Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-04-28

THE MOTHER OF NAPOLEON.

The MOIhEh VI NAfOLkON.
Letters from Europe render il GER
tain that the mother Of Napoleon is
dead. She was eighty.6ve years old,
and has resided for the laat % years ut
Rome, where her brother, Cardinal
Fesch. still lives. and some other men,
bers Of the Bonaparte family. Madame
Mother las she was commonly and apt
ly called) was fondly attached to the
once Queen Of Westphalia. latteriy en-
titled Duchess Of Montfort, the daugh-
ter Of the King Of Wuremburg. and
wife Of Jerome Bonsparte, by whose
death lately the mother Of the Bona
parties no doubt was much affected
and il is probable that the demise Of
the daughter-in-law, who was an excel
lent and superior woman, fastened that
Of the mother-in-law. thus bereaved of
one Of her most cherished connexions.
Few, If any, moro remarkable and
exemplary women have lived, than the
mother Of Napoleon. II has been sta
ted by respectable historians. that she
was taken in travail while at church.
and that he was born on the carpet
without assistance. There is reason TO
doubt this story. but the life of move
ment, exposure, and hardship, she led
during the troubles Of Corsica, while he
was still in her bosom, prepared and
Injured him in embryo for the career OF
adventure, Of warfare, and Of change,
to which she was destined. Madame
Leiitla Qeft q widow, when young. by
the death Of her husband, Charles b.
naparte,) gave being, not only to the
greatest man Of modern Europe. but &c
four soma and four daughters, all distin-
guished by their talents, their persona
attractions, and their astonishing eleva.
ton.
The Emperor scarcely lowered more
in the field of battle, than his sisters ia
the drawing room. The mother WHIT
lived to see nearly all these eight chill.
dren Kings and Queens, never was be
trayed by prosperity into pride, or BY
adversely into humiliation. Always IN
assuming and smiable at the height o
fortune. she was constantly mindful o
its uncertainty; while in the utmost dis
asters Of her family, she maintained the
noble foFtituae, holiness, and dignity o
! the head Of such q race. In her latte
years of retirement and pious resigna
ton, she suffered with mistaken firm
ness. though with deep emotion, The
untimely deaths Of her grandson, thu
only child of Napoleon, Of another, iht
eldest son Of Louis Bonaparte, married
to the younger daughter Of Joseph
two Of the most promising young mer
Of their age, both taken of like the sor
Of Eugene BesuharnoiS, marred to the
Queen Of POFtugal) so unacCountably
as to excite suspicious that these of
springs Of q new but formidable house
fell victims to the darkened. desperate
purposes Of legitimacy, 70 suppress I
dynasty rising from the sovereignty o
the people.
The remaining scions of this stock
are the surviving and only sou Of Lou
is Bonaparte and Hortensia Beauhar.
nois, connected with the royal family
Of Bovaria, and two sons Of Jerome
Bonaparte, and The Princess Of Wur
temberg, alhed to most OF the crowned
heads Of Europe, and standing IL
near succession by what is considered
the divine right Of kings to the throne
of GrGa at Britain The mother Of th'
immense Napoleon las lafayette call
ed him) was the object Of his warmes
attachment and neyerfailing devotion
She might have been loaded with title
and riches, if eoVctous Of them. but thu
simple appellstion Of Madame Mothe
was her only title and although legi
innate malice has continually nagni
fed her wealth, she will be found Il
have died, as she lived, in moderate
circumstances. Young and handsom'
I when her widowhood began, calumnJ
has never even attempted 10 questior
her irreproachsble purity. The edues
lion and welfare Of her children, he
lessons, and the example Of moderation
and disiEterestedness 10 them when ru
lers, q incorporating constituency
and magnaninity in their reveEses
crowned her life. and were We only
crown. A serene death closing such I
life, fall Of years and domestic virtues
indicates the epiiaph which pOsteFitJ
will pronounce on The MOTHHH OF Ma
PoLEOS.
i