The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-01

which is that they conceal under an outward
aspect Of simplicity, an inordinate love OF
wealth and luxury. The vanity Of being rich
is their ruling passion. Now when you GO to
preside in your new Court, should be sorry
to hear that you were eclipsed by the vulgar
wife Of some burgomaster, whose pride has no
foundation but her husbands bags of gold.
have purchased little present for you, which
! beg you will accept. II is this necklace.
Wear il sometimes for my sake"
So saying, Napoleon elapsed on the bril-
liant necklace round the swan-like throat Of
Queen Hortense. He then embraced her az
lectionately, and babe her farewell.
When once installed at the Court Of Am
sterdam, Hortense did ample honor to her
step-father's present, and on all state occasions
at the .Waison de Bots the splendid diamond
necklace attracted general admiration.
But adverse fate approached. Napoleon's
sun was beginning to set and the radiance
which 1t shed on the thrones Of Spain, West
phalia, Holland and Naples, was growing dim.
Hortense descended from the throne, as she
had mounted il, in similar obedience. When
her Dutch subjects first beheld her, on her ar
rival, they greeted her with cries, Of :. long
live our lovely Queen" On her departure,
they cried" farewell to our good Queen !"
To heart like that of Hortense's, this testi-
mony Of nations regard afforded no small
compensation even for the loss Of crown.
From that moment she devoted herself to the
education of her children, and to the consola-
ton of her beloved mother, who, like herself,
had retired into the privacy Of domestic life,
after having adorned court. Still iondly
attached to France and devoted to the Empe-
| rar rI,ln
nifty when she might eface from Napoleon's
mind the unjust prejudices which, during his
exile to Elba, had been raised against her
That opportunity soon presented ITSELF
The cannon of Waterloo had ceased to
roar, and the Emperor had been forced to
quit the Elysee and to take refuge at NAL
maison, the last abode of poor Josephine.
Napoleon was there, not like Charles XII at
Bender, surrounded by few faithful officers
and servants, but forsaken and lonely, like
Belisarius in the Hippodrome, with no COM
panion but his faithful sword. He was sitting
in mournful contemplation beside table, on
which lay copy Of his second abdication,
when he was surprised by the entrance Of a
lady. He raised his eyes towards her and re-
cognised Hortense.
"Sire," said she, in voice faltering with
emotion, Perhaps your Majesty may recol
lect gift which you presented to me at St.
Cloud. 1t is nine years ago this very day."
Napoleon took her hand, and gazing affec-
tionately on the daughter of Josephine, he
"WeII, Hortense, what have you to say to
me 2"
"Sire," she replied "when you conferred
upon me the title of Queen, you presented me
With this. Jaa"Lienr, J1Eeos II hv.n, unG
you are in adversely, I therefore entreat, Sire,
that you will permit me to restore the gift"
keep your jewels, Hortense," said Napo
leon, coolly. " Alas they are now, perhaps,
the only property that you and your children
possess ...... ...
.They are indeed, Sire. But what of that
My children will never reproach their mother
for having shared with her benefactor the
riches which he was pleased to confer on
her.
As Hortense uttered these words she melt
ed into tears. Napoleon too was deeply
moved.
NO." said he, turning aside, and gently
repelling the hand which Hortense held out to
him. "No, it must not be-"
Take it, sire, conjure you. There is no
are coming, Sire. Take it, beg of you'll"
BY the urgent entreaties of Hortense the
Emperor was at length prevailed on to accept
the necklace and in few hours alter it was
sewed tightly within silken girdle which he
wore under his waistcoat.
About six WEEKS after this time Napoleon
left the Bellerophon, to 60 on board the Nor
cumberland. The persons who accompanied
the ex- Emperor, and who had obtained per-
mission to share his exile, were requested to
deliver up their arms.
Whilst the search of the baggage was 60
ing on, Napoleon was walking with Count de
Las Cases on the poop Of the Bellerophon.-
After looking around him cautiously, and still
continuing to converse on subjects quite TO-
reign from the one he was thinking Of he
drew from beneath his waistcoat the girdle in
which the necklace was concealed. Placing
it in the hands of his nterlocutor, he said, with
melancholy smile, my dear Las Cases, a
certain Greek philosopher, whose name |
think was Bias, used to say that he carried all
his fortune about his person, though he had
not shirt to his back. | don't know how he
managed, but know that since my departure
from Paris, have been carrying the bulk Of
my fortune under my waitcoat-l find it trou-
blesome--I wish you would keep it for me-"
Without making any reply, M. de Las Cases
took the grdle, fastened it round his waist, and
buttoned his coat over it.
II was not until Napoleon's arrival at st.
Helena that he informed nj. Las Cases of the
value Of the deposite which he had confded
to his care six months previously. He then
told him that il was a diamond necklace, worth
500 900 francs. On several subsequent oc-
casions, Las Cases proposed to restore it but
the Emperor declined receiving it,
unons II ;ncnmn,nde you Las Gases ~