The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-16 00:00:00

it. MOCQUARD—LOUIS N.4POLEUIVW
SECR.I2 TA BY.
Who is M. Mocquard ? As far as the mere name
goes, it is familiar enough just now, for it challenges
our eye in the newspapers. Every ono also knows
that M. Mocquard holds a most distinguished posi-
tion, for he is the friend, confidant, and private
secretary of the Emperor. Here, for " that vast
perusing noun of multitude," the public, the infor-
mation comes to a standstill, excepting the reason-
able supposition that somewhere about the close of
the last .century, as the rome.neist would say, M.
MOcquard was a small infant, whose whole genius
was bent on obtaining the proper amount of nourish-
ment, to fit him for holding his own, in what Dar-
win calls the universal." struggle for existence."
But in what way did he come to occupy his pre-
sent position ; where did he get to know the Empe-
ror • and how did he fill up the long gap between
his 'birth and the glories in which he is now a par-
ticipator ? From all we can hear, he has made his
way to fortune and fame, not by stratagem and arti-
fice, but by the force of strong talents and his en-
gaging personal qualities. While still a lad at school
he carried off the prizes ; and on entering the world
he dashed at distinction—for the first thing he did
was to try his hand at diplomacy. Even at that
early age he showed how well he understood the
subtle science, which, as old Hudibras says, con-
sists "half in words and half in face," and a very
good face did the young Mocquard put upon it.
Bat during his studies he had discovered his
own peculiar strength, which lay in pleading. He
consequently turned his attention to the law, and
took in it as naturally as a duck to water. From
this day' his- carer was one great success, although,
in the eventful changes which came over his native
land, he had to suffer his shave of misfortunes and
reverses. His eloquent oratory became the talk of
the day, and he won the esteem and admiration of
men like Brougham, Lyndhurst, and Ellenborough.
In the height of ;his prosperity, end after ten years
of uninterrupted labour, ne was attacked with an
affection of the larynx which threatened the loss of •
his voice. He was too much a philosopher to murmur
at the decrees of fate, so he resigned his profession
and took up his abode in the Pyrenees, where he
devoted himself to literature. And here he quietly
remained.studying, until he was surprised by the
Revolution of July, IVO, when he accepted a sous-
prefecture ; but for waist of sympathy with the
reigning powers, he soon g:2ve up the post and again
returned to a quiet life, occaeionally varied by wan-
dering visits abroad.
His acquaintanca with the Third Napoleon was
of_ long standing. In 1817 AL Mocquard found
himself at Arenemberg, where the Queen Hortense
WiNt residing with her brother and her son. He
won their esteem by a literary service. A biogra-
phical notice of Queen Hortense had appeared
in the " Biographie des Contemporains ;" but,
holding it to be unworthy of its subject, M.
Mocquard published, without his name, another
account which dial' fuller justice to the Queen—that
most original and animated musician, who little
thought, perhaps, that her Imperial son would make
the stray composition of her leisure hours the na-
tional air. of France. It was thus that M. Mocquard
first established himself as the valued friend of
the family. Nor did he surrender that position;
he claimed all the privileges of misfortune. For a
long time he kept the cause alive in the Commerce
newspaper and iii other ways. He aid so at a later
date, when the Prince was an exile in England;
and again in Paris he stood as firm as area by the
side of his illustrious friend all through the perilous
soup d'etat. This was the crowning point for, the
J faithful follower; he was chosen to be private secre-
tary, a post which he has ever since held, and to
gc'.in his ear is equivalent to a tete-a-tete with his
_Majesty. Such is the man from whom the Liver-
pool merchants received their answer—end people
said it was only the secretary.
" Only the secretary." The post is no sinecure;
indeed it needs a mind congenial to that of a Napo-
leon. The business to be transacted is, as may be
supposed, not on ly of Imperial proportions, but of
.a kind which deme•nds a strong and original mind.
The details have to be systematised and classified,
almost with the precision of .9. science. And yet M.
Mocquard, vigilant, patient, all-seeing, with a life
full up to the brim, makes time for other things. His
grande passion is said to be not politics but literature,
which acknowledges in the tra uslator of Taeitus
the original author of stories touching enough to
more
draw " iron tears from Paris' cheek "—a test
cheek of the
severe than the same operation on the
less blase Pluto.
To listen to his own estimate of hi.vetself, you
might wonder that he is where he is, at tYi e centre
of the most active politique in existence ; hut that
be is there proves that he is the man for the place.
And the reason is soon learned. Deliberate Ai re-
flection, yet prompt and positive in judgmeat—
sharp and clear in expression, yet more than cour-
teous, conciliatory, and kind—versatile, yet faiNl-
- ; able to view affairs in their simple abstractioi
Vet to handle them in their complicated concrete,
lie is the very man whom the poetry of romance
might have imagined for what. Destiny has made
[tint—the " Seeretaire de l'Empereur.' —Spectator.

THE HOUSE OF HAPSBURG.

T he present Imperial family of Austria is popu-
lar, . tt least in the capital; and if one can trust
the et )mmon reports of their private life, deservedly
so. .1 yao not now refer ha the Em,peror'spolitical
course. No doubt he preserves all the—traditions
of his i•itce, the proud House of Hapsburg, and
clings t o rower, and would combat revolution as
fiercely as o.ny despot. But personally, so far as
I can le.trn, ,`hough of a temper quick and vi
his charaoter is worthy of respect. He is
married to a vincess of Bavaria, and in his
devotion to his wiice is a pattern to ieople. It
was not a cold-bloc
State allianhces , p
but a pure
love-match ; and the ,-oyal couple seem to be as fond
of each other as any 1. Iss exalted lovers. They are
both domestic in their t'e'stes, and prefer each other's
society to all the gaieties of the court. Though
V
compelled to assume son 1.0 degree of state, yet, for
royal personages, nothing
unosten-
tatious than their style of could be more
Jife. In visiting the pa-
lace, we were surprised at
, (-..he simplicity of the im-
perial apartments, in such :marked contrast to the
magnificence of Versailles, or even 'to the show
which surrounds the monarc by of Prussia. So in
their way of living they are N try simple. Though
compelled by their position to take the lead of tho
court, to receive the foreign an lbassadors, and Mi-
nisters of the Government, an, 1 all distinguished
foreigners, yet, strange as it maj • seem, the Empe-
ror and Empress are not fond of s, 'icioty, but prefer,
a quiet domestic life. No one can hear the stories
which are told of their family circle, without feeling
a deep interest in this young, couple ', so exalted in
their station, yet so simple in their tastes and so
happy in their love. The first fruit of . this marriage
died. When visiting the burial place c
f the Empe-
rors,ins, we
the coffin,
under the Church of the CapucL
ob-
served among the stately tombs a li
wreathed with flowers, which encloses the
• last scion
of the llouse of Austria ; and the monk to.
td us that
the Empress came often to look upon the resting-
place of her first-born child. When we were at
%i of
Lakenburg, the court were in hourly expect!
the birth of another royal child, and prepai ations
th
were made for an illumination ; and though no
could well be more indifferent to us, yet cater
hearing so much of this youthful queen, we cc. ,old
in g
not but feel a wish that the yearning of her moth. '3''';
heart might be gratified, and while we eai ea
nothing for its political consequences, it was wi th
a degree of pleasure that, a week later, we hear. 'I
the cannon at Venice announce the birth of a
little prince and heir to the Imperial throne.
This simplicity of manners is a feature of the Aus-
trian court, and does much to soften the rigour of
the Imperial rule. The Kaiser min
g
l
e
s
chduke
freely
and familiarly with his people. The old Ar
about
John, the uncle of the Emperor,, walks
the Prater, talking to the people, and patting
children on their heads. he familiarity does not
diminish respect, but awakens attachment. All
love the simple, good old man. Royal condescen-
sion gives to the sovereign of the country some-
paternal character in the eyes of his
tphieonpg of a
lesand leads them to look up to him with an
awe mingled with affection.—Summer Pictures
from Copenhagen to Venice.

TESTIMONIAL PROM THE QUEEN.—On the occa-
sion of her Majesty's visit to Penrhyn Castle, the members
of the Penrhyn Choral Society sang before the royal family.
'The Queen was so pleased with the efforts of the choristers
that she resolved to present a silver cup to the society
through the Hon. Mr. Pennant, of.Penrhyn Castle. Ac.
eordingly, at a numerous meeting held on Wednesday, at
Bethseda, the presentation took place. The testimonial
cup weighs 90oz. of silver, and bears the following inscrip-
' tion !—" Presented by her Majesty the Queen to the Choral
Society of the Penrhyn Slate Quarries, which sang before
~tor Majesty, on Sunday evening, 16th of October, 1859."
Sit' Charles Phipps, in a letter to Mr. Pennant, says :
c A iLer Majesty and the Prince Consort would be glad if this
( nip, while it was considered as a mark of the satisfaction
N ith 'which they heard the very creditable performance of
11 le numerous body who sang before them, might also be
h ,oked upon as testifying the approval with which her Ma.
j tasty and his Royal Highness regard the cultivation by all
ir.nder your employment and in your neighbourhood of so
Y audable and humanising a taste, and of their wish that all
i su
re
cure in encouraging a mode of employing their
• leisure hours so likely to prove beneficial to their social and
moral condition."
EXPLOSION OF WATER PIPES IN GLASGOW, AND
VOSS OF LIFE.—On Monday morningan accident happened
to, one of the Loch Katrine water pipes in St. George's-
.-Taasd,fuGulasofgoeswea.pedltgaasr.osAe
mfroanmnaanmeexdpcloasmiopnbeinli adewseeellutdhaedt,
and another called Bow handed lights down. The foul gas
exploded, when Campbell was killed and Bow seriously in-
-1 jured.