Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-05-26
EssCELLANY.
the MOTHER OF NApoIEoN

We are indebted for the subjoined very elo-
quent and interesting article, 60 the u. State,
Gazette, for which II was translated from a
Paris journal.
No other woman's destiny has been
such as Madame Letitia Bonapartc's
No queen, had nature even accorded
her the same fecundity, could have
dared to hope for such fate. Of her
eight children, seven have worn crowns,
and the only one who was not king.
refused 10 be so. Lucien was only the
friend Of Napoleon in misfortune. His
soul was in some degree like his mo-
theirs. who replied to the great Empe-
ror. on one occasion when he reproach-
ed her with preierring Lucien to her
other children: The one who suffers.
is always the child that mos. ardently
love-
She. too, like Lucien, had a melan.
choly foresight of the misfortunes
which awaited her. The unexampled
fortune of her family had not blinded
her, and even in her palace, with the
title OF Empress. surrounded by a
court. and rich with immense treasures.
she wisely armed herself against the
future. She economised the wealth
which her son lavished upon her; and
when the courticrs, to whom every vir-
tue is novelty, expressed their sur
prise at this, she dared TO reply to them,
with the fortunes Of Napoleon before
hsr. Who knows but il may,one day
be necessary for me to give bread TO
all these kings ?"
That day has srrived-but more IA
tai, more terrible, than she foresaw.-
There was one Of those children 10
whom she could give no bread. He
died far from her, guarded by English
men, who narrowly measured out 10
the prisoner the meagre pittance of
each repast, and even the allowance Of
air he was suffered 10 breathe.
She may we'll have wept bitterly
over the misfortunes Of that one. II
she loved her children in proportion to
their misfortunes. none so much de-
served her tenderness.
Afterwards her son-in-Iaw died
shot like a robber on a desert shore !;
then the sons Of these sons; then her
loveliest daughter; then her sons wives;
her children, and her grand children !;
and the rest Of this family have been
scattered over the world. begging an
asylum from all the earth az II the
fragments Of this great race would
crush the soil on which they should be
assembled. So she has died alone.
with her brother.in-law at her pillow.
with the only member Of her family
who escaped prescription because he
called himself cardinal, and was pro-
iected by the church.
She i then dcad-thc mother Of 20
many kings aud queens--old from age,
old from n6rmities-older still nv mis-
fortunes. She j. no more-she met
death With the serenity Of the Just
for IN her fortunes she had only conso.
laiions for the poor; end in her reverse,
she never cursed her prosecutors.
She - then dead, in that Rome,
which, after having detbroned so many
kings, has become the asylum Of the
dethroned.
And. five might dare n say 81, re-.
ver were two dcsiinics more alike than
the destiny Of this woman and the des-
tiny Of this city. Each gave birth. in
youth, 10 men made for the conquest
Of the cahh--each has seen their old
age mournful and abandoned, prolong
itself, without that world which they
bad ruled by their children. concern
ing itself with thu remnant Of their use
less existence.
Rome itself did not concern itself q
bout the death Of Letitia. The people,
accustomed 10 see this Empress alive.
were unwilling 10 believe her dead
Besides that, i would havo dsranged