I recently posted some letters from the later years of Josephine. After going through those letters, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the recipient of those letters, her son Eugène de Beauharnais.
Josephine basically puts her life in his hands and places all of her sufferings at his feet as she implores him to act as go between for her to the Emperor - a man she never ceases to worship.
Let’s go back even farther in time. Eugene’s father was executed during the Revolution and around adolescence Eugène became the man of the family with a high strung sister and a waif-like adoring mother. That was until a domineering general showed up, moved in right away, and took over. I have broadcast Hortense’s Memoirs where she clearly weighs her words carefully and still she rips a lot of masks right off.
Let’s read Hortense’s letters to the brother that she loved to distraction. This is from boarding school Hortense before she entered into a marriage which rendered her miserable.
Dear Eugène,
Saint-Germain, Mme. Campan’s School, 12 Vendemiaire, Year VIII, October 4, 1799.
How I cried while receiving your letters, my dear Eugene! How! 'Or' What?! You were wounded and I did not find out about it until four months later ... Fortunately it worked out this way for your Hortense because she would have been inconsolable to know you were unwell and that I couldn’t be near you. Please, my Eugene, if you still have friendship for me, take care of yourself, take care to not expose yourself too much. Think that you are the support of your mother and your sister, that if some accident happened to you, they would be in despair. Ah! If not for you, think of them at least. They are so sad to be far from you that their only consolation is to know you are happy and that we always have a great place in your heart.
The letters which I have just received from you are the only ones since those which Louis brought me. They are dated, one of the 2nd Floreal and the other of the 20 Messidor. As for me, I have written to you as much as I could, but, it seems, my letters have not reached you. I hope this situation will improve because my letters must be put in with those of the Directors, and it is in secret that we send them to you.
As my mother writes to Buonaparte, and we can only give two letters, others will not be able to write to you so do not be surprised and always believe that our sweetest moments are those in which we talk about you and Buonaparte.
Mom bought Malmaison, which is near Saint-Germain. I am there almost every weekend. She lives there very quietly. She sees only Madame Campan and thd Auguié sisters, who often come with me. She has given only two big dinners since you left. She invited the Directors, as well as all of the Buonaparte family. The latter have constantly refused.
Louis, even, did not want to come and stay with Mom and does not come to see us. Out of all of them, there is only Madame Buonaparte, the mother, who is kind to us and makes an effort to be friendly, but I think she will soon return to Corsica.
Mom is, I assure you, deeply affected to see that this family does not want to be cordial with her and this makes her angry because of her husband that she loves a lot. I'm sure that, if she could, she would go and find you, but that it is impossible at this moment.
Adèle and I are beginning to paint with oil from nature. Jerome, as you know, has been eighteen months at M. Mestro's [a School] He was happy but his brothers made him go to Paris. He has been there for two months, which annoys M. Mestro a great deal.
Madame Lavalette is now with Caroline at Mortefontaine (an estate Joseph bought).
I gave you details about your acquaintances. I cannot think of anyone else I can talk to you about, but before closing my letter, I want to scold you a little. All your letters are very short. It is true that you write to me, as it seems, often, but you should write me a long one, twice as long so I would receive more detailed news about our poor Egyptians. Tell them, I pray you, many kind things from me. Kiss Buonaparte for me. I hope he still has a little friendship for me.
Your Hortense who loves you with all her soul,
HORTENSE.
PS. Madame Campan, who has received your letter, will charge me to tell you a thousand things, as well as Madamemoiselles Auguié, Madames Pannelier, and the whole family. We often talk about you when we’re together and we all love you a lot. The whole school [which Eugene left to follow Napoleon to war] is very curious about you. I assure you, it seems, that because you're far away, everyone loves you all the more. Mom has just received your letter, dated the 10th Thermidor. What happiness to receive letters from you, after being deprived of them so long! Always keep writing to us often and especially do not expose yourself.
PS. In Josephine's handwriting.
I kiss you with all my heart, my dear Eugene. I think unceasingly of you, and I await the moment that will unite me to all that I love. I would have nothing to desire, especially if I find Bonaparte as he left me and that he should always have been for me. My dear Eugene, all that I suffered from your absence and his! Take care of yourself for your mother and your sister, who love you with all their hearts. A thousand warm greetings to Lavalette and Bourrienne and Duroc and Denon. We often talk about the latter with Mrs. Hulot [Moreau’s mother in law]. Tell him to send news to his parents who are very worried.
The whole story is here.