#quote: M. Thompson ed. Letters of Napoleon (Oxford 1934)

[empirearchives]

Napoleon about his brother, Lucien, in 1784:

He is 9 years old, and 3 feet, 4 inches, and 6 lines tall. He is in the sixth class for Latin, and is going to learn all the subjects in the curriculum. He shows plenty of good disposition and has good intentions. It is to be hoped he will turn out well. He is in good health, is a big upstanding boy, quick and impulsive, and he is making a good start. He knows French well, and has forgotten all his Italian.

I’m crying at Napoleon calling his little bro “a big upstanding boy” :’)