Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-10-19
MISCELLANY.
Napoleon's Love Letters.


Napoleon amid scenes Of carnage could alb
stract himself from the horrors around him, and
sit down and pen those tender, playful epistles
to Josephine, which excite our smiles and make
us forget the soldier in the husband. No soon
er is the battle lost and won, and the shout of
victory raised, than missive of congratulation,
void of all the pomp and circumstance of war,
is DISPATCHED to the dear ones at home, without
whose sympathy the hardest won victory would
be barren. Napoleon greets Josephine from
Marmirolo and-sends kiss to his wifes lap
dog. Nelson hatters Copenhagen, and-com-
poses verses to Emma, his Guardian Angel.
Herein Love, the great leveller, places the drum
mer-boy on par with his general, and the
forecastle Jack on a footing his admiral.
The letters subjoiRed are selected from nu-
inerous correspondence that passed between
Napoleon and Josephine, when he was engag-
ed in his campaign in Italy, in 179S' Amid
the perils of war he could find time to pen on
" the briefest expressions of his ardent love
for Josephine. The letters given below are a.
mong the longest in the series. 1t is matter
of regret that none of her letters were preserved
They were probably destroyed us soon as.
read
The first letter is from Napoleon to jose
phine. when she was at Milan. 1t is dated
Marmirolo, 18th July, 1796.
81 have received your letter, my dearest love;
it has filled my heart with joy. l am greatly
Obliged to you for the trouble you have taken
to send me all the news: your health is doubt
less. better now. / feel sure you are getting
quite we'll. Let me strongly recommend you
to take exercise on horseback
al have been dull ever since we parted l
am happy only when with you lneyer cease
thinking of your Kisses, your tears, and your
amusing little jcalousies: the charms OF the
matchless Josephine ever keep my heart and
feelings warm. When free from care and busl-
ness, what happiness to pass every moment
with YOU. to love only you, to tell it and to
prove it to you'll shall send you your horse
But hope you will soon rejoin me. ! believe
have always loved you, but think l love
Won thousand times better now than ever
This proves that La Bruyeres maxim, FdmoT
rieu tout dun coup, is false. Everything in
nature crows and increases. All beg Of you
to let me see some of your defects; be less
beautiful. less kind, less good but especially,
never be jealous, never weep your tears dis
tract me, set my blood on fire. Believe me, |
have not thought except for you, or that you
might not know.
"Take repose. Re-establish your health
quickly. Come to me, and at least, before we
die, let us say, we had some days of happiness
"A.thousand kisses, the same to Fortune,
tJosephines lap-dog) in spite of her naughti-
ness "BOSAPARTE.
Josephine is still at Milan, but Napoleon's
headquarters are removed to Brescia. This
letter is dated August 10th:
"I have arrived at this place, my dearest
love, and my first thought is OF writing 10 YOU
Your health and your image have occupied all
my thoughts on my way hither. | shall not
be at ease until / receive letters from you. |
expect them with the greatest eagerness. Its
impossible to describe to you my impatlence
feel dull, sad and half sick. If the deepest
and tenderest love can make You happy, you
ought to be so. am overwhelmed with busi-
ness.
"Adieu, my dear Joscphine-love me, take
care of yourself, and think often, very often of
me. " BoSAPARTE1
Napoleon is now at Verona, and his letter
bears date of Sept, II;
al write very often to you, my dear love, but
seldom hear from you. You are tickle ugly,
wicked creature. Perfdious to deceive poor
husband and ardent lover Must he forfeit his
rights because he is far away, burdened with
difficulties. cares, and fatigue? Without his
Josephine, without the assurance of her love
what remains for him on earth? What can
hedo?
a thousand loving kisses.
aBoxArARTE.