_July 18th._--Talleyrand becomes French Minister of Foreign
Affairs.
_September 4th._--Day of 18th Fructidor at Paris. Coup d'Etat _of
Rewbell, Larevelliere-Lepeaux, and Barras, secretly aided by
Bonaparte, who has sent them Augereau to command Paris_.
_September 18th._--Death of Lazare Hoche, aged twenty-nine,
_probably poisoned by the Directory, which has recalled
Moreau, retired Bernadotte, and will soon launch Bonaparte on
the seas, so that he may find failure and Bantry Bay at Aboukir_
(Montgaillard).
_September 30th._--National bankruptcy admitted in France, _the
sixth time in two centuries_.
_October 17th.---Treaty of Campo-Formio; Bonaparte called
thereupon by Talleyrand "General Pacificator."_
_November 16th._--Death of Frederick William II., _King of
Prussia, aged fifty-three_; _succeeded by his son, Frederick
William III., aged twenty-seven_.
_December 1st.--Bonaparte Minister Plenipotentiary at Congress of
Rastadt, and_
_December 5th.--Arrives at Paris._
_December 10th.--Bonaparte presented to the Directory by
Talleyrand._
_December 27th.--Riots at Rome: Joseph Bonaparte (ambassador)
insulted; General Duphot (engaged to Joseph's sister-in-law,
Desiree) killed._
SERIES C
THE MARENGO CAMPAIGN, 1800
LETTERS OF THE FIRST CONSUL BONAPARTE TO HIS WIFE
_3rd Outlaw._ "By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar,
This fellow were a king for our wild faction!
_1st Outlaw._ "We'll have him; sirs, a word.
_Speed._ "Master, be one of them,
It is an honourable kind of thievery."
_The Two Gentlemen of Verona_,
Act iv., Scene I.
SERIES C
(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 223-225.)
LETTER PAGE
Christmas Day, 1799 223
No. 3. Ivrea, May 29th 224
_M.'s_ 224
_Cherries_ 224
No. 4. _Milan_ 224
THE CAMPAIGN OF MARENGO, 1800.
EVENTS OF 1798.
NAPOLEONIC HISTORY.--_May 20th._--_Napoleon sails from Toulon for
Egypt._
_June 11th.--Takes Malta; sails for Egypt (June 20th)._
_July 4th.--Captures Alexandria._
_July 21st.--Defeats Mamelukes at Battle of the Pyramids, and
enters Cairo the following day._
_August 1st.--French Fleet destroyed by Nelson at the Battle of
the Nile._
_October 7th.--Desaix defeats Mourad Bey at Sedyman (Upper
Egypt)._
* * * * *
GENERAL HISTORY.--_January 4th._--Confiscation of all English
merchandise in France. Commencement of Continental system.
_January 5th._--Directory fail to float a loan of 80 millions
(francs), and
_January 28th._--Forthwith invade Switzerland, ostensibly to
defend the Vaudois, under a sixteenth-century treaty, really to
revolutionise the country, and seize upon the treasure of Berne.
_February 15th._--Republic proclaimed at Rome. French occupy the
Vatican, and
_February 20th._--Drive Pope Pius VI. into exile to the convent of
Sienna.
_March 5th._--Capture of Berne by General Brune.
_April 13th._--Bernadotte, ambassador, attacked at the French
Embassy in Vienna.
_May 19th._--Fitzgerald, a leader in the Irish rebellion,
arrested.
_August 22nd._--General Humbert and 1100 French troops land at
Killala, County Mayo.
_September 8th._--Humbert and 800 men taken by Lord Cornwallis at
Ballinamack.
_September 12th._--Turkey declares war with France, and forms
alliance with England and Russia.
_November 19th._--Wolfe-Tone commits suicide.
_December 5th._--Macdonald defeats Mack and 40,000 Neapolitans at
Civita Castellana.
_December 9th._--Joubert occupies Turin.
_December 15th._--French occupy Rome.
_December 29th._--Coalition of Russia, Austria, and England
against France.
EVENTS OF 1799.
NAPOLEONIC HISTORY.--_January 23rd._--_Desaix defeats Mourad Bey
at Samhoud (Upper Egypt). February 3rd.--Desaix defeats Mourad Bey
at the Isle of Philae (near Assouan)--furthest limit of the Roman
Empire. Napoleon crosses Syrian desert and takes El Arish
(February 20th) and Gaza (February 25th), captures Jaffa (March
7th) and Sour, formerly Tyre (April 3rd). Junot defeats Turks and
Arabs at Nazareth (April 8th), and Kleber defeats them at Mount
Tabor (April 16th). Napoleon invests Acre but retires (May 21st),
re-enters Cairo (June 14th), annihilates Turkish army at Aboukir
(July 25th); secretly sails for France (August 23rd), lands at
Frejus (October 9th), arrives at Paris (October 13th); dissolves
the Directory (November 9th) and Council of Five Hundred (November
10th), and is proclaimed First Consul (December 24th)._
* * * * *
GENERAL HISTORY.--_January 10th._--Championnet occupies Capua.
_January 20th._--Pacification of La Vendee by General Hedouville.
_January 23rd._--Championnet occupies Naples.
_March 3rd._--Corfu taken from the French by a Russo-Turkish
force.
_March 7th._--Massena defeats the Austrians, and conquers the
country of the Grisons.
_March 25th._--Archduke Charles defeats Jourdan at Stockach.
_March 30th._--Kray defeats French (under Scherer) near Verona,
_April 5th._--And again at Magnano.
_April 14th._--Suwarrow takes command of Austrian army at Verona;
_April 22nd._--Defeats French at Cassano, with heavy loss.
_April 28th._--French plenipotentiaries, returning from Radstadt,
murdered by men in Austrian uniforms--Montgaillard thinks by
creatures of the Directory.
_May 4th._--Capture of Seringapatam by General Baird.
_May 12th._--Austro-Russian army checked at Bassignana.
_May 16th._--Sieyes becomes one of the Directory.
_May 20th._--Suwarrow takes Brescia,
_May 24th._--And Milan (citadel).
_June 5th._--Massena defeated at Zurich by Archduke Charles; and
Macdonald (_June 19th_) by Suwarrow at the Trebbia.
_June 18th._--Gohier, Roger-Ducos, and Moulin replace Treilhard,
Lareveillere-Lepeaux, and Merlin on the Directory.
_June 20th._--Turin surrenders to Austro-Russians.
_June 22nd._--Turkey, Portugal, and Naples join the coalition
against France.
_July 14th._--French carry their prisoner, Pope Pius VI., to
Valence, where he dies (_August 29th_).
_July 22nd._--Alessandria surrenders to Austro-Russians.
_July 30th._--Mantua, after 72 days' siege, surrenders to Kray.
_August 15th._--French defeated at Novi by Suwarrow. French lose
Joubert and 20,000 men.
_August 17th._--French, under Lecombe, force the St. Gothard.
_August 27th._--English army disembark at the Helder.
_August 30th._--Dutch fleet surrendered to the British Admiral.
_September 19th._--Brune defeats Duke of York at Bergen.
_September 25th._--Massena defeats allies at Zurich, who lose
16,000 men and 100 guns. "Massena saves France at Zurich, as
Villars saved it at Denain."--_Montgaillard._
_October 6th._--Brune defeats Duke of York at Kastrikum.
_October 7th._--French take Constance.
_October 16th._--Saint-Cyr, without cavalry or cannon, defeats
Austrians at Bosco.
_October 18th._--Capitulation at Alkmaar by Duke of York to
General Brune. "The son of George III. capitulates at Alkmaar as
little honourably as the son of George II. had capitulated at
Kloster-Seven in 1757."--_Montgaillard._
_November 4th._--Melas defeats French at Fossano.
_November 13th._--Ancona surrendered to the Austrians by Monnier,
after a six months' siege.
_November 24th._--Moreau made commander of the armies of the Rhine
(being in disgrace, has served as a volunteer in Italy most of
this year); Massena sent to the army of Italy.
_December 5th._--Coni, the key of Piedmont, surrenders to the
Austrians.
_December 14th._--Death of George Washington.
_December 15th._--Battle of Montefaccio, near Genoa. Saint-Cyr
defeats Austrians.
EVENTS OF 1800.
_February 11th._--Bank of France constituted.
_February 20th._--Kleber defeats Turks at Heliopolis.
_May 3rd._--Battle of Engen. Moreau defeats Kray, who loses 10,000
men, and--
_May 5th._--Again defeats Austrians at Moeskirch.
_May 6th.--Napoleon leaves Paris._
_May 8th.--Arrives at Auxonne, and on the 9th at Geneva, from
thence moves to Lausanne (May 12th), where he is delighted with
reception accorded to the French troops, and hears of Moreau's
victory at Bibernach (May 11th). On the 14th he hears of Desaix's
safe arrival at Toulon from Egypt, together with Davoust, and
orders the praises of their past achievements to be sung in the_
Moniteur. _The same day writes Massena that in Genoa a man like
himself (Massena) is worth 20,000. On the 16th is still at
Lausanne._
No. 1.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT PARIS.
_Lausanne, May 15, 1800._
I have been at Lausanne since yesterday. I start to-morrow. My health
is fairly good. The country round here is very beautiful. I see no
reason why, in ten or twelve days, you should not join me here; you
must travel incognito, and not say where you are going, because I want
no one to know what I am about to do. You can say you are going to
Plombieres.
I will send you Moustache,[16] who has just arrived.
My very kindest regards to Hortense. Eugene will not be here for eight
days; he is _en route_.
BONAPARTE.
No. 2.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT PARIS.
_Torre di Garofolo, May 16, 1800._
I start immediately to spend the night at Saint-Maurice. I have not
received a single letter from you; that is not well. I have written
you by every courier.
Eugene may arrive the day after to-morrow. I have rather a cold, but
it will have no ill effects.
My very kindest regards to you, my good little Josephine, and to all
who belong to you.
BONAPARTE.
_May 17th-19th.--At Martigny, "struggling against ice, snow-storms,
and avalanches," and astonishing the great St. Bernard "with the
passage of our 'pieces of 8,' and especially of our limbers--a new
experience for it." On May 20th he climbed the St. Bernard on a
mule, and descended it on a sledge. On May 21st he is at Aosta,
hoping to be back in Paris within a fortnight. His army had passed
the mountain in four days. On May 27th he is at Ivrea, taken by
Lannes on the 24th._
No. 3.[17]
[_From Tennant's Tour, &c._, vol. ii.]
11 P.M.
I hardly know which way to turn. In an hour I start for Vercelli.
Murat ought to be at Novaro to-night. The enemy is thoroughly
demoralised; he cannot even yet understand us. I hope within ten days
to be in the arms of my Josephine, who is always very good when she is
not crying and not flirting. Your son arrived this evening. I have had
him examined; he is in excellent health. Accept a thousand tender
thoughts. I have received M.'s letter. I will send her by the next
courier a box of excellent cherries.
We are here--within two months for Paris.--Yours entirely,
N. B.
_To Madame Bonaparte._ (Address not in Bonaparte's writing.)
* * * * *
_June 1st._--First experiments with vaccination at Paris, with
fluid sent from London.
_On June 2nd Napoleon enters Milan, where he spends a week._
No. 4.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT PARIS.
_Milan._
I am at Milan, with a very bad cold. I can't stand rain, and I have
been wet to the skin for several hours, but all goes well. I don't
persuade you to come here. I shall be home in a month. I trust to
find you flourishing. I am just starting for Pavia and Stradella. We
are masters of Brescia, Cremona, and Placentia.
Kindest regards. Murat has borne himself splendidly.
* * * * *
_June 5th._--Massena gives up Genoa, but leaves with all the
honours of war.
_June 7th._--Lannes takes Pavia, 350 cannon, and 10,000 muskets.
_June 9th.--Battle of Montebello. Bonaparte defeats Austrians, who
lose 8000 men._
_June 14th.--Bonaparte wins Marengo, but loses Desaix--"the man I
loved and esteemed the most." In his bulletin he admits the battle
at one time was lost, until he cried to his troops "Children,
remember it is my custom to sleep upon the battlefield." He
mentions the charges of Desaix and Kellermann, and especially
eulogises the latter--a fact interesting on account of the false
statements made of his ignoring it. In the bulletin of June 21st
he blames the "punic faith" of Lord Keith at Genoa, a criticism
the Admiral repaid with usury fifteen years later._
_June 14th._--Assassination of Kleber, in Egypt.
_June 16th.--Convention of Alessandria between Bonaparte and
Melas; end of the "Campaign of Thirty Days."_
_June 19th._--Moreau defeats Kray at Hochstedt, and occupies Ulm.
_June 23rd._--Genoa re-entered by the French.
_June 26th.--Bonaparte leaves Massena in command of the Army of
Reserve, now united with the Army of Italy._
_July 3rd.--The First Consul is back in Paris unexpectedly--not
wishing triumphal arches or such-like "colifichets" In spite of
which the plaudits he receives are very dear to him, "sweet as the
voice of Josephine."_
_September 5th._--Vaubois surrenders Malta to the English, after
two years' blockade.
_September 15th._--Armistice between France and Austria in
Germany.
_September 30th._--Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between
France and U.S.--agreed that the flag covers the goods.
_October 3rd._--To facilitate peace King George renounces his
title of King of France.
_November 12th._--Rupture of Armistice between France and
Austria.
_December 3rd._--Moreau wins the battle of Hohenlinden (Austrian
loss, 16,000 men, 80 guns; French 3000).
_December 20th._--Moreau occupies Lintz (100 miles from Vienna).
_December 24th.--Royalist conspirators fail to kill Bonaparte with
an infernal machine._
_December 25th._--Armistice at Steyer between Moreau and Archduke
Charles (sent for by the Austrians a fortnight before as their
last hope).
FOOTNOTES
[16] Bonaparte's courier.
[17] The date of this letter is May 29, 1800. See Notes.
SERIES D
"The peace of Amiens had always been regarded from the side of
England as an armed truce: on the side of Napoleon it had a very
different character.... A careful reader must admit that we were
guilty of a breach of faith in not surrendering Malta. The promise
of its surrender was the principal article of the treaty."
_England and Napoleon in 1803._
(Edited for the R. Hist. S. by Oscar Browning, 1887.)
SERIES D
(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 225-231.)
LETTER PAGE
Date 225
No. 1. _The blister_ 225
_Some plants_ 225
_If the weather is as bad_ 226
_Malmaison, without you_ 228
No. 2. _The fat Eugene_ 228
No. 3. _Your letter has come_ 229
_Injured whilst shooting a boar_ 229
"_The Barber of Seville_" 229
No. 4. _The Sevres Manufactory_ 230
No. 5. _Your lover, who is tired of being alone_ 230
_General Ney_ 231
JOSEPHINE'S TWO VISITS TO PLOMBIERES,
1801 AND 1802.
EVENTS OF 1801.
_January 1st._--Legislative Union of Great Britain and Ireland.
_January 3rd._--French under Brune occupy Verona, and
_January 8th._--Vicenza.
_January 11th._--Cross the Brenta.
_January 16th._---Armistice at Treviso between Brune and the
Austrian General Bellegarde.
_February 9th._--Treaty of Luneville, by which the Thalweg of the
Rhine became the boundary of Germany and France.
_March 8th._--English land at Aboukir.
_March 21st._--Battle of Alexandria (Canopus). Menou defeated by
Abercromby, with loss of 2000.
_March 24th._--The Czar Paul is assassinated.
_March 28th._--Treaty of Peace between France and Naples, who
cedes Elba and Piombino.
_April 2nd._--Nelson bombards Copenhagen.
_May 23rd._--General Baird lands at Kosseir on the Red Sea with
1000 English and 10,000 Sepoys.
_June 7th._--French evacuate Cairo.
_July 1st._--Toussaint-Louverture elected Life-Governor of St.
Domingo. Slavery abolished there. The new ruler declares, "I am
the Bonaparte of St. Domingo, and the Colony cannot exist without
me;" and heads his letters to the First Consul, "From the First of
the Blacks to the First of the Whites."
_July 15th.--Concordat between Bonaparte and the Pope, signed at
Paris by Bonaparte, ratified by the Pope (August 15th)._
_August 4th._--Nelson attacks Boulogne flotilla and is repulsed.
_August 15th._--Attacks again, and suffers severely.
_August 31st._--Menou capitulates to Hutchinson at Alexandria.
_September 29th._--Treaty of Peace between France and Portugal;
boundaries of French Guiana extended to the Amazon.
_October 1st._--Treaty between France and Spain, who restores
Louisiana. Preliminaries of Peace between France and England
signed in London.
_October 8th._--Treaty of Peace between France and Russia.
_October 9th._--And between France and Turkey.
_December 14th._--Expedition sent out to St. Domingo by the French
under General Leclerc.
No. 1.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIERES.
_Paris the "27" ..., 1801._
The weather is so bad here that I have remained in Paris. Malmaison,
without you, is too dreary. The fete has been a great success; it has
rather tired me. The blister they have put on my arm gives me constant
pain.
Some plants have come for you from London, which I have sent to your
gardener. If the weather is as bad at Plombieres as it is here, you
will suffer severely from floods.
Best love to "Maman" and Hortense.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
EVENTS OF 1802.
_January 4th.--Louis Bonaparte marries Hortense Beauharnais, both
unwilling._
_January 9th.--The First Consul, with Josephine, leaves for Lyons,
where,_
_January 25th.--He remodels the Cisalpine Republic as the Italian
Republic, under his Presidency._
_March 25th._--Treaty of Amiens signed in London. French lose only
Ceylon and Trinidad. Malta to be restored to the Order of Knights,
reconstituted.
_May 7th._--Toussaint surrenders to Leclerc.
_May 19th._--Institution of the Legion of Honour.
No. 2.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIERES.
_Malmaison, June 19, 1802._
I have as yet received no news from you, but I think you must already
have begun to take the waters. It is rather dull for us here, although
your charming daughter does the honours of the house to perfection.
For the last two days I have suffered slightly from my complaint. The
fat Eugene arrived yesterday evening; he is very hale and hearty.
I love you as I did the first hour, because you are kind and sweet
beyond compare.
Hortense told me that she was often writing you.
Best wishes, and a love-kiss.--Yours ever,
BONAPARTE.
No. 3.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIERES.
_Malmaison, June 23, 1802._
_My Good Little Josephine_,--Your letter has come. I am sorry to see
you have been poorly on the journey, but a few days' rest will put you
right. I am very fairly well. Yesterday I was at the Marly hunt, and
one of my fingers was very slightly injured whilst shooting a boar.
Hortense is usually in good health. Your fat son has been rather
unwell, but is getting better. I think the ladies are playing "The
Barber of Seville" to-night. The weather is perfect.
Rest assured that my truest wishes are ever for my little
Josephine.--Yours ever,
BONAPARTE.
No. 4.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIERES.
_Malmaison, June 27, 1802._
Your letter, dear little wife, has apprised me that you are out of
sorts. Corvisart tells me that it is a good sign that the baths are
having the desired effect, and that your health will soon be
re-established. But I am most truly grieved to know that you are in
pain.
Yesterday I went to see the Sevres manufactory at St. Cloud.
Best wishes to all.--Yours for life,
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_June 29th.--Pope withdraws excommunication from Talleyrand._
No. 5.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT PLOMBIERES.
_Malmaison, July 1, 1802._
Your letter of June 29th has arrived. You say nothing of your health
nor of the effect of the baths. I see that you expect to be home in a
week; that is good news for your lover, who is tired of being alone!
You ought to have seen General Ney, who started for Plombieres; he
will be married on his return.
Yesterday Hortense played Rosina in "The Barber of Seville" with her
usual skill.
Rest assured of my love, and that I await your return impatiently.
Without you everything here is dreary.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_August 2nd.--Napoleon Bonaparte made First Consul for life._
"_The conduct and the language of Bonaparte represents at once
Augustus, Mahomet, Louis XI., Masaniello_" (Montgaillard, _an
avowed enemy_).
_September 22nd._--Opening of the Ourcq Waterworks for the supply
of Paris.
_September 25th.--Mass celebrated at St. Cloud for the first time.
In this month Napoleon annexes Piedmont, and the next sends Ney to
occupy Switzerland._
_October 11th.--Birth of Napoleon Charles, son of Louis Bonaparte
and Hortense._
_October 29th.--Napoleon and Josephine visit Normandy, and,
contrary to expectation, receive ovations everywhere. They return
to Paris, November 14th._
EVENTS OF 1803.
_February 19th._--New constitution imposed by France on
Switzerland.
_April 14th.--Bank of France reorganised by Bonaparte; it alone
allowed to issue notes._
_April 27th._--Death of Toussaint-Louverture at Besancon.
_April 30th._--France sells Louisiana to U.S. for L4,000,000 (15
million dollars).
_May 22nd.--France declares war against England, chiefly
respecting Malta. England having seized all French ships in
British harbours previous to war being declared, Napoleon seizes
all British tourists in France._
_May 31st.--His soldiers occupy Electorate of Hanover._
_June 14th.--He visits North of France and Belgium, accompanied by
Josephine, and returns to Paris August 12th._
_September 27th._--Press censorship established in France.
_November 30th._--French evacuate St. Domingo.
SERIES E
1804
"Everywhere the king of the earth found once more, to put a bridle on
his pride, the inevitable lords of the sea."--BIGNON, v. 130.
SERIES E
(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 232-237.)
LETTER PAGE
No. 1. _Madame_ 232
_Pont de Bricques_ 232
_The wind having considerably freshened_ 232
No. 2. _The waters_ 233
_All the vexations_ 233
_Eugene has started for Blois_ 234
No. 3. _Aix-la-Chapelle_ 234
No. 4. _During the past week_ 235
_The day after to-morrow_ 235
_Hortense_ 235
_I am very well satisfied_ 235
No. 5. Its authenticity 236
_Arras, August 29th_ 236
_I am rather impatient to see you_ 236
No. 6. _T._ 237
_B._ 237
LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO
THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE DURING HIS
JOURNEY ALONG THE COAST, 1804.
EVENTS OF 1804.
_February 15th._--The conspiracy of Pichegru. Moreau arrested,
Pichegru (_February 28th_), and Georges Cadoudal (_March 9th_).
_March 21st._--Duc D'Enghien shot at Vincennes.
_April 6th._--Suicide of Pichegru.
_April 30th.--Proposal to make Bonaparte Emperor._
_May 4th.--Tribune adopts the proposal._
_May 18th.--The First Consul becomes the Emperor Napoleon._
_May 19th.--Napoleon confers the dignity of Marshal of the Empire
on Berthier, Murat, Moncey, Jourdan, Massena, Augereau,
Bernadotte, Soult, Brune, Lannes, Mortier, Ney, Davoust,
Bessieres, Kellermann, Lefebvre, Perignon, Serrurier._
_July 14th._--Inauguration of the Legion of Honour.
No. 1.
TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE.
_Pont-de-Bricques, July 21, 1804._
_Madame and dear Wife_,--During the four days that I have been away
from you I have always been either on horseback or in a conveyance,
without any ill effect on my health.
M. Maret tells me that you intend starting on Monday; travelling by
easy stages, you can take your time and reach the Spa without tiring
yourself.
The wind having considerably freshened last night, one of our
gunboats, which was in the harbour, broke loose and ran on the
rocks about a league from Boulogne. I believed all lost--men and
merchandise; but we managed to save both. The spectacle was
grand: the shore sheeted in fire from the alarm guns, the sea
raging and bellowing, the whole night spent in anxiety to save
these unfortunates or to see them perish! My soul hovered between
eternity, the ocean, and the night. At 5 A.M. all was calm,
everything saved; and I went to bed with the feeling of having
had a romantic and epic dream--a circumstance which might have
reminded me that I was all alone, had weariness and soaked garments
left me any other need but that of sleep.
NAPOLEON.
[_Correspondence of Napoleon I., No. 7861,
communicated by M. Chambry._]
No. 2.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT AIX-LA-CHAPELLE.
_Boulogne, August 3, 1804._