Evening star., 1902-02-15
EUGENE AND NAPOLEON.
Characteristic Correspondence Between
Them at Historic Moments.

Paris Corr. London Telegraph.
Some letters and dispatches which passed
between Napoleon III and the Empress
Eugene. in 1870, have now been published
for the first time. They appear in the
columns Of the Matin. and 1t Is stated that
some Of the men were taken cognizance Of
by the government Of national defense While
others were overlooked and forgotten. The
series opens with some correspondence be-
tween the emperor and Gen. FrOssard rela-
tive to the latterS position In view of the
war between France and Germany The
emperor wanted to know IL the general
would take command of the engineers or
II he preferred TO remain at the head of his
army corps. Like a dutiful soldier FroS-
sard replied that the emperor could dispose
Of him as he thought fit. Then follow let
ters and dispatches from the emperor to
the empress. dated Metz. July. 1870. In one
of these Napoleon asks his cOnsort to send
him bracelet for the projects wife and he
complains of the heat. There is a brief note
from the empress to the prince imperial,
from his playground at Saint Cloud. Next
come several hastily written missives from
the emperor to the war minister and to
Marshal CanroOert.
III one OF the dispatches to the minister,
Gen. Grandschaps' appointment is can
ceied. Napoleon remarking that the empress
had no authority to nominate army chiefs.
Canrobert is directed to hurry up his in
Ii
cavalry and artillery to follow by road.
On August @. 1870 Napoleon writes to the
empress at Saint Cloud that he has no news
from MacMahon. but that he believed Fros-
sard was graphing with the enemy. The
empress wrote on the following day a letter
in which she expressed her confidence in
the issue OF the struggle. 1t is addressed
to the emperor at the imperial headduar-
ters. ard is dated Paris. August Z. 1870 and
runs: Il am very satisfied with tie resou-
tions passed at the ministerial council, and
| am convinced that We shall drive the
Prussians sword hip to the frontier
Courage. then! with energy, we shall COM
mand the situation. Am answering from
Paris. and l embrace both of you with all
my heart-Eugenie" The prince imperial
writes from Etain on August Is, 1870 to
his mother. He says: my dear Mamma
| am all right. and so is papa. Everything
is going on in splendid styie.-Your affec-
tionate and respectful son, Louis Ma
poleoE." The tone of hopefulness on the
part OF father, mother and son changes a
few days later The emperor writes fever
ishly to the mayor of Etain asking him il
he has any Eews Of the army. The en-
press sends a registered missive to her
mother. the Comtesse de Montijo. at Mad
rid, saying: DO not come: you would only
complieate matters. On September 4 the
aster She says: Gen. Wimpffen, who
took over the command when Mac Mahon
was wounded, has capituated. and the en-
peror has been taken prisoner. Alone.
without command, he had to bear what he
could not hinder. He was under fire all the
day. Courage. dear mother. If France
wants to defend herself she will be able to
DO 1t. | intend to do my duty. Your un-
happy daughter. Eugenie"
All these letters and dispatches were
found at the Tuileries in September. 1870
II Is stated that besides these documents
there have only been preserved the long
letter Of the empress from Egypt, already
published, the plan or scenario of q novel
In the emperors handwriting, and a few
unimpOrtant kilograms