HKB
No. 5. Aranda 273
No. 6. Madrid 273 Parisian weather 273
No. 8. Kourakin 274
No. 9. The English appear to have received reinforcements 274
No. 10. Benavente 274 The English flee panic-stricken 274 The weather 274 Lefebvre 275
No. 11. Your letters 275-6
No. 12. The English are in utter rout 276
Nos. 13 & 14. Valladolid 277 Eugène has a daughter 277 They are foolish in Paris 277
LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE DURING THE SPANISH CAMPAIGN, 1808 AND 1809.
October 29th.--English enter Spain.
October 31st.--Blake defeated by Lefebvre at Tornosa.
No. 1.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
November 3, 1808.
I arrived to-night[30] with considerable trouble. I had ridden several stages at full speed. Still, I am well.
To-morrow I start for Spain.
My troops are arriving in force.
Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
November 4th.--Napoleon enters Spain.
No. 2.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
Tolosa, November 5, 1808.
I am at Tolosa. I am starting for Vittoria, where I shall be in a few hours. I am fairly well, and I hope everything will soon be completed.
NAPOLEON.
No. 3.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
Vittoria, November 7.
My Dear,--I have been the last two days at Vittoria. I am in good health. My troops are arriving daily; the Guard arrived to-day.
The King is in very good health. I am very busy.
I know that you are in Paris. Never doubt my affection.
NAPOLEON.
November 10th.--Battle of Burgos. Soult and Bessières defeat Spaniards, who lose 3000 killed and 3000 prisoners, and 20 cannon.
November 12th.--Battle of Espinosa. Marshal Victor defeats La Romana and Blake, who lose 20,000 men and 50 cannon.
No. 4.
November 14th.--Third revolution at Constantinople. Mahmoud IV. assassinated (November 15th).
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
Burgos, November 14, 1808.
Matters here are progressing at a great rate. The weather is very fine. We are successful. My health is very good.
NAPOLEON.
November 23rd.--Battle of Tudela. Castaños and Palafox defeated, with loss of 7000 men and 30 cannon, by Marshal Lannes. "The battle of Tudela makes the pendant of that of Espinosa."--NAPOLEON.
No. 5.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
November 26, 1808.
I have received your letter. I trust that your health be as good as mine is, although I am very busy. All goes well here.
I think you should return to the Tuileries on December 21st, and from that date give a concert daily for eight days.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
Kind regards to Hortense and to M. Napoleon.
December 3rd.--French voluntarily evacuate Berlin.
December 4th.--Surrender of Madrid. Napoleon abolishes the Inquisition and feudal rights.* ("*He regards the taking of a capital as decisive for the submission of a whole kingdom; thus in 1814 will act his adversaries, pale but judicious imitators of his strategy."--Montgaillard.)
No. 6.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
December 7, 1808.
Your letter of the 28th to hand. I am glad to see that you are well. You will have seen that young Tascher has distinguished himself, which has pleased me. My health is good.
Here we are enjoying Parisian weather of the last fortnight in May. We are hot, and have no fires; but the nights are rather cool.
Madrid is quiet. All my affairs prosper.
Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
Kind regards to Hortense and to M. Napoleon.
No. 7.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.