The public and private history of Napoleon the Third, emperor of the French : with biographical notices of his most distinguished ministers, generals, relatives, and favorites, and a narrative of the events of the war in Italy

Front matter

• 4

V^ c y

Lyycg F^/\F O- LE(D]

Preface

Every age produces its master-spirits; and it is absurd at this late day to deny that Louis ISTapoleon occupies that position in reference to the present century. It is equally evident that he has already fulfilled his mission; or that he has at least achieved the greater part of the brilliant or the tragical destiny which may have been allotted him. He has revived the defunct empire of the great Corsican ; he has inherited his colossal power ; and he now sits upon that perilous throne which was formerly purchased by the blood and tears of a continent. There is henceforth little more of consequence which Louis E'apoleon can accomplish. He may indeed live in the enjoyment of his imperial state for some time to come; but beside this, the brief record of his future history will very probably comprise but one thing more : that he will either be dethroned, or be assassinated, or will die in his bed with all his blushing honors thick upon him.

In preparing the following work for the press the

author has exhausted all the reliable materials which

were accessible. These include everything that is

valuable, which the literatures of France and England

contain in reference to the subject. Several biogra-

(ix)

X PREFACE.

phies of the Emperor of the French have already ^appeared in this country ; yet none of them are complete even as far as they go ; none bring the narrative of events down to the present time ; all of them speak of the subject of their narratives with the exaggerated ardor and unfair coloring of partisans ; and they have been indiscriminate either in their censure or their praise. The present writer has endeavored to avoid these errors ; he is not conscious of yielding to the least degree of prejudice in either direction ; and he has aimed at elaborating such a history of the public and private career of Louis N'apoleon in all its stages, as will describe it precisely as it occurred^ The reader himself will judge how far the author has been successful in achieving a correct historical portrait of the most extraordinary man, beyond all comparison, who has flourished during the middle epoch of the nineteenth century.

The biography of I^apoleon III. does not occupy the whole of the present volume. It had been easy by the use of larger type to have filled all the allotted space with that portion of the work alone ; but the writer has endeavored to render it more valuable by the addition of other interesting and useful matter which illustrates the history of the French Emperor. These articles form Part Second of the work.

SAMUEL M. SMUCKER.

Philadelphia, July, 1858.

€tnUnU.

CHAPTER I. PAdl

Splendor of the Napoleonic Dynasty — Relative Importance of Louis Napoleon in that Dynasty — His Birth — His supposed Illegitimacy — His Infancy — Interest felt by Napoleon I. in his fate— The Fall of the Emperor — Heroism of Hortense— Her Departure from Paris with her Sons — Her Residence at Malmaison — Death of Josephine — Boyhood of Louis Napo- • leon — His early Education — Napoleon's return from Elba — Waterloo — Capitulation of Paris ■ — Flight of Hortense and her Sons — Her Residence at Aix — Her Husband demands their eldest Son — Her Residence at Constance — " Partant vour la Syrie" — College Studies of Louis Napoleon — Hortense purchases the Estate of Arenemberg — Her occasional Residence at Rome — Progress of Louis Napoleon in Military Studies — The Revolution of July, 1830 21

Chapter II

Outbreak of the Revolution in Italy — Secret Conclave of the Bonapartes in Rome — Louis Napoleon commanded to withdraw from the Papal Capital — He joins the Revolutionists — Death of his elder Brother at Faenza — His own Sickness — His Arrival at Paris with his Mother — Their reception by Louis Philippe — Compelled to retire to England — Their removal to Arenemberg in Switzerland — The Polish Revo-

XU CONTENTS.

lution — Death of the Duke of Reichstadt — Louis Napoleon complimented by the Polish Refugees — His private studies at Arenemberg — Publishes his Reveries Politiques — Nature and Contents of this Work — He publishes his " Considerations Politiques et Militaires sur la Suisse" — Character of this Work — Compliments of the Helvetic Diet — Louis Napoleon invited to marry the Queen of Portugal — His reasons for refusing to do so • 89

Chapter III

Pursuits and studies of Louis Napoleon at Arenemberg — His Manual of Artillery — Character of that vrork — He begins to plot — The Escapade of Strasburg — State of public feeling in France at that period — Unpopularity of Louis Philippe — Preparations for the plot at Arenemberg — The Hunting Party — The Prince arrives at Baden-Baden — He meets Madame Gordon — Her Beauty and Talents — Her former History — She becomes a Devotee to the Prince — His arrival at Strasburg — Meeting of the Conspirators — Suspicions aroused and allayed — Six o'clock arrives — Colonel Vaudrey — Submission of the Fourth Regiment — General Voirol — The Prince's Identity denied — Total and rapid Failure of the Conspiracy — Arrest of the Conspirators — Examination and Responses of Louis Napoleon 53

Chapter IV

Presence of mind and Intrepidity of Madame Gordon — Her Trial and Acquittal — Her subsequent Fate — The Gratitude of Louis Napoleon — His removal to Paris — Intercessions of Queen Hortense in his behalf — The Prince Banished — His voyage to Rio Janeiro — His arrival at New York — His conduct in the United States — Letter from Hortense — His Return to Switzerland — Death of Hortense — Brochure of M. Persigny — Republished by M. Laity — Letter of Louis Napoleon to Laity — Louis Philippe demands his Expulsion from Switzerland — The Cantons Refuse — War threatened — Voluntary withdrawal of the Prince — He goes to England

CONTENTS. Xiii

—Publishes his " Idees Napoleoniennes" — Gore House — The Countess of Blessington — Lord Eglinton — The Prince's habits of Dissipation in London — His connection with Mrs. Howard — Her History and Career 65

Chapter V

Louis Napoleon in England — The Insurrection of Barbes — False Opinions as to the State of Feelings in France — The Affair of Boulogne — Want of Organization and Preparation in France — Louis Napoleon and his Friends embark on the *' City of Edinburgh" — Their arrival on the Coast of France — They Disembark — Proclamation to the Soldiers — Attempt to corrupt the Garrison of Boulogne — Partial Success — Subsequent Failure — Arrest of Louis Napoleon and his Associates — Colonel Puygillier — Trial of the Conspirators — Evidence against them — Eloquence of Counsel — Berryer — Ferdinand Barrot — Conviction of the Prisoners — Their Sentence — Louis Napoleon condemned to Imprisonment for Life — The Fortress of Ham — Prevalent Opinions in reference to the Affair of Boulogne — Its peculiar Error — Its advantageous Results on the subsequent Fate of Louis Napoleon 80

Chapter VI

Origin and History of the Fortress of Ham — Its situation and appearance — Louis Napoleon conveyed thither — His Rigorous treatment — His Protest to the French Government — Removal of Napoleon's Remains from St. Helena — Louis Napoleon writes and publishes his " Historical Fragments^* — His ^^Considerations sur la Question des Sucres" — His " Extinction of Pauperism" — His " Canal Napoleon de Nicaragua" — The Prince desires to visit his Dying Father^ — The Request Refused — He determines to Escape from Ham — The Astuteness and Ability of the Plan adopted — The Prince's Costume — He leaves his Prison and evades the Scrutiny of the Guards — Adroitness of Thelin — The Prince reaches Valenciennes, Brussels, Ostend, England — The skiltul proceedings of Dr. Conneau — The Astonishment and 2

Xiv CONTENTS.

Terror of the Commandant — The Prince refused Passports

to Florence by the Tuscan Minister , 92

Chapter VII

Interview of the Prince with Count d'Orsay — Lady Douglass — Death of the ex-King of Holland — The "Melanges Politiques'* — History of the Downfall of Louis Philippe — State of Politics in France — The Monster Banquets — Popular Tumults — M. MoUe — The new Ministry of Thiers — Delusion of the King — His Flight from Paris — Establishment of the Provisional Government — Letters of Louis Napoleon to the Provisional Government — His Return to London — He is elected a Representative by Four Departments — His Letters to the Electors and to the Assembly — He sends in his Resignation as Representative to the Assembly — Popular Tumults — Cavaignac appointed Dictator — Louis Napoleon re-elected Representative by Five Departments — His appearance in the Assembly — His Speech — Decree of Banishment against the Bonapartes annulled 108

Chapter VIII

The new Constitution — Candidates for the Presidency — Cavaignac — Ledru Rollin — The Immortal " Name" — Activity of the Partisans of Louis Napoleon — Manifestoes of the Candidates — Results of the Election — Inauguration of President Louis Napoleon — Difficulties of his Position — Defects of the New Constitution — The Cabinet of the President — Activity and violence of the Red Republican Clubs — Fouchet's Bill for their Suppression — Ledru Rollin proposes the Impeachment of the Ministers — The President's Intrepidity — Conspiracy against him throughout France- — Opposition to him in the Assembly — Revolution in the Ecclesiastical States — Roman Republic proclaimed — Mazzini and Garibaldi — Defeat of General Oudinot — The new Legislative Assembly — Louis Napoleon's Message to the Assembly — Downfall of the Roman Republic 1^

CONTENTS. X7

Chapter IX

liouls Napoleon in the Workshops of Paris — Incidents and Escapes — His Tour through the Provinces — Committee of Permanence — Decree permitting the Return of the Bourbons — The President's Letter to Colonel Ney — Duel between Thiers and Bixio — Victor Hugo's Hostility to the President — New Ministers appointed — Sudden growth of Socialism — Election of Representatives— The Law of Universal Suffrage — ^^Increasing Hostility of the Assembly to the President — In-

■ crease of the President's Salary — His second Tour through the Provinces — Hostility of Changarnier to the President — The Reviews at Satory — Conspiracy to Arrest the President — The False Message — The Revision of the Constitution discussed — The President's Speech at Dijon — Universal Suffrage again discussed — New Cabinet of the President — State of France — Approach of the Decisive Moment for Action . . 137

Chapter X

The Coup d'Etat — Ball at the Elys4e Palace — Louis Napoleon in his Cabinet — Printing of the Proclamations — Their Distribution throughout the Capital — Simultaneous Arrest of the chief Enemies of the President — The Soldiers take possession of the Hall of the Assembly — Fragments of the Assembly convene elsewhere — Events of Wednesday — Preparations for Thursday — Appearance of Paris on Thursday — The Military — The Barricades — Massacres in the Streets — Rout of the Insurgents — Defeat of the Red Republicans — Number of Killed and Wounded — Louis Napoleon's Proclamation — The General Election — The President's Active Measures — The Results of the Ballots — Louis Napoleon President for Ten Years — Te Deum — The President removes to the Tuilleries — His subsequent Proceedings — General Changarnier — Cavaignac — Lamorici6re — General LeflO — General Bedeau — La Grange — M. Grippe — Colonel Charras — M. Roger (du Nord) — M. Baze — M. Thiers— The consterna-

XVI CONTENTS.

tion of the Historian of the Revolution, The Consulate and the Empire 152

Chapter XI

Progress of Louis Napoleon's Ambition — The Empire — Popular Acts of Government — The new Constitution — The Prevalence of Alarm — ^ Growth of Socialism — The President's Journey through the Provinces — The Infernal Machine at Marseilles — Decree against the Property of the Orleans Family — Excuses for that Decree — The Restoration of the Empire — Return of the Votes — Reign of Terror — Proposals for the Marriage of the Emperor — Their Refusal — The Parisian Belle — Qualities of the Countess de Teba — She is selected by Louis Napoleon as his Empress — His Address to the Senate — The Imperial Nuptials — Imposing Ceremonies on the Occasion — National Rejoicings and Congratulations — The Emperor's Address to the Senate — Prospects of the Empire 172

Chapter XII

Origin of the War in the Crimea — Insulting Letter of Nicholas I. to the French Emperor — Early History of the Crimea — The Empress Catherine II. — She subjugates the Crimea — Origin of Sevastopol — Nicholas I. resolves on the Conquest of Turkey — The Holy Places in Palestine — Communications between Nicholas and the British Government — The War — The Peace — The Treaty of Paris — Provisions of the Treaty — Louis Napoleon the real Hero of the War — The English Press and its Adulation of him — A Contrast — Visit of Louis Napoleon to Queen Victoria — Extract from the London Times — Addresses by Corporations — Attempt to Assassinate Louis Napoleon in Paris — Visit of Queen Victoria to Louis Napoleon — The Exhibition of the World's Industry — The French Press on the English Alliance — Birth of the Prince of Algeria — Frantic Joy of the Nation — Addresses of Congratulation — The Emperor's Reply to the Senate — His Pious Response to the Corps ic^isZa^iy— Abd-el-Kader — Barbes. . . 185

CONTENTS. XVn

CHAPTEK XIII.

The Relations of Louis Napoleon to Marshal St. Arnaud — The Array of the Allies — St. Arnaud and the Coup d'Etai — He takes no part in the Revolution of February — Leading Qualities of St. Arnaud — His peculiar AflOiictions — His Successes — The Slanders which those Successes elicited — The Mental Tortures which they Inflicted on him — His only Remedy — St. Arnaud and the Priest — He is appointed Commander of the Army of the East — Suffers under a dreadful fatal Disease — Proceedings at Varna — Embarkation for the Crimea — Battle of the Alma — Heroism of the Zouaves — Exertions of St. Arnaud — The Victory — He sleeps on the Battle-field — His Farewell to the Army — Resigns the Com mand to General Canrobert ~ His Death 204

Chapter XIV

General Canrobert — His peculiar Genius — His remarkabW Activity and Vigilance — His personal Appearance — His Birth and Youth — His Exploits in Algiers— His Conduct in the Crimea — He succeeds St. Arnaud to the Chief Command — Lord Radcliffe — Difficulties of Canrobert's Position — He Resigns the Chief Command — He is the victim of Diplomacy — His Mission to Sweden — A Greek Myth — The Future of Canrobert and Pelissier 216

Chapter XV

The great Rival of Louis Napoleon — Marshal Bugeaud's estimate of Cavaignac — A better Estimate of him — His conduct as Dictator of France — Cavaignac's Birth and early History — He makes the Campaign of the Morea — Policy of Louis Philippe — Cavaignac is sent to Algiers — His Bravery and Ability there — The Revolution of 1848 in France— The Provisional Government appoint him Governor-General of Algiers — He declines the Office of Minister of War — Resent- 2*

XVlll ' CONTENTS.

ment of the Provisional Government — He accepts the post of Minister of War from the Kepublic — The Downfall of the Executive Commission — Cavaignac appointed Dictator of France — His Cabinet — Results of his Measures - — Louis Napoleon elected President — Subsequent insignificance of Cavaignac — He is arrested at the Coup d'Etat — Conduct of Mademoiselle Odier — Correspondence between Cavaignac and De Morny — Cavaignac's release from Prison — His marriage to Mdlle. Odier — His subsequent Obscurity — His Death 223

Chapter XVI

Louis Napoleon's Reputation for Gallantry — Was always regarded in England as a bad matrimonial match — He is rejected by Miss Belleu — He afterward Rejects Jier — The Princess Mathilde — Louis Napoleon's Intrigue with Mdlle. Lautre — His connection with the Countess de Castiglione — Despair of the Empress — The Opera oi Joconde — The Count De Morny — The Prince Walewski — Influence of Louis Napoleon's reign on French Society — The contrast between its Influence and that of Charles X. and Louis Philippe .... 234

Chapter XVII

The visit of Napoleon III. and Eugenie to England in 1855 — The Journey of Queen Victoria to Paris — The Inundations in France in 1856 — Louis Napoleon's great Administrative Talent — The pacific Splendors of the Empire — Visit of the Grand Duke Constantine of Russia to Paris — Review of Troops in the Capital in 1857 — The magnificent Coup d' (Eil — Louis Napoleon's Etat Major — Private Amusements of the French Court — Pofitical Apathy in France — Causes of that Apathy — The " Council of Regency" — The Elections throughout France in June, 1857 — Attempted Assassinations 241

CONTEirTS. XIX

PAET SEOO]^D.

NAPOLEONIC MISCELLANY.

No. I.

Louis Napoleon's Views of the English Eevolution ; from his " Historical Fragments" 251

No. II.

Louis Napoleon's Letter respecting his Father, to the Minister of the Interior ■ 256

No. III.

Letter to Louis Napoleon respecting the Nicaragua Canal. . . . 256

No. IV.

Letter of Odillon Batrot to the Prince Napoleon 259

No. V.

Louis Napoleon's Letter to M. Vieillard 260

No. VI.

Letter of Louis Napoleon to the National Assembly 262

No. VII.

Curious Scene in the National Assembly t 262

No. VIII.

Speech of Louis Napoleon in the National Assembly 265

No. IX.

First Inaugural Address of President Napoleon 268

No. X.

Letter of Louis Napoleon to his Cousin 269

XX CONTENTS.

No. XL

Proclamation of Louis Napoleon, the President of the Republic of the French People 270

No. XII.

Annual Message of President Napoleon to the Assembly, November, 1850 271

No. XIIL Famous Speech of President Napoleon at Dijon 273

No. XIV.

Second Annual Message of President Napoleon 275

No. XV.

Memoir of Louis Bonaparte, ex-King of Holland 279

No. XVI.

Memoir of Hortense Beauharnois, ex-Queen of Holland 296

No. XVII.

Rivals of Napoleon III. to the Throne of France 383

OF

NAPOLEON THE THIED.

Chapter I

Splendor of the Napoleonic Dynasty — Relative Importance of Louis Napoleon in that Dynasty — His Birth — His supposed Illegitimacy — His Infancy — Interest felt by Napoleon I. in his fate — The Fall of the Emperor — Heroism of Hortense — Her Departure from Paris •with her Sons — Her Residence at Malmaison — Death of Josephine — ■ Boyhood of Louis Napoleon — His early Education — Napoleon's return from Elba — Waterloo — Capitulation of Paris — Flight of Hortense and her Sons — Her Residence at Aix — Her Husband demands their eldest Son — 'Her Residence at Constance — ^^ Partant pour la Syrie" — College Studies of Louis Napoleon — Hortense purchases the estate of Arenemberg — Her occasional Residence at Rome — Progress of Louis Napoleon in Military Studies — The Revolution of July, 1830.

The career of the great Napoleonic dynasty is without a parallel either in ancient or modern times. The universal judgment of mankind has long since decided, that its founder, Kapoleon I., was in every respect as great a hero, and probably a greater, than Alexander, Caesar, or Charlemagne, the three most renowned representatives of ambitious and martial daring in the world's history. It has been conceded that the variety and extent of Napoleon's abilities, both as a commander, a legislator, and a ruler, place him above all his rivals. It is also granted that the splendor of his victories, the extent of his conquests, and the grandeur of his elevation, exceeded theirs in an eminent degree

But in addition to all these elements of superior greatness, it must be admitted that the family of Napoleon I. add au unequal attraction and halo to his career. Neither of his illustrious rivals could boast of a wife as graceful and bewitching as Josephine, or as high-born and nobly descended as Maria Louisa. None of them possessed a sister who, like Pauline, deserved the distinction of being called the most beautiful and fascinating woman of her time. None could point to a Caroline who combined beauty, intrepidity, and talent, in so pre-eminent a measure. None of them could claim brothers as sagacious as Joseph, as gallant as Murat, as romantic as Jerome, as capable as Lucien. None of these rival conquerors could point to as many relatives who were sovereign princes and princesses, and who owed their dizzy eminence to his own powerful arm. And none of them had a successor equal in talent, and in desperate, successful daring, to Napoleon III. It must be admitted, also, that the present Emperor of the French is the second personage in point of consequence, celebrity, and interest, among all that illustrious company who bear the name and share the glory of the Bonapartes ; and that his career possesses an importance and splendor, inferior only to that of the great head of the family himself.

Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was born at Paris on the 20th of April, 1808. He was the third and only surviving son of Louis Napoleon, the King of Holland, and Hortense, the daughter of the Empress Josephine, by her first husband, the Viscount de Beauharnois. The infant prince first saw the light at one o'clock, and the Chancellor of the Empire immediately wrote to the Emperor, the Empress, and to Louis Napoleon, informing them of the happy event. At five o'clock in the evening the act of birth was received by the Arch-Chancellor, assisted by his eminence, Kegnault de St. Jean d'Angely, the minister of state, and secretary of the imperial family. Salvos of artillery announced the happy event along the whole line of the grande armee, throughout the entire extent of the empire, from Hamburg to Genoa, from the Danube to the Atlantic. This was an honor which fell to the lot of only two members of the imperial family, Louis Napoleon, and the King of Rome ; for they only were born under the imperial regime.

Notwithstanding these and other testimonials of the legitimacy of Louis Napoleon, it has been gravely asserted by authorities of no mean importance, that not a drop of Bonaparte blood flows in his veins ; and that he is, in reality, the Bon of the favorite lover of Hortense, j^^'^j^^J.y^r^P,^.!; * Dutch nobleman connected with the court of her husband, while king of Holland. It is well known that the marriage between Louis Bonaparte and Hortense was a compulsory one, brought about by the tears and persuasions of Jps^ephjn.e. Napoleon's Minister of Police, the celebrated Fouche, boldly asserts in his Memoirs, that Hortense was then already pregnant by the Emperor ; that the latter first determined to marry her immediately to Duroc ; that Duroc positively refused, being engaged to another lady whom he loved ; and that then Louis was absolutely commanded to accede to a union with the daughter of Josephine. Subsequent events seemed indeed to give the color of truth to these assertions. From the day of that union, the young couple never pretended to entertain the least affection for each other. From January the 20th, 1802, the date of the marriage, down till September, 1807, the period of their separation, they never resided together more than four months, and that at very remote intervals. Some months after their final separation, and after Hortense had taken up her permanent residence in Paris, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte wa ' born. The strongest proof which supports the assertion of the illegitimacy of his birth, is his own peculiarly apathetic Dutch temperament ; a temperament such as no other Frenchman ever possessed since the national existence began. To this may be added the total want of any resemblance in his features to the Napoleon family, and their very considerable similarity to those of the courtly and accomplished Dutch Admiral already referred to.

The family of Hortense and Louis Bonaparte consisted of the eldest son, called Napoleon Louis Charles, born in 1802, who died in 1807 ; the second son named Napoleon Louis, who was born in 1804, was baptized by Pope Pius YIL, and who died in 1831 ; and the subject of this history. The family register of the Bonapartes which contained the evidence of the right of the succession, had been deposited in the keeping of the Senate. By the Plebiscite of the year 1804, the children of the brothers of Napoleon L, in the absence of his own direct heirs, were entitled to the succession to the throne in the order of their ages. Accordingly^ at the period of his birth, Louis Napoleon was regarded as the second heir of the empire, and considerable interest clustered around his person from his earliest years, as one who might perhaps be reserved by the mysterious vicissitudes of fate, for a brilliant or at least a checkered destiny. He was baptized in 1810 by Cardinal Fesch, with great splendor, at Fontainbleau, the Emperor and Maria Louisa themselves acting aa sponsors.

His earliest years were spent in his mother's private residence in the Kue Cerutti, now Lafitte, in Paris. She was his first preceptor ; and she was well fitted for the task. Hortense was a woman of great intelligence, refinement and taste. Herself educated by the accomplished Madame Campan, she possessed a well-cultivated mind. She had, when quite a girl, distinguished herself in the celebrated school d'Ecouen, by her superior talents for music and drawing. She was learned, witty, and exceedingly attractive in her manners. In a word, she was worthy to be the daughter of Josephine. She reared her two sons with great strictness ; and the severity of the training to which she subjected them, was intended both to enlarge and cultivate their minds, as well as to strengthen and develop their bodies.^

* Hortense was, in all respects, a remarkable woman ; beautiful in person, in organization peculiarly delicate, feeble in health, flexible iu her principles ; yet, when a resolution had once been adopted, she dia-

Napoleon himself took a deep interest in the progress of the boys. He frequently sent for them, while he was breakfasting hastily in his cabinet, in order to converse with them, to ascertain their progress in learning, and to scrutinize the displays or evidences which they might give of intelligence and talent. Not even the subsequent birth of the king of Rome seemed to diminish the intense interest which Napoleon felt in the children of Hortense. His sagacious mind well appreciated the uncertainties of human life, and the possibility of the death of his direct heir. There is ample evidence to prove, that both in prosperity and misfortune, until the end of his marvellous career at St. Helena, the great conqueror regarded the fate of the two sons of Hortense with solicitude, and watched their career with a vigilant eye.

Louis Napoleon continued to reside in Paris with his mother till 1814. During the interval between this period and the separation of his parents, his father had led a retired life at Gratz, in Germany. When the first great disasters of Napo-

played so much tenacity of purpose as to expose her justly to the charge of obstinacy. In courage, whether active or passive, she was unconquerable. To the unfortunate, she was kind and generous; she was affectionate in her friendships ; and, towards her children, tender, gentle, and full of solicitude. But her ruling passion was attachment to Napoleon I,, which, in times of great difficulty and danger, overmastered even her maternal feelings, and led her for his sake to set the whole world and her own interests at defiance.

Hortense possessed the most beautiful and luxuriant hair, of a light shining blonde, tinged with an ashen hue, which imparted to it an extraordinary appearance. It was nearly long enough to reach the ground, and when she sat upon a chair to have it dressed, she suffered it to fall over her whole figure like a veil, and trail on all sides upon the floor. Even at such times her two little sons were always present, and often used to amuse themselves by hiding in turn under their mother's hair, and bolting out suddenly to produce a laugh. When she was dressed they generally went down with her to the carriage-door, one of the little fellows carrying her gloves and shawl, the other performing the duties of a page, and bearing her ample train. — Life of Louis Najpo-^ leon, by J. A. St. John, p. 8. 3 leon occurred after the Russian expedition, when the mighty Colossus who had so long overawed the world lay prostrate on the earth, the former king of Holland hastened to Paris. When the allied armies drew their vast lines closely around the French capital, Hortense was undismayed by the dangers which surrounded the imperial family, and remained. She actively employed herself in procuring relief for the thousands of wounded French soldiers who crowded the hospitals of Paris. She praised the fortitude of her husband in remaining near the Emperor. No perils nor threats could appal her ; and she displayed pre-eminently on this occasion the leading attribute of her character, which was the secret of all her domestic difficulties and troubles — her unconquerable obstinacy. When she beheld Maria Louisa desert with cowardice and pusillanimity the capital of her husband's Empire, thus betraying his dearest interests in the moment of his greatest peril, she gave way to excusable paroxysms of rage, and exclaimed to the Empress, "I am incensed at the weakness which I see. You intend to destroy France and the Emperor. You must be aware that by quitting Paris you neutralize its defence and lose your crown. You make the sacrifice with great resignation !" "You are right," replied the pliant Austrian princess; "but it is not my fault. The council have thus decided." Hortense being asked what she intended to do, answered : " I shall remain at Paris, and will share with the Parisians all their fortunes, be they good or bad." "I wish," said she, energetically, ''that I were the mother of the King of Rome ; I would inspire all around me with the energy I could exhibit." Speaking to Regnault, the Colonel of the National Guard, she said : *' Unfortunately I cannot fill the place of the Empress; but I do not doubt that the Emperor is executing manoeuvres which will soon conduct him hither. Paris onust hold out ; and if the National Guard is willing to defend it, tell them that I pledge myself to remain here with my sons. "