Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-16

BONAPARTE, JOSEPHINE. TALLEYRAND

proceed to copy, relating to part Of the pr-
names are at the head Of these remarks, is
copied from the letters of an American gentle
man, residing in Paris. Touching, as it does,
the history Of personages, who of all others,
have held the most eminent place in the cir
cles Of society, we cannot but think it will be
found exceedingly interesting by our readers;
and by those. for whose appetites we are hum
BILE caterers:
Josephine, Napocon's first wife, was a fas-
cinatiDg and amiable woman, possessed Of an
excellent heart, but rather volatile manners.-
As soon as Lucen Bonaparte began to seduce
his brother, Josephine, who had no hope OF
becoming a mother, foresaw that her husband
would resolve on repudiating her. She then
became the head of the Liberal party at the
great check when Fouche lost his post of the
Minister ofPolice. OF the forty-eight men,
bers composing the Council Of State, seven
belonged to the party who was averse to the
re-establishment Of the throne. Among them
were three men Of eminent talent-Thiba udeau,
Berlier, and the physician Berangcr
believe it has not hitherto been known in
England, that about the year 1902 Fouche was
at the head Of the party opposed to the anti
quated institutions which had been prescribed
by liberal ideas. The volume to which have
directed your attention will be found to be an
excellent commentary on the Journal of Las
Casas. Bonaparte, when ut Saint Helena,
thought only of his son. He trusted that the
folly Of the Bourbons would speedily lead to
their expulsion, and that the nation would then
turn their eyes on Napoleon ii.
Las Casas makes Napoleon say, that jose
phine finding she must renounce all hopes Of
giving birth TO son, frequently led her hus-
band to suggest that she should fcign preg-
nancy, and allow one Of his ilegtimate chill
dren to be proclaimed as his lawful heir.
IT appears from the conversation Of Joseph
inc, who had not sufficient courage to lend
herself to political trick of this sort, that the
plan was proposed to her, and that she reject
ed it with indignation. Bonaparte loved his
wife. He was frequently jealous of her, but
in general they lived happily together. Napo-
leon was afraid Of being assassinated by the
Lucien, he would not have found the throne
SO soon as he did He looked upon all Discus
sons as rebellion.
Every one has read with interest the reports
of the proceedings of the Council of State col
lected in the Journal of Las Cases" The
grand ideas developed by Napoleon relative
to several plans Of law such as the law of di-
verce, &c. have excited the highest admiration.
The author of the " Memoirs Of the Consulate
gives, in two collateral columns, the identical
words of Napoleon, and the more regular
phrases in which Las Casas has expressed the
| same IDEAS This is a valuable literary and
political monument.
have been favored with peep at some
curious Momoirs, written by an old Jacobin.-
They extend from 1900 to 1914, and they show
more clearly than Thibaudeau's works, Bona
parte s fear ofthe Jacobins, and how his BROTH
er Lucien gradually inspired him with the idea
of making himself sovereign. The following
anecdote from those Memoirs, is at once char
acteristic Of the vanity of Napoleon, and the
i'll nature of Talleyrand, who disliked Bona
parte chiefly because he was an upstart!
Talleyrand had q country house at Auteui,
little village situated between the Seine and
the Bois de Boulogne. 81 will come and
breakfast with you some day." said Bonaparte
to Talleyrand. "Do, General" replied the
latter, -" and as my house is close to the Bois
dc Boulogne, you may amuse yourself by shoot
ing, after breakfast" 81 do not like shoot
ing," replied Bonaparte, "but am very fond
of hunting. Are there any wild boars in the
Bois dc Boulogne! 20 Bonaparte was at this
time very young man, and not having been
much ia Paris, hc did not know that the Bois
dc Boulogne is like your Hyde Park, merely
place for walking and riding. Wild boars were
of course out of the question But French
man can never resist joke though il should
be at the expense of those to whom he renders
the most courtier-like servility. Tallcyrand,
who prides himself much on his nobility, could
not endure TO see poor lieutenant Of artillery
rising into popularity and power, not by the in
fuonra Of hiUb birth hx, tboy y,,I,x &c
intellect and merit: his ill-naturc, therefore,
suggested to him the idea of playing trick
upon Bonaparte; and when the latter inquired
whether there were any wild boars in the Bois
de Bologne he replied, "very few; but dare
say, General, you will be able TO find onc."--
The breakfast and the hunt were fixed for the
following day, as it was arranged that Bona
parte should be at Autcui at seven in the morn
ing Talleyrand, ready to die with laughter,
sent to the market at Paris, and purchased two
large black hogs. These were Immediately
conveyed to the Bois dc Boulogne, under the
care oftwo servants, who were directed to drive |
them about, and practice them in running.
Bonaparte arrived at Auteuil at the appoint
cd time, accompanied by an aide-de-canp, who
was much diverted by tho Generals frequent !
use Of several hunting phrases, and which he
misapplied in the most extraordinary way. |
Breakfast being ended, the party set out for |
the Bois de Boulogno, taking with them some
hounds, which had been borrowed from the |
neighboring farmers. At length, one of the !
hogs were let loose, and Bonapartc joyfully |
exclaimed, &C see the wild boarp' Talley- |
rand, who was aware that the animal would |
be in no hurry to escape from its pursuers, had
directed servant, mounted on small Span
ish horse, and armed with long whip, 10 ride |
after it. But Bonapartc was too intent on his
sport to observe this lie galloped furiousy
after the supposed wild boar, which, after about