#for all that duroc seems to have been widely well-liked i do wonder how his role as essentially napoleon's gatekeeper effected preexisting

[handfuloftime]

It's Duroc's birthday! Here's a translation of a letter of his that I've always liked, as quoted in Jean de la Tour's 1913 biography (and, I believe, somewhere in Laure Junot's memoirs, but I can't remember which volume). He's writing from Warsaw in late December 1806 or early January 1807, to Jean-Andoche Junot, who had been left behind in France due to his post as governor of Paris and was deeply unhappy about it, to the point that Laure called that period his "widowhood".

His Majesty the Emperor arrived at Posen on November 27, in perfect health. We stayed there twenty-seven days. It's a sorry city, despite its fine resistance to the Hero of the North [Charles XII]. As for us, apparently either we're more formidable or the inhabitants have changed their character, for instead of defending themselves, they flocked to the Emperor, their magistrates at the head, and received him with an enthusiasm difficult to understand, at least until you recollect that they're not Prussians.  His Majesty published a proclamation on December 2nd, to remind the soldiers that it was the anniversary of the coronation, and above all of Austerlitz. I've never seen the troops so moved. If the Emperor wanted to lead them to China, I guarantee that he could. It's a delirium, and when the proclamation of the same day announced that the Russians had arrived on the banks of the Vistula, a cry arose from all sides: We'll fight them again! We're here [in Warsaw], in winter quarters, and we're well. For a while I've known that Polish women are the most pleasant in Europe; but it was necessary to go to Poland to understand the charm that surrounds them. Warsaw is very agreeable. The society is charming. The Polish men love us even more, I think, than the Polish women. The country wants to take a leader from us: a king. Murat pleases them very much, with his plumes and his sparkling uniforms, but above all with his courage, because you know it's of genuine worth. We receive deputations every day. I've never seen the Emperor in a better mood. He had, however, a fit of temper over the incident of Marshal Lannes and Bennigsen [the battle of Pułtusk]. The Emperor scolded him sharply: Lannes responded that everything was won when the enemy left the battlefield, but it's true that we lost a lot of people. Lannes also complained of a division of Davout's which should have helped him and which didn't back him up well. I don't know, in truth, what happened. Lannes is our friend and he never lies. That's all I can say about it. No doubt you've heard about poor Rapp's wound? He's an unlucky man. He only has to enter the fighting and he's hit. Vandamme conducted himself very well during the campaign. This doesn't surprise me, because he's brave, but he showed real talent during this military tour of Silesia. The Emperor is very content with him. I promised, my dear Junot, to tell you what has been happening to me and you see that I've kept my word. In truth, I can't write to you as often as I'd like; my work, as you know, is very busy and still increasing: but it never prevents me from keeping the fondest and most constant friendship for you. Goodbye, my dear Junot, tell me in return of your carnival and your entertainments. I've heard that you're amusing yourselves greatly. Tell me all about it.  My regards to Madame Junot.