This is a letter by Napoleon’s stepdaughter, Hortense de Beauharnais Bonaparte to her brother Eugene, Viceroy of Italy.
Hortense has just lost an adored son and her husband, Louis Bonaparte, started being a lot nicer to her out of fear she’d die as well. Napoleon, as usual, is showing her special attention, according to her. Hortense was in a very deep depression.
Hortense writes:
[Paris], this Tuesday the 8th of [December 1807] (2).
I am suffering a little, my dear Eugòne, I believe that it is the commencement of a pregnancy (3).
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(2) Hortense was set up in Paris after her return to Fontainebleau.
(3) The future Napoleon III was to be born on April 20, 1808.
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It will be good for me, since it will force me to take a little more interest in myself, but it can never make me forget my poor child; even as young as he was, he already loved me so much love that I would be remiss if I didn't think about him all my life.
I cannot say enough about how the Emperor has been good to me; I assure you that I feel that if I could remain left at peace for some time in Saint-Cloud, I would end up much better.
The little efforts he has the kindness to show me sometimes distracts me and touches me more than I can express to you and I realize that, despite his separation from you, that the Emperor always knows how to distinguish the people who are truly attached to him; so be sure that if he doesn't bring you here, it can only be because he needs you there.
Prince Jérôme was very kind to me; Prince and Princess Murat were a little colder; I was told several things they said about me that are so bad that I can hardly believe it (1).
I admit that I did not believe that my position and my misfortunes could make people jealous of me to that extent.
Farewell, my dear Eugène, it is our attachment to each other that they should envy and our inner peace which comes from never having done anything wrong.
I kiss my sister and your little girl.
HORTENSE.
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(1) See the Memoirs of Queen Hortense, loc. cit., II, 16.- Murat and Caroline have a share of responsibility in the slanderous rumors - that were in no way based on truth -about the relations between M. Decazes and the Queen during her stay in Cauterets.
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Il s’agit d’une lettre de la belle-fille de Napoléon, Hortense de Beauharnais Bonaparte, à son frère Eugène, vice-roi d’Italie.
Hortense vient de perdre un fils adoré et son mari, Louis Bonaparte, a commencé à être beaucoup plus gentil avec elle de peur de mourir également.
Napoléon, comme d'habitude, lui prête une attention particulière. Hortense était dans une dépression très profonde.
