HORTENSE DE BEAUHARNAIS (1783-1837) fille de Joséphine de Beauharnais, adoptée par Napoléon, épouse (1802) de Louis Bonaparte, elle fut Reine de Hollande ; mère de Napoléon III.

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HORTENSE DE BEAUHARNAIS (1783-1837) fille de Joséphine de Beauharnais, adoptée par Napoléon, épouse (1802) de Louis Bonaparte, elle fut Reine de Hollande ; mère de Napoléon III.
132 L.A.S. (mostly "Hortense" or "H."), 1798-1837, to Aglaé, known as Églé AUGUIÉ, the marshal NEY; about 270 pages, various sizes, some addresses (some letters unsigned or incomplete). Important and exceptional correspondence from Queen Hortense to her childhood friend Églé Auguié, who will marry Marshal Ney; it covers the whole life of Queen Hortense, from her youth to the end of her life. [Aglaé, known as Églé AUGUIÉ (1782-1854) was the niece of Madame CAMPAN, with whom she was brought up, and she became very fond of Hortense de Beauharnais; protected by Joséphine, she married on August 5, 1802 the future marshal Ney, prince of the Moskowa. Hortense and Églé kept up a regular correspondence all their lives. We can only give here a brief overview of this very rich and fascinating correspondence. A detailed description of all the letters can be provided on request]. The first letter is dated April 29, 1798, and relates the visit of "Maman [...] with Buonaparte" to Madame Campan's institution in Saint-Germain-en Laye. The following letter is addressed to Antoinette, Églé's sister, shortly before her marriage to Gamot: "I am so convinced that you will be happy that I would like to see all this end well, but I am sure that I am making you impatient by talking to you about it"... Around 1800, Hortense invites Églé to Malmaison with Madame Campan: "we will have a little fun, we will sing and we will jump"... 1804 Pregnant with her second son, Napoleon-Louis, she spent two days at Malmaison "with mother". The country air did her good. The coronation was postponed to the 18th of Brumaire. "They always say that BONAPARTE must go to Boulogne soon, but you know that it is never decided until the day before... She regrets not being able to attend "the beautiful festival" of Boulogne... 1805. July 14, "Hortense Bonaparte" announces that "the emperor has arrived at Fontainebleau. It is said that the empress is also there"; she regrets the absence of her brother Eugène. August 29, on her stay in Boulogne where she was welcomed by Marshal DAVOUT; project of marriage of Adèle (sister of Églé) with General BERTRAND... 1806. June 20, on her arrival in Holland: "By entering the Palace I cannot tell you the impression that I felt by hearing all these cries which pierced my heart. When I received all these people, I realized that it was no longer a dream, especially when I left France and passed this column which separates Holland. I felt that I had no more courage, my God, how much I need it. However we are with good people. They have sometimes moved me by asking me to be their mother. I will try to make them happy; but who will make me happy? October 18, announcement of the battle of Jena: "Your husband [NEY] is doing well; there has been a complete victory over the Prussians. All our acquaintances are well, 25 thousand prisoners, 100 pieces of cannon, several wounded Prussian generals, the queen and the king were almost taken. Finally I hope that all this will give us peace "... 1807. On her marital difficulties, and project of marriage of Adèle Auguié with the general of BROC (April 11, 1807). She speaks about her husband: "I will do what he will want. I do not dare to think of happiness near him". She evokes her lover Charles de FLAHAUT. 1808. [Paris July], after the birth of Charles-Louis-Napoleon (April 20, the future NAPOLEON III): "My poor little boy was very bad. This poor little one was dying of hunger, his nurse had no more milk and she did not say so"; she changed her nurse [Mrs. Bure], and "he is taking porridge and is coming along very well [...] I feel that I am necessary to my children and that gives me courage to do what is necessary for my health". Musical evenings at home. She has "a new regular", Mr. de LABORDE, "he writes me romances and I put them to music but he bores me because he admires me too much. We women are inconceivable, I see that we can never be satisfied. As for me, I see well that I will never be satisfied because it would be enough for me to be loved as I know how to love and it is a thing of which it is necessary to take its share, because it is impossible "... 1810. Stay in Amsterdam in April. Death of General de BROC (husband of Adèle Auguié). Cure in Aix-les-Bains in August: "My chest was so weak that it must absolutely be strengthened. I am a little better but I am not yet safe from a storm. It almost gives me a fever because I am so weak"... 24 [September 1812], on the battle of Moskowa (September 7): "Fortunately what is dearest to us is well; but how sad it is to think of the losses we have made. This poor Auguste Caulaincourt whom I regret very deeply and whom I can well say that I mourn, the little Canonville, the generals
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