“The Queen of Westphalia has just arrived in Paris; the Emperor Alexander, her cousin, called on her immediately.  It is supposed that she will return to her father.

“Your brothers future is not yet determined on, but it will certainly be a desirable and worthy one.  There are many intrigues going on in connection with it, as Count Nesselrode informs me.  As for the kingdom of Naples, it is no longer spoken of.  By the details of the last war with us, narrated to me by the count, I see that he despises many of our ministers and marshals, and that these must be very culpable; and yet he tells me that they considered the result uncertain a week before our overthrow; as late as the 10th of March they believed that peace had been made with Prussia at least.

“Do not grieve over the fate of the emperor on the island of Elba.  The emperor selected it himself; the allies would have preferred any other place.

“All the mails arriving at Paris have been seized by the allies.  Among the letters there was one from the Empress Marie Louise to her husband.  She writes that her son is well, but that on awakening from a good night’s rest he had cried and told her he had dreamed of his father; notwithstanding all her coaxing and promises of playthings, he had, however, refused to tell what he had dreamed of his father, and that this circumstance had made her uneasy in spite of her will.

“Prince Leopold resides in the same house with Countess Tascher; he is incessantly busied with yours and your mother’s affairs; he at least is not oblivious of the kindness you have both shown him.  I know that it is his intention to speak to the Emperor of Russia, and then write to you.

“All your friends say that you must consider the interest of your children, and accept the future offered you.  M. de Lavalette and the Duke of Vicenza are also of this opinion.  You lose enough without this, and you may well permit the victors to return a small portion of that which they have taken from you, and which is rightfully yours.

“In short, all your friends demand that you shall repair to Malmaison as soon as the Emperor Napoleon shall have departed from Fontainebleau.  I am assured that the Emperor Alexander intends to hunt you up in Novara if you should not come to Malmaison.  It will therefore be impossible to avoid him.  Consider that the fate of your children lies in his hands!  In the treaty of Fontainebleau you and your children were provided for together; this is a great point for you, and proves how highly you are thought of.

“It is to the Emperor of Russia alone that you owe this; and when the Duke of Vicenza submitted this article of the treaty to the Emperor Napoleon for his signature, it met with his entire approval.  Your sole and undivided authority over your children is thereby acknowledged.  You should, therefore, not reject the good offered you for your children.  I do not think it would require much persuasion to induce others to accept that which is tendered you.