The Private Diaries of the Empress Marie-Louise, Wife of Napoleon I (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ... and Veere. 29. From Flushing up the Scheldt again, arrival at Antwerp, 1 a.m. 30. At Antwerp, audiences. Arrival of MarieLouise from Brussels at 4 o'clock. Review. Visit to the 122 COMPIEGNE--PIERREFONDS 12S Although Marie-Louise kept no journal of her travels in 1811, she made ample amends for this hiatus in a series of confidential letters. Their Majesties reached Compiegne on August 30, 1811, and their arrival coincided with the death of General Ordener, the Governor of the Palace. In spite of a slight attack of biliousness and a nervous chill which affected her hands and feet, her Majesty mounted her horse to follow the chase, and was present at the Comedie. With his usual punctiliousness on points of etiquette, the Emperor laid down the strictest injunctions as to presentations and ceremonial for State functions. He departed on the night of the 18th at 3 a.m. In the afternoon the Empress made a long expedition to Pierrefonds. "Some fine ruins were there with which I was not acquainted, and the part of the forest which led to them was most sombre, almost rivalling the ruin in antiquity." Thus wrote Madame de Lucay to her husband. The Empress subsequently wrote to the Emperor, who had already reached Boulogne: "Compiegne, Sept. 19,1811. "I am very sad, my dear, to think that instead of talking to you I must have recourse to my pen, and it needs all my courage not to give way entirely to the sorrow your departure causes me; at this moment I am more than fifty leagues from you, and each day will increase the distance between us. You cannot imagine the feelings I have when I pass by your room and see the windows and shutters closed. You must love as I love you to understand this. I beg you, dear one, ...