NAPOLEON.

No. 15.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT PLOMBIeRES.

_Schoenbrunn, July 24, 1809._

I have just received yours of July 18th. I note with pleasure that the waters are doing you good. I see no objection to you going back to Malmaison after you have finished your treatment.

It is hot enough here in all conscience. My health is excellent.

Adieu, dear. Eugene is at Vienna, in the best of health.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

_July 28th.--Battle of Talavera._ Wellington repulses Victor, who attacks by King Joseph's order, without waiting for the arrival of Soult with the main army. Wellington retires on Portugal.

_July 29th-31st._--Walcheren Expedition; 17,000 English land in Belgium.

No. 16.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT PLOMBIeRES.

_Schoenbrunn, August 7, 1809._

I see from your letter that you are at Plombieres, and intend to stay there. You do well; the waters and the fine climate can only do you good.

I remain here. My health and my affairs follow my wishes.

Please give my kind regards to Hortense and the Napoleons.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

_August 8th._--Combat of Arzobispo. Soult defeats the Spaniards.

_August 15th._--Flushing surrenders to the English.

No. 17.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.

_Schoenbrunn, August 21, 1809._

I have received your letter of August 14th, from Plombieres; I see from it that by the 18th you will be either at Paris or Malmaison. The heat, which is very great here, will have upset you. Malmaison must be very dry and parched at this time of year.

My health is good. The heat, however, has brought on a slight catarrh.

Adieu, dear.

NAPOLEON.

No. 18.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.

_Schoenbrunn, August 26, 1809._

I have your letter from Malmaison. They bring me word that you are plump, florid, and in the best of health, I a.s.sure you Vienna is not an amusing city. I would very much rather be back again in Paris.

Adieu, dear. Twice a week I listen to the comedians (_bouffons_); they are but very middling; it, however, pa.s.ses the evenings. There are fifty or sixty women of Vienna, but outsiders (_au parterre_), as not having been presented.

NAPOLEON.

No. 19.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.

_Schoenbrunn, August 31, 1809._

I have had no letter from you for several days; the pleasures of Malmaison, the beautiful greenhouses, the beautiful gardens, cause the absent to be forgotten. It is, they say, the rule of your s.e.x. Every one speaks only of your good health; all this is very suspicious.

To-morrow I am off with Eugene for two days in Hungary.

My health is fairly good.

Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

No. 20.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MALMAISON.

_Krems, September 9, 1809._

_My Dear_,--I arrived here yesterday at 2 A.M.; I have come here to see my troops. My health has never been better. I know that you are very well.

I shall be in Paris at a moment when n.o.body will expect me. Everything here goes excellently and to my satisfaction.