d the probability that
Napoleon might firmly establish himself on the throne, and the
discovery of anti-Napoleon MSS. might have acted seriously against
herself and family being appointed to important positions. Moreover,
the greater danger of getting herself into trouble was constantly in
her mind.

[24] "Letters of Madame de Remusat," vol. i. p. 195.

[25] "Letters of Madame de Remusat," vol. i. p, 196.

[26] Ibid., vol. i. p. 160.

[27] Ibid., vol. ii. p. 2.

[28] "Letters of Madame de Remusat," vol. i. p. 190.

[29] Ibid., vol. i. p. 393.

[30] "Letters of Madame de Remusat," vol. ii. p. 45.

CHAPTER VI

JOSEPHINE

One of the phenomena of human affairs is the part destined for
Josephine, daughter of M. Joseph Gaspard Tascher de la Pagerie,
sugar-planter at Martinique, and friend of the Marquis de Beauharnais,
whose son Alexandre was fated to marry her when she was but sixteen
years of age. The marriage took place on December 13, 1779, at
Noisy-le-Grand. The pompous young bridegroom speaks of his young bride
in appreciative terms in a letter to his father, and in order that his
parent may not be disappointed as to her beauty, he explains that in
this respect she may not be up to his expectations. He regards the
pleasure of being with her as very sweet, and forms the resolution of
putting her through a course of education, as this had been grievously
neglected.

The father of Alexandre is said to have been charmed with the
sweetness of Josephine's character, but then he was not her husband,
and it soon became apparent that the union was ill-assorted, and so it
came to pass that marital relations were entirely broken off after the
birth of Hortense, subsequently dressmaker's apprentice, Queen of
Holland, and mother of Napoleon III. Alexandre had gone to Martinique,
and it was there the news of his daughter's birth came to him. He knew
before leaving France that his wife was enceinte, and expressed his
pleasure to her. The Marquis Beauharnais had assured his friend,
Joseph Tascher de la Pagerie, that his "son was worthy of being his
son-in-law, and that Nature had endowed him with fine and noble
qualities." These virtues seem to have been dissolved with remarkable
rapidity after his marriage, as it was well known before his departure
on the voyage to Martinique that he had been diligently unfaithful to
the poor "uneducated" little Creole girl who really thought she loved
him. From all accounts, a