_Warsaw, December 20, 1806_, 3 P.M.

I have no news from you, dear. I am very well. The last two days I have been at Warsaw. My affairs prosper. The weather is very mild, and even somewhat humid. It has as yet barely begun to freeze; it is October weather.

Adieu, dear; I should much have liked to see you, but trust that in five or six days I shall be able to send for you.

Kindest regards to the Queen of Holland and to her little Napoleons.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

_December 22nd.--Napoleon crosses the Narew, and the next day defeats Russians at Czarnowo; also_

_December 24th.--At Nasielsk._

_December 26th.--Ney defeats Lestocq at Soldau; Lannes defeats Beningsen at Pultusk_;

_December 28th.--And Augereau defeats Buxhowden at Golymin._

No. 25.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Golymin, December 29, 1806_, 5 A.M.

I write you only a line, my dear. I am in a wretched barn. I have beaten the Russians, taken thirty pieces of cannon, their baggage, and 6000 prisoners; but the weather is frightful. It is raining; we have mud up to our knees.

In two days I shall be at Warsaw, whence I shall write you.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

No. 26.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Pultusk, December 31, 1806._

I have had a good laugh over your last letters. You idealise the fair ones of Great Poland in a way they do not deserve. I have had for two or three days the pleasure of hearing Paer and two lady singers, who have given me some very good music. I received your letter in a wretched barn, having mud, wind, and straw for my only bed. To-morrow I shall be at Warsaw. I think all is over for this year. The army is entering winter quarters. I shrug my shoulders at the stupidity of Madame de L----; still you should show her your displeasure, and counsel her not to be so idiotic. Such things become common property, and make many people indignant.

For my part, I scorn ingrat.i.tude as the worst fault in a human heart.

I know that instead of comforting you, these people have given you pain.

Adieu, dear; I am in good health. I do not think you ought to go to Ca.s.sel; that place is not suitable. You may go to Darmstadt.

NAPOLEON.

No. 27.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Warsaw, January 3, 1807._

_My Dear_,--I have received your letter. Your grief pains me; but one must bow to events. There is too much country to travel between Mayence and Warsaw; you must, therefore, wait till circ.u.mstances allow me to come to Berlin, in order that I may write you to come thither. It is true that the enemy, defeated, is far away; but I have many things here to put to rights. I should be inclined to think that you might return to Paris, where you are needed. Send away those ladies who have their affairs to look after; you will be better without people who have given you so much worry.

My health is good; the weather bad. I love you from my heart.

NAPOLEON.

_January 5th.--Capture of Breslau, with 7000 men, by Vandamme and Hedouville._

No. 28.

_January 7th.--English Orders in Council against Berlin Decree._

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Warsaw, January 7, 1807._

_My Dear_,--I am pained by all that you tell me; but the season being cold, the roads very bad and not at all safe, I cannot consent to expose you to so many fatigues and dangers. Return to Paris in order to spend the winter there. Go to the Tuileries; receive, and lead the same life as you are accustomed to do when I am there; that is my wish. Perhaps I shall not be long in rejoining you there; but it is absolutely necessary for you to give up the idea of making a journey of 750 miles at this time of the year, through the enemy's country, and in the rear of the army. Believe that it costs me more than you to put off for some weeks the pleasure of seeing you, but so events and the success of my enterprise order it.

Adieu, my dear; be cheerful, and show character.

NAPOLEON.

No. 29.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Warsaw, January 8, 1807._

_My Dear_,--I received your letter of the 27th with those of M.

Napoleon and Hortense, which were enclosed with it. I had begged you to return to Paris. The season is too inclement, the roads unsafe and detestable; the distances too great for me to permit you to come hither, where my affairs detain me. It would take you at least a month to come. You would arrive ill; by that time it might perhaps be necessary to start back again; it would therefore be folly. Your residence at Mayence is too dull; Paris reclaims you; go there, it is my wish. I am more vexed about it than you. I should have liked to spend the long nights of this season with you, but we must obey circ.u.mstances.

Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

No. 30.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.