EUGÉNIE

(1826-1920) Empress, wife of Napoleon III 2 L.A.S. and one L.A., [1871] and Camden Place, Chislehurst 1873-1879, to Eugene ROUHER; 14 pages in-8, 2 at her address (mourning). [1871]. She transmits to Rouher a letter from the Berlin banker HABER which the Emperor wishes him to read. "The news from France is awful, we are sorry for it"... A copy by Rouher of Haber's letter concerning peace with France (Berlin April 6) is enclosed. September 30, 1873. She rejoices over the trip to France of the King of Italy, who has charged M. de Vimercati with expressing to Rouher his feelings "concerning the accession of my son to the throne of his father," and his intention to "speak to the Sovereigns he is going to visit in a way favorable to the re-establishment of the Empire. She counts that Rouher informs her of the results of these conversations, to know "what are the dispositions of the three Emperors towards France and towards us" and to be able to evaluate the situation. "To want to make the European diplomacy express doubtful sympathies for the appeal to the people which, as you say very well, will remain the only exit open to France to constitute a definitive government seems to me a useless attempt"... March 3 [1879]. On her son's departure for Africa: having left Plymouth, he stops in Madeira before reaching Cape Town; she dreads "the long days of waiting and worrying" .... Attached is a copy of a letter from Eugenie to Franceschini-Pietri, Maritzbourg, May 3, 1880, about her trip to South Africa to visit the place where her son had fallen: "Everyone speaks to me about him in terms that hurt me and yet flatter my maternal pride. Why did he leave so quickly and why leave me behind? I think that my mission is to find his trail, to know hour by hour what he did until the last minute. She left the next day to live in a tent with an escort of 20 men on horseback...