#consulate

[gregor-samsung]

English Vinglish (Gauri Shinde - 2012)

[microcosme11]

Napoleon's smile fails to charm Madame de Staël

...his hair cropped, a little body, and a large head, an indescribable air of awkwardness and arrogance, of disdain and embarrassment, which altogether formed a combination of the bad graces of a parvenu, with all the audacity of a tyrant. His smile has been cried up as agreeable; my own opinion is, that in any other person it would have been found unpleasant; for this smile, breaking out from a confirmed serious mood, rather resembled an involuntary twitch than a natural movement, and the expression of his eyes was never in unison with that of his mouth; but as his smile had the effect of encouraging those who were about him, the relief which it gave them made it be taken for a charm.

Ten Year's Exile by Germaine de Staël, 1821

gutenberg.org

[credo--ergo-sum]

[postcard-from-the-past]

Visit of Qaids at the French Consulate in Casablanca, Morocco

French vintage postcard

[josefavomjaaga]

Hortense about Duroc's love letter

This is translated from Hortense's memoirs, Tome 1, for @sillybumblebeegirl. I'll add the usual disclaimer: I'm personally very suspicious about anything she writes that cannot be backed up by a second source. It's known that Hortense reworked her memoirs several times and that she was an excellent writer who knew how to captivate an audience.

That being said, here we go 😁:

Of all the young men around me, only one dared to aspire to my hand in marriage: Colonel Duroc. The recollection of the Consul's plan to have him marry his sister [Caroline] gave him the idea that he would not oppose a union with me. I had noticed that he was more embarrassed than others when talking to me, more frequent at Malmaison, but never a word had betrayed his impressions. Murat extracted his secret from him and set about making the marriage a success.

"She is a romantic young person," he said, "with whom you have to sigh for a long time before you can please. However, you also have to declare yourself and tell her that you love her."

Indeed, one day when I came back to fetch a book I had forgotten in the salon, Duroc approached me looking rather shaky, and gave me the book himself. When I got home, I opened it and found a letter. What should I do now? To read it seemed a great mistake. I went back down to return it. Duroc was no longer there: the Consul had just sent him on a mission. It was at the moment of his departure that he had dared to declare himself. I put the letter in my desk, which I did not close, as was my custom, and left my room.

As chance would have it, at dinnertime the Consul, who often took pleasure in intimidating me, entered the living room with my mother and finding me already there, said to me: "We've come from your room. We've been through all your things and read all your sweet notes. Ah, it's lovely to receive such beautiful declarations." I blushed, stammered and forgot that the joke was nothing new. I thought I was guilty: it was enough to make me look guilty. Uncertain of my answer, I rushed out and ran to the secretary: the letter was still sealed. I came back down more calmly. My emotion had not escaped the Consul and my mother. They told me with surprise when I returned: "Could it be true? Do you have secrets? You fled quite quickly to your room". Fortunately, dinner put an end to my embarrassment. That same evening, my mother was informed of everything. Duroc had left a letter with Murat to await my reply. I told Caroline that I would never make up my mind without knowing my mother's opinion, and I asked her to send back this famous letter. "I don't know," I added, "whom fate has destined for me, but I won't have to reproach myself for having read a love letter from someone other than the man who is to be my husband." I must confess that before handing it in, I had a good mind to try and read it without opening it to see how a declaration was written, but I resisted and thought I had deserved some credit for it. Duroc, though not the man my imagination pictured as worthy of all my affections, did not displease me. I recognised many qualities in him. His great respect for me made me believe in his feelings. Yet so often, when I listened to him, I would say: "That's not it yet".

Well, perhaps I would have married him had it not been for my mother's formal opposition. The Consul did not object, but she only thought about it with sorrow. Brought up with the ideas generally held by the nobility, in her eyes it was a misalignment to enter a family that did not belong to it. Prejudice lurked beneath the care she took to welcome everyone equally. It had no influence whatsoever on her kindness, which extended equally to everyone, but nothing seemed to her distinguished enough for her daughter. Although Duroc was a gentleman, she would have liked to have seen greater distinction in him or in his ancestors. "I never could get used to hearing you called Madame Duroc," she would say to me. "'Would you love him? I would despair of it." I reassured my mother. I repeated that my heart was calm, my position happy and that I had no desire to change that.

This all takes place a short time after Murat's marriage, and I like how Murat is included in this. It's to be noted that at this point, Hortense and Caroline were besties, so Hortense could confide in Caroline without problems, Caroline then in Murat, and Murat could inform Duroc (who probably was on his way to Saint-Petersburg? Would that fit the timeline?).

As to historical events, I kinda doubt Hortense was really that clueless about Duroc's feelings for her. If I'm not completely mistaken I remember a letter by Eugène that mentioned Duroc wanting Hortense to come visit the army camp (before the Marengo campaign?). Which then had old Madame Campan throw an epistolary hissy fit about how unseemly this would be for an unmarried young lady.

In any case, Hortense clearly was not heartbroken over this event. If she had married Duroc, it would not have been out of love but out of lack for "better" options.

[digitalfashionmuseum]

Oil Painting, 1802-1805, French.

By François Gerard.

Portraying Juliette Recamier in a white dress and yellow shawl.

Musée Carnavalet.

[empirearchives]

One of the instances of Napoleon saying he wanted to retire from public life:

“Yet more than once in the course of his career he declared that he would like to retire from public life, settle as a landowner in the country and satisfy himself with the function of a Justice of the Peace. ‘In three years’ time I shall retire from public affairs,’ he declared one evening in 1802, when as First Consul he had become effective dictator of France. ‘I will have an income of fifty thousand livres, and with my tastes that is more than I need. I will have a country estate, because Madame Bonaparte likes the country.’ After a moment he added that he would fulfil his civic duty in the locality as a Justice of the Peace. This usually brings a sarcastic smile to the lips of those who read these words. But they should not be dismissed out of hand, as there is much about Napoleon’s character to suggest that, given the chance, he would have enjoyed such a life—and suited it admirably.”

— Adam Zamoyski, Great Men and Small Ways

(Bold and italics by me)

[zentarablog]

The French Revolution: 10 Key Events That Toppled a Monarchy

The French Revolution, a period of profound social and political upheaval in France from 1789 to 1799, remains one of the most pivotal and transformative events in human history. It wasn’t merely a series of protests; it was a radical dismantling of an ancient regime, a violent overthrow of monarchy, aristocracy, and the Church’s entrenched power, in favor of principles like liberty, equality,…

[npzlawyersforimmigration]

Important Update for F, M & J Visa Applicants: New Social Media Screening Procedures

https://visaserve.com/f-m-j-visa-applicants-face-new-online-vetting-by-u-s-consulates/

#StudentVisa #JVisa #F1Visa #USVisaInterview #OnlineVetting #VisaPolicyChange #ImmigrationLaw #InternationalStudents #USCISUpdate

[nando161mando]

Russian consulate in France comes under attack on Ukraine war anniversary

The Russian consulate in France has come under bombing attack on the anniversary of the Ukraine war.

[toppicksreviews]

Vietnam visa application

The Vietnam visa application process involves submitting required documents, including a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay, a completed application form, passport-sized photos, and proof of payment for visa fees. Depending on the visa type, additional documents such as an invitation letter or business license may be necessary. Applicants can choose between applying online for an e-visa or visiting a Vietnamese embassy or consulate for traditional visa processing. More info: https://toppicksreviews.com

[sharkspez]

Tumblr Biography: Napoleon 🇫🇷

As the First Consul of the 🇫🇷 French administration, Napoleon brought about 📜 sweeping reforms. However, his greatest ⚔️ challenges were yet to come...

[postcard-from-the-past]

Consulate of Italy in Cairo, Egypt

Ottoman vintage postcard

[josefavomjaaga]

Laure about Bessières and Junot

In her memoirs, Laure for the time of her marriage (i.e., early Consulate) mentions Bessières as one of Junot's close friends:

Colonel Bessières, as he still only held that rank at the time, was at that time considered to be one of Junot's close friends.

However, with a caveat in a footnote:

Since then, this friendship cooled. I have always deplored the cause, which was as futile and ridiculous as possible, especially between two men such as Bessières and Junot, both young sprouts from the same tree and destined to live under its shade. I was the judge between the two of them, and I must say that I did not always rule in favour of Junot.

In the same chapter, Laure also mentions Bessières sharing his lodgings with Eugène and the two of them partying hard:

He was then colonel of the guides, i.e. the mounted chasseurs of the consular guard, together with Eugène Beauharnais. They were living in the same lodgings, and rumour had it that they were both very fond of all the joys that come with fortune and youth.

Does anybody happen to know what „futile and ridiculous“ thing caused the friendship between Bessières and Junot to break up? My first guess would have been a woman. But it might as well have been Bessières' catholicism?

[digitalfashionmuseum]

Oil Painting, ca. 1790, French.

By Antoine Gros.

Portraying Étienne-Nicolas Méhul, a composer, in a green coat and white cravat.

Musée Carnavalet.