Napoleon in his own words is the best way to appreciate his personality. Previous to this letter, Napoleon asks about Joseph’s sister in law Desirée - Napoleon’s fiancée. Napoleon evinces that Désirée expresses almost no interest in him and that he wonders if even she’s still alive.
Napoleon mentions here Chauvet, a man who we heard about before in one of Napoleon’s famous first love letters to Josephine. It can be found here.
TO JOSEPH BUONAPARTE.
Paris, 19 Fructidor (September 5, 1795)
The Committee thought that it was impossible for me to leave France during the war. I will be reinstated in the artillery, and probably continue to remain in the Committee. The day after tomorrow, the elections and the primary assemblies take place here. Peace with Hesse-Cassel is ratified.
National goods and emigrants are not expensive: but the owners are at crazy prices. If I stay here, it would not be impossible that the craziness of marrying might take me. I would like for this purpose a little word on your part about this. It might be good to talk to Eugenie's brother (Desiree/Eugénie was Napoléon’s estranged fiancée and Joseph’s sister in law) about it.
Let me me know the result and everything is already requested. Chauvet, who is going to Nice in ten days, will carry the books you have requested. The famous Bishop of Autun and General Montesquiou want permission to return and they are now deleted from the list of emigrants.
BUONAPARTE.
