This is part of a series of letters from Josephine and Hortense to their beloved son and brother Eugene.
Hortense, at the writing of this letter, is in a difficult position. She feels suffocated and constrained by her husband. She is more than likely obsessed with her stepfather and brother in law, Napoleon. She is surrounded by the girls from her school who love her, who are many of them, officer’s wives. She really loves France and has nothing in Holland except what she will bring with her - a melancholy invalid husband and the sons she adores.
Yet, Napoleon elevated her to the position of Queen because he esteems her highly. Napoleon would and did find it infuriating that Hortense did not have the ambition to appreciate what he was doing for her. In this letter, Hortense refers to her running joke about the future when all their grandchildren would be together. She was hoping for better days.
Saint-Leu, this Tuesday, May 1806.
Don't hold it against me, my dear Eugène, if I have been so lazy since I have been in the country; but I often go to Saint-Cloud. I am a bit informed and then I want to know what’s decided and I end up knowing nothing.
What is certain is that I will have to separate from the only friends I have. To speak of all my sorrow, of all my regrets, I can tell you yet it’s not in your power to change anything. I must have courage and I will admit that when I speak to you, you with whom I can not hide anything, I’ll have the strength only to cry and to complain.
I spoke to the Emperor yesterday. If you come, I don't want to go to take the waters [a health resort], But it seems to me that your wife’s pregnancy can prevent her from going by carriage. It seems to me, however, that he was determined to bring you here and that she would give birth here. If it works out that way, there may be less danger. My grandchildren are still doing well. We kiss you tenderly.
HORTENSE.
Cela fait partie d'une série de lettres de Joséphine et Hortense à leur fils et frère bien-aimé Eugène.
Hortense, au moment de la rédaction de cette lettre, est dans une position difficile. Elle se sent étouffée et contrainte par son mari.
Elle est plus que probablement obsédée par son beau-père et beau-frère, Napoléon. Elle est entourée par les filles de son école qui l'aiment, qui sont beaucoup d'entre elles, des femmes d'officier. Elle aime vraiment la France et n'a rien en Hollande, sauf ce qu'elle apportera avec elle - un mari invalide mélancolique et les fils qu'elle adore.
Pourtant, Napoléon l'a élevée au rang de reine parce qu'il l'estime beaucoup. Napoléon a trouvé exaspérant que Hortense n'ait pas l'ambition d'apprécier ce qu'il faisait pour elle. Dans cette lettre, Hortense fait référence à sa plaisanterie courante sur l'avenir lorsque tous leurs petits-enfants seraient ensemble. Elle espérait des jours meilleurs.
The memoirs so far are available here.
Les mémoires sont disponibles ici.
https://www.thetanster.com/blog/2019/2/11/napoleon-memoirs-links