Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1832-06-07
Skesehes or Character.

We extract the folioving infercstiig items
from q Memoirs Of the Emprep Josephine. ~
The voaane pressnts che susjestsfthese memoirs
In shsssstsr truly amishscs But the extracts
Fsi'te more particularly 70 the career q the
Iwrpaeriai msnv ith whom she had bsed eonnscsed.
eAe rheps deeds astonished the worid. = 80
Josephine did not aecompany Napolcon 20
kFfurth. 10 ikl4 DE latter showed his usual
l1act; II suited bis News 90 be ON The most
familiar and intimate footing with Ajax apdcr.
lthe Russian even borrowed linen Of the
French AutocrafD and the presence of the
empress would necessarily have required re-
serve and ceremony MDshase therefore
little to do with this really Interesting passage
In the life Of Napoieon, Whieh recalls more
nearly than any event - modern history our
ancient recollcctions Of Aihe Held Of the
cloth Of gold, }" and other shfyairous meet
ings of The sovsreigns Of the olden time
The following incident, however, Is Of 30
singular nature, so well authenticated, and
at the same time new, we believe, to the
English reader, that il may well find place
here. The most celebrated actors Of the
French Theatre were assembled, and nightly
representations given at Erfurth; the two
emPerors, seated side by side, occupied each
an armchair, on n platform erected ON the
usual station OF the orchestra, on account of
Alexander's weak hearing. The pit was
filled with the ero,od Of kings On the I'd OF
October, voltaire's Gdips being the play,
when Talma repeated the verse,
The Friendship Of great mon 10 blessing from
the gods,
! Alexander rose, and gracefully presented his
hand to Napoleon. The compliment was In
stantiy appreciated, and loud acclnmations
| burst from the princely audience. On the
same evening, Napoleon retired to rest at the
usual hour, every access to his bedroom be-
ing secured by guards and bolts, with the
ordinary precautions. About two O'Clock,
Constant, who, with Roustsn, the Manslule
slept In The ante-chamber, upon mattres.
spread across the only doorway Of the i'm.
Periai dormitory, was awaked by an alarm
Ing noise from within. RouainR his COM
Panion, the two listened together. when the
sounds were repeated, falling distinctly upon
the ear, like the gurgiings Of a man In the
agonies OF strangulatiOn. ROustan silently
seized his weapon, and Constant, taking the
light cautiously opened the door. No one
was visible In the bedchamber; but low
meanings were still heard, as il from one
nearly exhausted in struggle. Advancing,
they beheld Napoleon stretched across the
bed, his eyes closed, lips drawn back, and
showing eleHched teeth; the one hand was
pressed against the breast, IT, other extend
led, as II grasping at some invisible antago-
mist. Constant with difficulty reused the
Isleeper. "What IL itl--what IL iti" cried
Napoleon, sitting UP and casting a be-
wildered gaze on tho figures before him, OF
themselves Zone bearing q dim lamp, the
iother drawn scimetar) enough to create a.
larm. Constant FASTENED TO explain. aThou
hast done we'll, my faithful constant" IN
tcrrupied Napoleon. "Ah what a fearful
dream! thought bear was devouring nav
Vlials." So strong remained the impression
lof the dream, that Napoleon, as he stated
next morning, could not again sleep Even
alter long interval Of time no REQUIRED Ia
the subject. Did he think Of his dream slu-
ring tho Russian expedition
On returning from Erfurth, Napoleon re.
manned only few days with Josephine at 81.
Cloud, when he set out for Spain, leaving
her behind, Notwithstanding more urgent en-
treaties 10 be taken with him than she had
ever before venturcd. Their adious were
most aheotionate, but mournful on tho par
Of the empress; for she could not divest her
self OF presentiment Of misfortune, from
the character Of the nation with which be
was now engaged. Denied tie satisfaction
OF being near his person, she sent Tor his n.
vOrite attendants, recolnmc ndsng them "a
have the utmost Wetchfnlncss over their
masters safety. These gloomy forcbodiDg,
seemed for the time groundless. After q
lcamPaign Of little more than two months
NsPoleon returned 10 her on the 25d Of Jantf
arJl 1908, leaving Spain with not an Englfi
soldier in the Peninsula, and its perfect con.
lquest requiring only 10 be consolidated.
The interval which elapsed between fhs
return from Madrid add ihe l3th of APRIL
Thes be set out Tor the second campaign o.
Vienna, Napoleon passed chiefly ~ ~. Cloud
with asa occasional bunting excursion 10 Ram.
bOuiiiet But though be continued 90 pas,
~ 5osephines society al bis hours Of leisure
thgse had now bee0ms extremely few and
perhaps ~ ~ tirns bad his application beeg
20 iaisnae, a. n preparing fcF she eampaigI
81 ieo9. The fRai period q JoasPhinei
inaTried happiness Nas nov drawing 20
close. The last - uuresiralned and afleo
iionate iatsreOurse which she enioycd viii