The Grand Duke of Berg holds Warsaw with 100,000

men.

2d. (To the Grand Duke of Berg.) The Poles who show so much prudence, who ask for so many conditions before declaring themselves, are egotists who cannot be kindled to enthusiasm for love of their country. I am old in my knowledge of men. My greatness does not depend on the help of a few thousand Poles. It is for them to take advantage of the present circumstances with enthusiasm; it is not for me to take the first step.

I know Poniatowski better than you do, because I have followed Polish affairs these last ten years. He is even more flighty than the average Pole, which is saying a good deal. He is not much trusted at Warsaw. All the same he is a man with whom to keep on good terms. As for what he has said about making Czartorivski king, that is merely to give himself importance. Russia, let me assure you, has never dreamed of giving up Poland.

For the rest I approve your measures. Put patriots in office, men who are willing to act, and do not dwell on the mathematical calculation of the reëstablishment of Poland. Have it clearly understood that I have not come to beg for a throne for one of my own people; I have plenty of thrones to distribute among my family.

(Decree.) Every year on the anniversaries of the battles of Austerlitz and of Jena there shall be held a concert, preceded by a speech on the qualities necessary to a soldier, and by a eulogy of those who died. A competition shall be held to determine the best ode and the best and most fitting composition. In the speeches and in the ode it is expressly forbidden to mention the Emperor.

(To Josephine.) This is the anniversary of Austerlitz. I have been to a ball; it is raining; I am well. I love you and want you. The weather has not yet turned cold. All these Polish women are French. There is only one woman in the world for me; do you know her by any chance? I could draw her portrait; but I should have to flatter too much before you would recognise her; however, truth be told, my heart could only find nice things to say to you. These solitary nights are very long.

5th. (To the King of Naples.) Send me all the Polish officers you have. Poland is in full insurrection. Troops are being raised on all sides.

9th. (To the Grand Duke of Berg.) Have proclamations printed urging the soldiers of Prussian and Russian Poland to desert and to range themselves under their own national flag, and have them distributed everywhere by our outposts.

10th. Boots! Boots! Give your most prompt attention to the matter.

(To Josephine.) I am pretty well. The weather is very changeable. I love you, and want you badly. Good-bye, dear friend; I shall write to you to come with at least as much pleasure as you will come.

12th. (To Champagny.) Literature needs encouragement. You are its official head. Propose some means of shaking up the various branches of literature that have so long distinguished our country.

7 P. M.: Paër, the famous musician, is here with his wife and Brizzi; they perform a little music for me every evening.

14th. (To the Grand Duke of Berg.) With such a

large force of cavalry you should be able to cut the road from Pultusk to Koenigsberg, and inflict some damage on the enemy's rearguard. Your cavalry should crush them, and throw them into utter confusion, and give them the idea that you have 100,000 mounted men, which is what you had better say openly. Always speak of the cavalry as 100,000 men, and of the infantry as 500,000. If the enemy retire, my infantry will be useless; we can only get at them with cavalry, and that is your business.

15th. (To Cambacérès.) My Cousin: I have received your letter of the 4th of December. I have also the pamphlet on Poland, which appears to be fairly good. See if M. d'Hauterive couldn't write a little book under the title: The three partitions of Poland? You need not give away 700 copies; that is unnecessary; better sell them.

(To Louis, King of Holland.) Send me all English reports that are circulating in your trading centres. The blockade will ruin many commercial cities, Lyons, Amsterdam, Rotterdam; but we must get past this stage of uncertainty; we must be done with the thing. Keep your warships fully equipped, as that keeps the English at work. All my efforts are on land; it is with my armies that I expect to reconquer the Cape and Surinam. Come, show energy! Energy! It is only by defying the opinions of the weak and the ignorant that one can achieve the happiness of a nation.

19th, Warsaw:

I arrived at Warsaw at midnight.

23d, near Okunin:

Order for Marshal Lannes' light cavalry to cross the bridge over the Narew to-night.

29th, Golymin:

(To Josephine.) Only one line, dear friend; I am in a wretched barn. I have defeated the Russians; I have captured their baggage, 30 guns, and 6000 prisoners. But the weather is awful; it is raining and the mud is up to our knees. In a couple of days I shall be (back) at Warsaw and will write.

(To Cambacérès.) You will see from the bulletins the brilliant successes we have obtained over the Russian army. Had it not been for inclement weather they would have been even greater. I think the campaign is over. The enemy have retired behind swamps and deserts. I am going into winter quarters.

31st, Pultusk:

(To Josephine.) I laughed heartily over your last letter. You exaggerate the attractions of the beauties of Poland.

(To Fouché.) Raynouard might easily produce good work if only he could get well into the spirit of the tragedy of the Ancients: Fate pursued the family of the Atridæ, and the heroes were guilty yet not criminal; they shared the crimes of the gods. In modern narrative this idea could not be employed, but only the force of circumstances in its stead; a policy may lead to a catastrophe without any real crime being committed.

If Chénier indulges in the least sally I shall order him sent to the island of Sainte Marguerite. The time for joking has passed. Let him behave; that's the only privilege he's got.

January 2d, Warsaw:

1807

(To the Countess Walewska.) I saw only you, I admired only you, I desire only you. A quick answer will calm the impatient ardour of N.

3d. (To Josephine.) I have received your letter, dear friend. Your disappointment touches me, but one must submit to circumstances. It is a very great distance from Mainz to Warsaw; so that events must allow of my returning to Berlin before I write to you to come there. I am inclined to think you had better go back to Paris, where your presence is necessary. I am well; the weather is wretched.

4th. (To Countess Walewska.) Was I mistaken? You have deprived me of sleep! Oh, grant a little joy, a little happiness, to a poor heart that is ready to adore you. Is it so difficult to obtain an answer? You owe me two. N.

6th. (To the Princess Augusta.) I have received your letter. For your sake I have given orders that the House of Strelitz is to be treated considerately. Your grandmother will not be disturbed, and yet your aunt, the Queen of Prussia, has behaved so badly! But she is so unfortunate to-day, that I mustn't speak of her any more. Write to me soon that we have got a big boy, and if you should give us a daughter, let us hope she will be as lovable and as good as you are. Your affectionate father. 12th. (To the Countess Walewska.) Oh come! come!