.

No. 12,875 of the _Correspondence_ (taken from Las Cases).

_July 9th.--Peace signed between France and Prussia, the latter resigning all its possessions between the Rhine and the Elbe._

No. 86.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT ST. CLOUD.

_Dresden, July 18, 1807, Noon._