For years, I went over the Memoirs of Queen Hortense. I received the impression that Hortense was portraying the “love of her life” Charles de Flahaut in a light that was less than flattering. She shows how De Flahaut and his mother Madame de Souza almost acted as a couple targeting wealthy women for the son to charm into bed.
When Hortense no longer had much to offer, De Flahaut who had been secretly cheating on Hortense anyway went off and found another wealthy woman to charm and marry. De Flahaut marred Hortense’s good name (and by extension Napoleon’s) through seducing her and through the birth of their illegitimate child.
De Flahaut entered Hortense’s life through her mother Josephine. Previous to the letter I’m posting here, in other missives, Josephine goes on and on about her debts. How Napoleon hates them. How she will somehow manage to martyr herself and not take trips to see her children because of her terrible debts. Josephine says that they’re exaggerating her debts to Napoleon. She expresses all of this misery about her inability to stop spending money. Here in this letter we see that the same Madame de Souza, de Flahaut’s mother, is trying to see if she can entice Josephine to blow some more money that she doesn’t have.
Dear Eugène,
At Malmaison, this 13th of January, 1811
I have delayed writing to you, my dear Eugene, in order to be able to assure you positively of one thing which will make you happy. My affairs are resolved and all my debts are paid. These are the presents that I am sending you this year, and I know your affection for me so well that I am sure they will be pleasant to you. I have also been very happy to learn of Auguste's new pregnancy. She hopes to give me a new grandson, and I share her hope. My only sadness is to know that she is suffering. I still expect to see you both next spring and then go to the waters of Aix to complete the restoration that will occur after my stay with you. Farewell, my dear son, I embrace you with all the tenderness I have for you.
JOSEPHINE.
PS. As I know that you are fond of beautiful pictures, I point out to you an admirable painting by Constantin of me. I’m told it’s as beautiful as that of the Arquebusiers which you have seen in my gallery. It was proposed to me but I do not want to buy any paintings at this moment. The price is twenty-four thousand francs, the payment of which is twelve, from month to month. It is Madame de Souza who proposed it to me and it is she who knows the owner.
For more click here.