Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821

George Otto Trevalyan is grateful for President Roosevelt’s interest in his work on the Revolutionary War, and says that he is going to be working on it in a enjoyable, leisurely pace He discusses Roosevelt’s own writings on military subjects ranging from history to his time with the Rough Riders. Ambassador to Italy Lloyd Carpenter Griscom often goes shooting alone with the King of Italy, and introduced Trevelyan’s son to him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-18

Theodore Ayrault Dodge sends President Roosevelt volumes three and four of the history he has been writing on Napoleon Bonaparte and looks forward to meeting with Roosevelt in person.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-11

John St. Loe Strachey thanks President Roosevelt for his letter, with which he agrees. Strachey does not understand how people think civil liberties do not need protecting. He worries that autocrats like Napoleon will feed on people’s unwillingness to stand up for what is right. Strachey hopes that they will meet again in October when he visits.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-21

George Otto Trevelyan explains his feelings about Arthur James Balfour, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, to President Roosevelt regarding recent financial policies in Great Britain. Trevelyan declares Balfour as “a man of words, and of no knowledge of the crisis.” He laments the depletion of the fund meant to pay off the national debt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-28

Senator Beveridge encourages President Roosevelt to attack his legislative problems like Napoleon, by “hurling all his strength on any division of the enemy that he succeeded in segregating.” He believes that they will be able to win the battle on the statehood bill in the four days remaining before the vote.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-05

George W. Smalley writes to President Roosevelt in regard to his address to “the mothers.” Smalley states that maternity is one of the highest duties and integral to the development of women. He refers to a quotation by Napoleon indicating that women who bear children are the most admirable. Smalley tells Roosevelt that he states his views “in a way that best reaches the ‘plain people.'”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-20

Statement criticizes Colorado Governor James Hamilton Peabody for calling out the Colorado militia to suppress and arrest striking miners during the Colorado Labor Wars, which includes the recent arrest of Western Federation of Miners President Charles Moyer. The statement criticizes President Roosevelt as being a “military Napoleon” and recommends that citizens should end his political career.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-20

This postcard shows the bedroom which Napoleon Bonaparte used during his stays at the Grand Trianon palace. The room has a bed and several dressers with Greek-style urns, as well as chairs, tables, and a chandelier.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Napoleon also spent much of his leisure time here. This is the bed chamber of Napoleon. In the stables near by are several carriages and harness used by Napoleon. you may see there the carriage in which Napoleon rode during his coronation parade and many other carriages of equal fame.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows the front of the palace of Grand Trianon, located near Versailles. In front of the facade is a large cobbled courtyard, where there are a number of potted trees. A carriage drives away from the palace. Charles C. Myers explains that this palace was built by Louis XIV as a more secluded palace for his wife, Madame de Maintenon, and was a quieter place to hold balls and receptions.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This is a rear view of the same place. When the king and his friends wanted a more quiet place to rest than the Palace they would come to the Grand Tranion [sic] and there were many Royal balls and entertainments held here.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France. A building visible in the background with a stone obelisk visible to the left and a statue to the right. Charles C. Myers notes that thousands of people were executed here by guillotine during the French Revolution. He discusses the obelisk and how Napoleon Bonaparte brought it from Egypt.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Place de la Concorde is one of the most beautifully arranged squares in the city and is situated in the fashionable part of the city. During the French Revolution this was an ill kept place and here was placed the guillotine by which over 2800 persons were beheaded in 1792. This obelisque [sic] that you see on the left is in the center of the square and is the one that once stood in front of the gateway, added by Ramses 2nd in 14th century B. C., to the great temple at Luxor in upper Egypt. It is a single piece of red granite 76 ft high and weighs 240 tons, similar in shape but much larger that [sic] Cleopatra’s needle in London. The hieroglyphics on the sides are the narrative of the deeds of Ramses 2nd.

It was one of Napoleons [sic] favorite deeds to accomplish what others said was impossible, when he brought this piece of stone over from Egypt early in the 18th century, but it was not erected in the present place till 1836. The building in the distant [sic] is the Famous Louvre Art Gallery which is the finest exclusive art gallery in the world.”

This postcard depicts the Madeline, or Church of St. Mary Magdalen, in Paris. This large church is built in the image of a roman temple, with colonnades on all sides, and surmounted by a large relief. The church is surrounded by a fence, and is located in the midst of many trees. The buildings of Paris can be seen in the background.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “The Madaline Church of Paris is not to be overlooked when visiting historic places. This building is 354 ft long, 141 ft wide and 100 ft high and surrounded as you see by massive corinthian [sic] columns. This church was begun by Napoleon in 1806 but not finished till 1842. Napoleon had intended it for a “temple of glory” but Louis 18th carried out his own idea of making a church building of it with monuments to Louis 16th and Marie Antoinette. The big bronz [sic] doors are 34 ft high and 16 ft wide and are adorned with illustrations of all ten commandments. This church is noted for having the finest choir music of any church in Paris. This building–like the Bank of England, has no windows or doors except the main entrance, being wholly lighted and ventilated from within.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows a view of an equestrian statue of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte looking back towards Cherbourg’s City Hall across a wide plaza. Several people gather and sit around the base of the statue, while a crows has also assembled near the city hall. Some people walk in the plaza, but it is largely empty.

Charles C. Myers describes the Christmas celebrations held in honor of the U.S. sailors at the Cherbourg City Hall when the fleet visited France, and says that “the people of Cherbourg put forth every effort to make the visit of the Americans one of pleasure.”

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This is the same statue when looking another direction, and in the distant [sic] is the city hall which is a very fine stone Bldg. and it was in this Bldg that many banquets and entertainments were held in honor of the visit of the American Fleet to that place in the fall of 1910. On Christmas Eve there was an entertainment and Xmas Tree which was full of presents and souvenirs for the American Sailors and a jolly time was had by all that were present.”

The center of this card is taken up by a photograph showing an equestrian statue of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in Cherbourg with several people standing in front of it. This image is surrounded by sprigs of flowers with the caption (in French), “From Cherbourg I send you these Flowers.” Charles C. Myers explains that there is a fine harbor in Cherbourg, and that it is where the U.S. Fleet anchored during their stay near France in December 1910.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Cherbourg is the principal seaport of Northern France and also the Naval Rendezvous. It is quite a thriving city of about 50 thousand inhabitants, but in no way a beautiful city even though it is considerable of a commercial center and the place where most ocean liners make their principal stops for France. it is about 4 hours ride by rail from Cherbourg to Paris and thru [sic] a beautiful country where agriculture is extensively carried on. This is Napoleon’s Statue which you see when you first land in the city.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing the Arc de Triomphe with many people traveling in the traffic circle around it. Charles C. Myers notes the photograph was taken from the roof of the Hotel Cecilia, but the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe gives an excellent view of the city center. Myers comments on the history and construction of the arch.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here is a closer view of the great triumphal arch which is the largest in the world and was built by Napoleon in memory of his many victories and battles of 1805-6, being completed by Louis Philip in 1836. This vast arch is 96 ft high and 48 ft wide, being intersected by a lower transversal arch 61 ft high and 27 ft wide. The whole structure being 164 ft high and 148 ft wide and 72 ft deep. The huge pillars of masonry on which this arch rests are adorned with scenes of battle and also many names of Napoleons Officers. Thru the gates of this arch marched the victorious German Army in 1871.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing the Dôme des Invalides in Paris, France. Charles C. Myers notes the describes the history, structure, and use of the church.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “The church des Invalides was built about 1700 as a place for members of the Royal Family to worship and in this building now rests Nepolians [sic] remains, being placed there in 1840. The main part of the building is 198 ft square and 350 ft to top of the cross. In the rear is a hall not shown in this picture, where Napoleon used to worship.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a cross in front of the window between the Dôme des Invalides and the chapel next door. Charles C. Myers notes the crypt that holds the tomb of Napoleon I is visible at the bottom of the photograph.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myer’s own words, “Here is that same cross and we are now looking at it from within the hall of the church and we are looking directly over Napoleon’s Tomb.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing the interior of the Dôme des Invalides, looking over the tomb of Napoleon I. Mosaic floors and marble adorns the room. The cross and the window between the Dôme des Invalides and the chapel next door are located at the far end of the room.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here is the same view from a little father back and we are now looking down into Napoleons [sic] Tomb. The interior of this church is finished in marble and you can see how beautifully the floor is made of mosaic.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing the interior of the chapel next to the Dôme des Invalides in Paris, France. Charles C. Myers comments many of the flags hanging around the chapel, where Napoleon I once worshipped, were captured by Napoleon I and are in varying states of preservation. Myers notes the outline of the cross in the Dôme des Invalides can be seen through the window at the far end of the room.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This is the interior of the hall where Napoleon used to worship and the flags shown hanging aresaid [sic] to be ones that Napoleon captured during his career. Some of these flags are still in good preserve while many are falling apart from age and other causes, while the real blood stains can be plainly seen on many of them. In the far end of the hall you see something that cannot be plainly distinguished, but it is a cross through the glass door in the main hall of the church.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing the crypt and tomb of Napoleon I in the Dôme des Invalides. Above the crypt, mosaic flooring surrounds the area. Visible in the center of the crypt is the sarcophagus of Napoleon I. Surrounding the sarcophagus are marble figures and flags. Charles C. Myers notes the measurements, materials, and decorations used in the tomb.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This crypt which contains Napoleons [sic] Tomb is 20 ft deep and 36 ft in diameter. The sarcophagus or tomb measures 13 ft long, 6 1/2 ft wide and 14 1/2 ft deep. It is composed of five blocks of brown porphy [sic] brought from Finland. Also notice here in the crypt a collection of flags, 60 in number that were captured by Napoleon. You have here a good view of the beautiful mosaic work of the floor and also in the crypt.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Poultney Bigelow compares the challenges Ferdinand de Lesseps faced constructing the Suez Canal to those of the Panama Canal. He argues that real-estate ownership among canal officials is responsible for the crowded, unsanitary conditions of Colon and that the government has failed in its administration of the canal zone.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09