The Topeka state journal., 1897-07-02
Letters of the First Napoleon
Hitherto Suppressed
Are Now Being Published for
the First Time.
THROWS A NEW LIGHT
On the Character of the COrsi-
can Emperor.
He Was Not Above PettinesS,
Cruelty and Jealousy.

Paris, July 2.-M. Leon Lecht, curator
of French archives will issue during the
present week the first volume of 800 let
ters which were suppressed by the edl-
tors of Napoleon's correspondence, is
sued in 1862 as not calculated to in
crease the glory of the great French
emperor. The volume includes some
heated family letters and some vigor-
ously worded epistIes to FOuche and
Dubois, the ministers of police and war
respectively.
A letter to Marshal SouIt in 1904
shows that Napoleon did not hesitate
in adopt inS any means of obtaining
confessions. He orders Soult to arrest
a fisherman suspected of communicate t.
ing with the British adding: IF he
refuses to speak, you must squeeze his
thumbs in a musket lock-" Napoleon S
list of persons to be arrested was end
leys and his abuse of Madame de Stael
was Unce4 S ng. Learning in 1907 through
Marshal Victor that Prince Augustus
of Prussia was intriguing against MIN
in Berlin, Napoleon wrote: I am not
aston ished because he has a dull mind
and has spent his time courting Mad
anne de Stael at COppot, Switzerland,
and of course could only pick up bad
ha bits with her. Send word TO him
that at the first mischievous remark he
utters you will lock him up in his cas-
tie and send Madame de StaeI to con-
sole HIM. There are no men so cringing
as these princes of Prussia
Writing to Taneyrand in 1903 that
princes OF the FORMER TelgnlnS IanE1lV
of Spain We're about to arrive at Val
encia, Napoleon said: You may send
for Madame Talleyrand and four or
five eprSOnS. If the Prince of ASturiaS
should form an attachment for a pretty
person, it will be no drawback, as it
would supply another means of watch
ing him"
Another letter from Napoleon to Tai
1eyrand reads: Your mission is hon
Orable enough to receive three illus
trious persona ges and amuse them and
as ter quite in keeping with your charAc-
When Napoleon received the news
June II, 1909. that the pope had excom-
Tnunicated him, he wrote: ''I spare the
rope no longer. He is raving mad
man and must be locked up"
Some letters to his brother, Prince
was Outwitted by the Austrian general
kienmayer, he still bOaSted of his
stra tegfc plans, in an inflated order of
the day. This caused Napoleon to write
as follows:
Il have seen yours of the day which
makes you the laughing stock of Aus
tria, Germany and France. Haven't
you friend about to tell you plain
truths? You, a king and a brother of
the emperor; these are ridiculous titles.
In time of war you must be a soldier
have no minister, no diplomatic CORPS
no state. You must camp with the van
guard, be day and night on horseback,
and march in the van to pick up news,
not remain in ones harenl.
You make war like a satrap Is it
from me, good God that you learned
that? from 1, who, with an army of
200 600 men, keep at the head of my
SbirmisherS?
The people are provoked with YOU,
kienmayer, with u, 900 men has laugh
ed at you and your ridiculous preten-
sions, end has slipped away from YOU
and FALLEN upon Junot. You have a lot
OF preteEsiCns, some little mind, and a
rev coed ualities, but these a re marred
by your faulty and your extreme nra-
sumption. You have no knowledge of
the fitness of things. Leave off being
RIDICULOUS, send your diplomatic corps
back to Cassela, have no baggage, and
wage war like young soldier wishing
10 earn glory and reputa tion. Try to
deserve the rank you have reached and
1he esteem of France and Europe, who
are watching you. do right and speak
An a seemly manner if Won can,