The life of the Empress Josephine, first wife of Napoleon

Preface

In offering another biography of Josephine to the admirers of that brilliant woman, it was the design of both the Author and Publishers, to furnish in a more popular form than any similar work in print, an impartial delineation of her character, and a general view of the events upon the field of history across which she made a sad and brilliant transit. A strictly original work is not claimed, as no access could be had to manuscripts of the departed, or to the archives of France. For the correspondence, we are mainly indebted to Memos ; and have referred for various interesting facts, to Bourrienne, Hazlitt, Yon Rotteck, Stott, Alison, &c.

Josephine, for the times in which she lived, was a model of female character ; and if this volume shall make the study of it more general, it will so far extend the admiration of the pure and beautiful, in vi PREFACE.

contrast with all the forms of corruption humanity could present in a period of bloody Revolution. The Empress was a greater personage than ISTapoleon in the elements of moral grandeur, and retained her sovereignty in the hearts of the people, while he ruled by the unrivalled splendor of his genius

CHAPTER I. PAdB

Interest of Josephine's History — Birth and Family — Early Years — First Love — Singular Prediction — Circumstances which cherished Superstition — ^Attachment broken off — Becomes acquainted with Beauharnais — Is Married — Visits the Court of France — Makes Provincial Tours — The Birth of Eugene and Hortense — Domestic Difficulties — Separation from her Husband — Retirement — Returns to Martinique — Residence there — Her Return to France — Incidents of the Yoyage — Is united to her Family — Origin of the Fi ench Revolution — Estates General convoked — Beauharnais a Member — Upon its Dissolution again enters the Army — His Principles and Humanity — Elected to the Ifational Convention — Appointed Commander on the German Frontier — ^Despatch to the Convention, . . . , . . , .11

Chapter II

Fall of the Gironde — ^Beauharnais arrested and imprisoned — Letter of Josephine to her Aunt — Friends forsake her — Correspondence with Beauharnais — Levity in view of Death, and Infidelity during the Reign of Terror — Josephine's Kindness to the Suffering — Examination of Beauharnais — Louis obtains an Interview for Beauharnais with his Family — Josephine's Description of the Scene — Parental Influence — Beauharnais betrayed — His danger increased by new events — Charge of Conspiracy — Eugene and Hortense examined — Josephine's Account of the Transaction — Again visits the Luxembourg — Seenea in Prison — Letters — Robespierre, . 30

Vin COI^TTElifTS.

Chapter III. Pagb

Josephine undeceived — Her Arrest — Description of the Scene — The Prison — Hortense and Eugene — Josephine's Composure — Her Kindness to the Prisoners — Correspondence with Beauharnais renewed — Romantic Story — Prison Horrors — Beauharnais' Interest in the Young Maniac — Returning Hope — Levity of Prisoners — Josephine's Maternal Character — Robespierre's Policy — The Interposition of Friends — Josephine's Appeal to Sigas — Result — Meeting of Beauharnais and Josephine — Crisis in Destiny — Last Hours of Beauharnais — His Execution — Relics unexpectedly received by Josephine — Her Distress and Danger — Cheered by the Prophecy of Euphemia — Circumstances of Robespierre's Death — Liberation of Josephine — Interest in her Children — Famine — Domestic Suffering — Survey of the Revolution — Beauharnais Family toward the close of the year 1795, . . . c*>

Chapter IV

Bonaparte in Paris — A Glance at his History — Personal Appearance — His Exploit the 13th Vendemaire — Acquaintance with Josephine — Her views of a Second Marriage — Hesitates — Napoleon frequents the mansion of Madam De Beauharnais — His Conversational Powers — Marriage — Leaves his Bride to join the Army — Brilliant Success — Correspondence — Eugene's Heroism — Letters to Josephine — Her Residence at Milan — Bonapai'te's Peculiarities, and Kindness to Josephine's Family — He marches to Rastadt — Returns to Paris — Josephine joins him, ..... 103

Chapter V

Departure of Napoleon for Egypt — ^The Parting with Josephine at Toulon — She retires to Plombieres — Accident — Sends for Hortense — Excursion Home — Rare qualities of Josephine's Chai'acter — Consequences of her confinement at Plombieres — Rumors of Napoleon's Disasters in Egypt — Malmaison — Josephine watched by secret Enemies — Charges of Infidelity transmitted to Napoleon — Her Innocence Vindicated — Maternal Solicitude and Faithfulness — Napoleon's Return to France — Unfortunate Mistake — His Anger — The Reconciliation — France, . . . . . .12

CONTENTS. IX

CHAPTER yi.

PAGE.

Cfapoleon's D^.sign — Josephine's Political Views — Eugene — Convivial f^eenes — The 18th Brumaire — Napoleon First Consul — The Pesult — Murat's Marriage — His Treachery — Josephine's Meditation — Life in the Tuilleries — Josephine — Bonaparte — He orders the Improvement of Malmaison — Escapes Assassination — Again Crosses the Alps — Battle of Marengo — Relaxation at Malmaison — Josephine's Benevolence — Conspiracy and the Infernal Machine — Marriage of Hortense — Character of Louis Bonapai'te — Person and Character of Hortense — Incidents by the way — Important Events — Peace of Amiens — Gayety of the People — Home of the Consul — Renewal of Hostilities with England — Accident — Napoleon's View of Death, ...... 146

Chapter VII

Josephine and the Bourbon Conspirators — Duke D'Enghien — His Death — Josephine's Grief, and her Sympathy for the Conspirators — Bonaparte's Movements — His Ambition — Views of the Senate — Bonaparte becomes Emperor of France — Oath administered to the Legion of Honor — ^Emotions of Josephine — Royal Court — ^Excursions to Boulogne — The Princess of Baden — Incidents — Josephine's Forebodings — Religious Marriage of Josephine — The Coronation, , , 201

CHAPTER VIIL

France and Josephine at this period of History — Rejoicings of the People — Important Events — Tour to Milan — Napoleon visits Brienne — "With Josephine Crosses the Alps — Plain of Marengo — ^The Coronation at Milan — Sojourn there — News of probable Hostilities — Josephme at Genoa — The rapid travel to Paris — Preparations for "War — Josephine Regent of France — Letter to Cambaceres — Napoleon's Victories — ^Arrival of a Courier — Marriage of Eugene — Josephine's Letter upon the expected Marriage of her Niece, Stephanie De Beauharnais — The .Royal Family — Domestic Arrangements — Bonaparte's Habits and Illness — Hunting Excursions — Hatred of Bonaparte's Relatives toward Josephine — Her Kindness in return — Napoleon's Movements, . . . 2S7

A*

X CONTENTS.

Chapter IX. Pa6b

A new phase in Josephine's Destiny — I^apoleon's Love — His Desire for a Successor — Rumor that the Prince Royal of Holland is to be the Heir-apparent — Character of the Young Prince — His Affection for Bonaparte — Alternate Hope and Fear — The Prince dies — Josephine's Grief — Napoleon's Return from Tilsit — ^Treatment of the Empress — Journey to Italy — Scenes at the Capital — ISTapoleon — Josephine's Diary — Spanish Affairs — Incidents of the Journey — The Emperor meets Alexander — Results — Josephine — Return to Paris — Bonaparte's Designs — Preparations for a Divorce — Decree of the Council — Consummation, .... 274