Josephine.--Palace of Navarre.--Letter to Napoleon.--Josephine desires
repose.--Occupations of Josephine at Navarre.--M. Bourlier.--Character
of Josephine's household.--Conversation between Napoleon and Josephine.
--Their last interview.--Napoleon continues his correspondence.--Days
of disaster.--Approach of the allied armies.--Alarm of Josephine.--
Accident.--Josephine at Navarre.--A melancholy incident.--Brutality of
the Cossacks.--Affecting note from Napoleon.--His downfall.--Letter
from Napoleon to Josephine.--False friends.--Josephine resolves not to
abandon Napoleon.--Honor paid to Josephine.--Commendation of Alexander.
--Letter to Napoleon.--Illustrious party at Malmaison.--Illness of
Josephine.--Josephine always desired the happiness of France.--Affecting
prayer.--Death of Josephine.--Tribute to her memory by Alexander.--
Funeral ceremonies.--Monumental inscription.

Allusion has already been made to the strong attachment with which
Napoleon cherished his little grandchild, the son of Hortense and of his
brother Louis. The boy was extremely beautiful, and developed all those
noble and spirited traits of character which peculiarly delighted the
emperor. Napoleon had apparently determined to make the young prince his
heir. This was so generally the understanding, both in France and in
Holland, that Josephine was quite at ease, and serene days dawned again
upon her heart.

Early in the spring of 1807, this child, upon whom such destinies were
depending, then five years of age, was seized suddenly and violently
with the croup, and in a few hours died. The blow fell upon the heart of
Josephine with most appalling power. Deep as was her grief at the loss
of the child, she was overwhelmed with uncontrollable anguish in view of
those fearful consequences which she shuddered to contemplate. She knew
that Napoleon loved her fondly, but she also knew the strength of his
ambition, and that he would make any sacrifice of his affection, which,
in his view, would subserve the interests of his power and his glory.
For three days she shut herself up in her room, and was continually
bathed in tears.

The sad intelligence was conveyed to Napoleon when he was far from home,
in the midst of the Prussian campaign. He had been victorious, almost
miraculously victorious, over his enemies. He had gained accessions of
power such as, in the wildest dreams of youth, he had hardly imagined.
All opposition to his sway was now apparentl