“You must not wish for your return to France; you would have to march over a hundred thousand corpses. Sacrifice your interest to the peace and happiness of France. History will recognize it. I am not insensitive to the misfortunes of your family... I will gladly contribute to the sweetness and tranquility of your retirement.”
— Napoleon Bonaparte in a letter to the Count of Provence (future Louis XVIII of France)
Date: 7 September 1800
Source: Napoleonica — les archives, Translation: Andrew Roberts, Napoleon: A Life













