This letter forms part of our series where we translate Hortense Bonaparte’s letters to her brother Eugene.
Napoleon just had some victories and now he’s getting involved with a Polish girl who will act as a great catalyst on the lives of everyone connected to Napoleon. Marie Walewska turns out to be so loyal to Napoleon that she ends up becoming friendly with Josephine and Hortense after the divorce. We can expect anything in this story.
Hortense writes:
Mainz, Jan 11, 1807.
It is said that there is a bulletin for you by M. de Talleyrand; thus I will not send it to you.
Auguste of Bavaria.
We are still talking about two brilliant actions: one by Marshal Lannes and the other by Marshal Augereau; they beat the Russians who were much stronger. than they were (1).
General Rapp was slightly injured in the arm (2); General Fénerols was killed (3); the young Ségur is a prisoner (4): he carried, I believe, an order; finally we can no longer fight because of the bad weather.
The Emperor was returning to Warsaw and we were going to go to his winter quarters (5).
I am still in Mainz, wishing to go with the Empress if the Emperor brings her to Berlin, but fearing that they will be sorry not to see me return to The Hague.
Finally, I am still in a state of indecision and I am awaiting news from the Emperor to see what I will have to do.
You will soon be with a new child (6); I would like to share with you all the care we give to a newborn; I assure you that it would make me very happy.
Thank you for your pretty little rings.
Farewell, I kiss you as I love you, as well as my sister. Did she receive a small cross with one -
…
(1) 26 December, 1806: combat of Pultusk (Lannes) and combat of Golymin (Davout and Augereau).
(2) He had his arm broken arm at Golymin.
(3) Jean-Jacques-Marguerite-Etienne de Fornier, called Fénerols, born in Escoussens ('Tarn) on December 28, 1761, made General of Brigade on August 20, 1803, he commanded the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of Dragons in the reserve of cavalry of the Grand Army when he was killed in Golymin by a cannonball, on December 26, 1806.
(4) Paul-Philippe, the future academician, was wounded and made prisoner in the combat of Nasielsk, the 24th of December, 1806. He stayed in Russia until the peace of Tilsit.
(5) The Emperour came back to Warsaw on January 1, 1807; he stayed there until January 30th.
(6) The birth of the princess Auguste’s child.
…
little chain of my hair, and your vests and cachemire? You must have laughed at my little gifts.
Send me your hair when you get it cut, I will make a chain of it: it is all the same if the hair is not long.
HORTENSE.
General Rapp.
Cette lettre fait partie de notre série où nous traduisons les lettres d'Hortense Bonaparte à son frère Eugène.
Napoléon vient de remporter quelques victoires et maintenant il s’implique avec une Polonaise qui agira comme un grand catalyseur sur la vie de tous ceux qui sont liés à Napoléon.
Marie Walewska se révèle si fidèle à Napoléon qu'elle finit par se lier d'amitié avec Joséphine et Hortense après le divorce. Nous pouvons nous attendre à tout dans cette histoire.
