SERIES B (1796-97) "Des 1796, lorsque, avec 30,000 hommes, il fait la conquête de l'Italie, il est non-seulement grand général, mais profond politique."-Des Idées Napoléonniennes. "Your Government has sent against me four armies without Generals, and this time a General without an army."-Napoleon to the Austrian Plenipotentiaries, at Leoben. SERIES B (For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 211-223.) 1. Sortie from Mantua No. No. 2. Marmirolo Fortuné PAGE 211 211 212 No. 13. Corsica is ours No. 14. Verona No. 12. One of these nights the doors will be burst open No. 15. Once more I breathe freely No. 18. "The 29th" No. 20. General Brune No. 21. February 3rd 221 No. 24. Perhaps I shall make peace with the Pope No. I. July 5th.-Archduke Charles defeated by Moreau at Radstadt. To JOSEPHINE, at Milan. Roverbella, July 6, 1796. I have beaten the enemy. Kilmaine will send you the copy of the despatch. I am tired to death. Pray start at once for Verona. I need you, for I think that I am going to be very ill. I send you a thousand kisses. I am in bed. BONAPARTE. July 9th.-Bonaparte asks Kellermann for reinforcements. No. 2. July 17th.-Attempted coup de main at Mantua: French unsuccessful. To JOSEPHINE, at Milan. Marmirolo, July 17, 1796, 9 P.M. I got your letter, my beloved; it has filled my heart with joy. I am grateful to you for the trouble you have taken to send me news; your health should be better to-day-I am sure you are cured. I urge you strongly to ride, which cannot fail to do good. you Ever since I left you, I have been sad. I am only happy when by your side. Ceaselessly I recall your kisses, your tears, your enchanting jealousy; and the charms of the incomparable Josephine keep constantly alight a bright and burning flame in my heart and senses. When, free from every worry, from all business, shall I spend all my moments by your side, to have nothing to do but to love you, and to prove it to you? I shall send your horse, but I am hoping that you will soon be able to rejoin me. I thought I loved you some days ago; but, since I saw you, I feel that I love you even a thousand times more. Ever since I have known you, I worship you more every day; which proves how false is the maxim of La Bruyère that "Love comes all at once." Everything in nature has a regular course, and different degrees of growth. Ah! pray let me see some of your faults; be less beautiful, less gracious, less tender, and, especially, less kind; above all never be jealous, never weep; your tears madden me, fire my blood. Be sure that it is no longer possible for me to have a thought except for you, or an idea of which you shall Have a good rest. so that, at least, before for so many days !!" Millions of kisses, and even to Fortuné, in spite of his naughtiness. BONAPARTE. No. 3. July 18th.-Trenches opened before Mantua. July 18th.-Stuttgard occupied by Saint-Cyr, who, like Kléber, is under Moreau. July 18th.-Wurtzburg captured by Klein and Ney (acting under Jourdan). To JOSEPHINE, at Milan. Marmirolo, July 18, 1796, 2 p.m. I passed the whole night under arms. I ought to have had Mantua by a plucky and fortunate coup; but the waters of the lake have suddenly fallen, so that the column I had shipped could not land. This evening I shall begin a new attempt, but one that will not give such satisfactory results. I got a letter from Eugène, which I send you. Please write for me to these charming children of yours, and send them some trinkets. Be sure to tell them that I love them as if they were my own. What is yours or mine is so mixed up in my heart, that there is no difference there. I am very anxious to know how you are, what you are doing? I have been in the village of Virgil, on the banks of the lake, by the silvery light of the moon, and not a moment without dreaming of Josephine. The enemy made a general sortie on June 16th; it has killed or wounded two hundred of our men, but lost five hundred of its own in a precipitous retreat. I am well. I am Josephine's entirely, and I have no pleasure or happiness except in her society. Three Neapolitan regiments have arrived at Brescia; they have sundered themselves from the Austrian army, in consequence of the convention I have concluded with M. Pignatelli. I've lost my snuff-box; please choose me another, rather flatshaped, and write something pretty inside, with your own hair. A thousand kisses as burning as you are cold. Boundless love, and fidelity up to every proof. Before Joseph starts, I wish to speak to him. BONAPARTE. No. 4. To JOSEPHINE, at MILAN. Marmirolo, July 19, 1796. I have been without letters from you for two days. That is at least the thirtieth time to-day that I have made this observation to myself; you are thinking this particularly wearisome; yet you |