The following letter is to the writer of one of our best memoirs about Napoleon, Lavallette. This letter references the pattern where Louis abuses Hortense, Napoleon finds out and expresses his disgust at his brother for not appreciating his wife.
This describes a painful pattern that reveals a lot about the dynamic between the 3 of them. The abuse always recurs because Louis was ill and because he was so resentful of Napoleon.
Hortense suggests in her memoirs that Napoleon raised Louis with perhaps too much strictness. Napoleon’s genius constantly overshadowed Louis and there is always the undercurrent of rage from Louis over the deep love that persisted between Napoleon and Hortense - in spite of circumstances. Hortense says here she’d endure anything for Napoleon and shows her intense devotion. Hortense again complains about the massive number of intriguers in her midst.
The Hague, this Tuesday, April 21 1807 (1).
I always take the opportunity, my dear Lavalette, to write you a little when I have time.
You will know for news that there is nothing new here, except that we are planning to go to Loo soon and that there are no beds, no chairs, no cuisine.
The King went to make a little trip to the Helder; he returns Friday.
We are apparently much better together. He now stays home during the evenings, and people who would have feared to compromise themselves by coming to see me during this time now abound.
The Emperor, who had learned the way in which we were living, wrote a terrible letter to the King.
He tells him that he knows that he makes me unhappy, that he would wish on him a woman like the kind he knows in Paris and that instead of that he has a virtuous wife but that he does not know how to appreciate her.
You see, my dear Lavallette,
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(1) This letter is addressed to Lavallette, the faithful friend of Eugène and his sister.
(2) The Queen summarizes here a letter from the Emperor to Louis, dated Finkenstein, April 4, 1807, published by Blanchard JURROLD, The life of Napoleon III, London, Longmann, Greon and Co, in-8º, 1874, 429, and by Félix ROOQUAIN, Napoléon Ier et le roi Louis, Paris, Firmin Didot, 1875, in-8 °, 23,
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that the manner in which the Emperor speaks of me and the opinion that he has the generosity to feel consoles me and gives me the strength to bear everything.
Never speak of all this to the Empress, for it is better that one ignores everything about that, how it would make her sad, she would say.
The Emperor also grumbles about the Order of Holland (1) which is given to too many and was established without his consent.
I don’t know whom in France will be allowed to wear it, but he does not seem willing to grant it being worn at all.
Holland is a hotbed of intriguers; cheerfully I am not involved in much and that I do not meddle in anything, because I would have to deal with these beauties.
First, as one would like to know everything, everyone wants to teach and it is always at the expense of each other.
A Frenchman leaves for the army?
Immediately everyone feels like they’ve won something. The illustrious Sénégra, with a pale and livid complexion, holds the police sceptor, with all its nonsense and villains.
Everyone fears it, hates it and deals with it.
Especially in the Palace, you have to be careful about if you spit, cough, or blow your nose; only except for me, with my usual air of indifference, I seem to see nothing.
I receive everyone equally well, except those whom I might miss; I put up with this for a long time without saying anything, but now I will not put up with it any more.
The King does a lot of his own business, but I think he lacks a lot of stability in what he does. I understand that, for a king, when you have done something bad you must still stick to it when you have done it. If he sees all the world in agreement
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(1) Louis had created the Order of the Union on December 12, 1806.
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praising a man and that he himself finds that he deserves it, instead of granting him a grace, he granted him six; everything creates jealousies and it even surprises the person who receives them.
You see, my dear Lavallette, that I speak to you with a really open heart.
I judge in my little corner everything that is done, but I do not say it; However, sometimes, I am very proud to see when something which shocked me, without realizing why, also meets with the disapproval of the Emperor.
However this surprises me less by considering my patriotic spirit which makes me think that everything must yield to France.
Here, I think, is the best course of politics; I haven’t done much in that arena; it is true that it is not something I concentrate on.
I know that Eugene is handling his boat well and it always makes me happy to think that he pleases the Emperor. It is the least consolation which is due to us.
I wanted to write to him today but I think it is late and you could send him this letter. My politics will make him laugh and my confidence in you will not surprise him, because we are always as 1 concerning the friendship we have with you.
I kiss Emilie and your little girl (1). Tell me why we no longer do plays at Malmaison? What is the reason we stopped doing this project?
HORTENSE.
P.S. - This Tuesday April 21. I had the pleasure
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(1) Mrs. Lavallette, born Émilie de Beauharnais, the heroine of 1815, and his daughter Joséphine, later baroness de Forget.
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of watching la Grassini in Cleopatra. How she excels at theater! This is the first good thing I have seen since I left Paris.
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Cette lettre est à l'auteur de l'un de nos meilleurs mémoires sur Napoléon, Lavallette.
Cette lettre fait référence au motif où Louis abuse de Hortense, Napoléon le découvre et exprime son dégoût envers son frère pour ne pas avoir apprécié sa femme.
Cela décrit un schéma douloureux qui en dit long sur la dynamique entre les 3.
L'abus revient toujours parce que Louis était malade et parce qu'il était si irrité contre Napoléon.
Hortense suggère dans ses mémoires que Napoléon a élevé Louis avec peut-être trop de rigueur. Le génie de Napoléon a constamment éclipsé Louis et il y a toujours le courant de rage de Louis sur l'amour profond qui a persisté entre Napoléon et Hortense - malgré les circonstances. Hortense dit qu'elle supporterait n'importe quoi pour Napoléon et montre son intense dévouement.
Hortense se plaint à nouveau du nombre massif d'intrigants qui se trouvent au milieu d'elle.
