This is part of a series of letters by Napoleon’s stepdaughter, Hortense to her brother, Eugene de Beauharnais. When we last left off. Hortense and Josephine were about to visit Napoleon but he had to stop briefly in Poland - where the introduction of new mistress Marie Walewska changes circumstances for everyone.
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By the hand of Prince Napoleon-Charles:
this 27th of December, 1806.
My dear Nonnonque and my dear Tata, I wish you both a happy new year. I would like to see you and I embrace you with all my heart.
NAPOLEON.
By the Queen's hand:
Mayence, December 27, 1806.
You see the style of Napoleon; he is laconic but when he speaks of nonnonque Eugène, he is much less so. When he puts on his cocked hat, he says: "It is like nonnonque Eugène’s" and when he sees a pretty portrait he says: "C'est tata Eugène.”
For this new year, I dare not make plans. However, I hope that the year will not pass without us being reunited; I would be too unhappy if I did not have this hope. Yesterday's news is from Kutno; the Emperor there was arrested on his way to Warsaw [Napoleon arrives in Kutno, the 17th of December].
The roads are so appalling that the oalèche, in which Duroc and Caulainoourt were, turned over. Duroc's collarbone was broken; fortunately there was a surgeon who was very useful to him; he wrote to his wife; he no longer suffers, but he is in a village and he cannot continue this campaign, which must be very sad for him.
It irritated the Emperor to have to travel at night, which is very fortunate because it is said that, in these roads, it is very dangerous. It seems that we are going to fight with the Russians, because the courier told us that the Emperor had given the order to deploy the Guard so that they could join him.
My God, how sad it is to see the Emperor so far!
The peasants revolted a little near Cassel. General Lagrange has only one regiment [Lagrange was governor of Hesse-Cassel].
He is very embarrassed; but we hope that this will not take place. I am very sad to leave mom at this moment, because she is very alone; but you will admit that my position is very embarrassing.
HORTENSE.
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Cela fait partie d'une série de lettres de la belle-fille de Napoléon, Hortense, à son frère, Eugène de Beauharnais.
La dernière fois que nous nous sommes arrêtés. Hortense et Joséphine étaient sur le point de visiter Napoléon, mais il a dû s'arrêter brièvement en Pologne - où l'introduction de la nouvelle maîtresse Marie Walewska change les circonstances pour tout le monde.
