The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-31 00:00:00

PRINCE NAPOLEON LOUIS BONA-

PARTE.

TO rill: .;:01-TOR OF THE SUN.
SlB,—The agreement t,f design manifested by the public
journa!s in misrepresenting 'RI, acts and intentions of en
unfortunate Prince, impose upon me the duty of refuting
the unjust accusations that have been ,;:rought against hint.
It was not under the name of Napo 11., nor of Na-
poleon
lll.—it was not under the title of Emperor," that
the Prince Napoleon Louis Bonaparte presees'ed himself to
the people and army of France. The Prince ti,,rew himself
upon the chances of fortune, to re-conquer the rights' of the
peopk.', not to re-establish his own--to re-conquer those
rights of national sovereignty, twice wrested from France--
in I tils , by foreign bayonets— in l tt,3o, by domestic intrigues.
Faithful to the rnetno4.y of the Emperor Napoleon, his
antic and grandfilther by adoption—like him taking for bis
motto " Every thing for the French people," the Prince
Napoleon felt that his life belonged to France, and that the
name lie bore amiiped to him the mission of restoring to
the people the exereLse of their legitimate privileges. His
Proclamations (which tame did not permit to be printed)
addressed to the People, to the Army, and to the City of
Strasburgh—Proclamations no;' in the possession of the
Government, but which shall soon be given to the world-r-
-are filled with this idea. The object of his enterprise is
there clearly explained. It was an amlieul to the people,
calling upon them to resume their sovereignty, and to de-
cide in a great national congress on the form of Government
they ought to adopt.
How, then, while proclaiming the principle of the sove-
reignty of the people, could he anticipate the decision of the
people ? How could he clothe himself with a title that had
not been awarded to him by the nation ? The Prince, in
all his Proclamations, assumed no other title than that of
Prince Napoleon Louis Bonaparte. This was the character
in which he was recognized by the 4th artillery ; and when
Colonel Vaudrey, in presenting him in front of his regiment,
asked the soldiers if they would commence a great and glo-
rious revolution with the nephew of the Emperor—whether
they-would conquer or die in the cause of tin people—the
mingled cries of " Long live Liberty," " Long live Napo-
poleon," " Long live the Emperor," which responded to this
appeal, were but the expression of an enthusiasm awakened
by reminiscences which are associated with two great epochs
in the history of our country.
All that has hitherto been published on this event is un-
true. In those statements, put forward by persons inte-
rested in distorting the character of the enterprize, all is ca-
lumny and falsehood, like the pretended apish foppery of as-
suming, the dress of the Emperor. The Prince wore the
uniform of an officer of artillery—a blue coat, like that of
the licole Polytechnique, and not a green one. Like the
officers of iris suite, he also wore the hat of a Staff-Officer,
similar to those worn by the whole army.
Fate was againsi him, and the Prince fell the victim of
his own courage and of his ardent love for France. He
failed, when his prudent daring had overcome the greatest
difficulties of his enterprise, through the wretched local ar-
rangements which, by an inconceivable fatality, prevailed,
and by means of which orders which had been given were
left unexecuted. Unfortunate, he will submit to his lot
with the calmness and dignity of his uncle, for his mind was
prepared for reverses as well as for success ; and when the
feelings roused by this abortive attempt shall have passed
away—when all the facts connected with it shall be pub-
lished—the world may take an interest in one who has dis-
played courage so undaunted—may not withhold its sym-
pathy for good qualities at present unknown.—l have the
honour to be, Sir, your very obedient servant,
FIALIN DE PERSIGNY,
Aide-de-Camp to Prince Napoleon-Louis on the
day the 30th October.
London, Dec. 24, 1836.