Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1842-10-22
THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE.

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE.
The history Of the Empress Sosephinc
had been very remarkable. She was
born in the West Indies; and i, had early
been prophesied by an old n-gress that
she should lose her first husband. he ex-
tremcly un fortunate. but she should after
wards be greater than queen. THE
author heard this prophecy long before
Napoleon's elevation to the throne from
the late Coun'ess Of Bath. and the Coun-
tesssof Ancram, who were educated in
the same convent with Josephine, and had
repeatedly heard her mention the .irrum-
stahce IN early youth This prophecy.
the authenticity Of whichis placed beyond
doubt. was fulfilled in,h- mo I singular
manner. Her first husband. Alexander
Beauharnois. general or the army on
the Rhine. had been gui'.o,inaa dnfinr
the Reign Of Terror; and she herself.
who was also imprisoned at thn same
time. was only saved from impending
death by the fall Of Rnbespierre So
strongly was the prophecy impressed OH
her m,.d. that while lving in The dun
geons Of tho Con"icr.erie. expecting
every hour 10 be summoned 10 the revo'u-
tionarv tribunal. she me lfioned II TO her
| fellow prisoners. and to amnse hem. nam
Ell some Of them as ladies' of ,he bet.cham-
ber: Jest which she afterwards lived III
realize 10 one ol their number
Josephine herself narrated this extra.
ordinary passage in her lli;, in the follow
ing terms in her me,noirs:
s'One morning the iai.er entered the
chamber where slept with the Duc,ns.
d'Aignillon and two other ladies'. and told
me he was going TO take my ma,,ress To
give it to another prisoner Why. said
Mada,ne'd' Aiguillon eagerly, will not Ma
dam de Beauharnois obtain better one:
No no. replied he. with frndish smile,
she will have no need Of one, for she is Il
bout to be led to the Concergerie, and
thence to the guillotine. At these words
my companions in misfortune uttered
piercing shrieks. consoled them as
we'll as could; and atslength, worn out
with their eternal lamentations, told
them that their gIief was utterly unrea
sonuble; that not only4l, should not die.
but live to be Queen Of France. Why,
then, do you not name your maids OF .ho-
nor, said Madame d'Aiguillon, irritated at
such expressions at such Q. moment
Very true, said |, I did not think OF that !;
we'll, my dear, | make you one Of Them
1 Upon this the tearsof these ladies' fell a.
pace. for they never doubted was mad.
But the truth was, | was not gifted with
anv extraordinaryecourage, -bpt Internal
/ ly persuaded Of the truth Of the oracle.
Madam d 'Aiguillon soonyafter became
unwell. and drew her towards tie win
dow, which opened 10 admit through the
bars little fresh air. there perceived
! q poor woman who knew US, and who was
making number Of signs. which first
could not understand. She constantly
held up her gown, (robe;) and seeing ,hn,
She had some object in view.. 4 called vi
robes, to which shesanswered syes.' She
then lifted up stone and. putt inseher
Flap. which she lifted up second timo;
called out pierre Upon which she
cyinced thesgreatest Joy at perceiving
that her signs we're understood Joining,
lshen, tho stone to her rohe. she eagerly
initiated, the motion Of cutting off the
neck, andimnediatel began 20 dance and
evince the mos, ex.ravaganf Joy. This
singular pantomime awakened lin our
minds vague hope tha, possibly. Robes
plerresMlght be no more.
AT TINS moment, when We were floating
between hope and tear. we heard great
noise in the coxyidor. and the terrible
voice Of our !jailor. who said 70 hisf dog.
giving him. at ,hessame time 4 kick, get
out.you cursed Robespierre.' 'rh-, coarse
phrase atbncestaught us that We had no.
thing 10 fear, and that France was saw
ed.-1Aison's History 4 Enropes
4 A. Elssr ssssr.aSs. Never was drunk
but once in my ''fes'' said chap once ia
my hea8ng;; .never mean 10 he again :
The street seemed to be- very steep. and
lifted my legs atsyerv srep ~ if'IwaS
were making convolu'inns in nv brai.r
and at one timeeI GancieA nv head was
a slrge carving and farming establish
ment. the laihes OF which ! wa~ keeping
i,rnoiion with my own feet coule not
. conceive wha. was the rsa<on ina The
town had turned into such an enormous
hill; and what 6aele !, worse was:sthati
seemed al the time growing higher. ane
threatened TO pitch over on me Stop
stop. thought !, and III head this old hil
yet-or, nj lensi, il shan't heal me- s.
!. turned round to go down and re, Al til,
, dbttom; hn' hang me il the town diln'
turA round wi,h.me. beading ,nssat, IN
, Ane, and presenting the high bluff il
! front of me. :Neff, sure enough, .lh
: ground soon asnp md struck ne nth
iofehead; and son as tie Stars clea,
> ed awav. commenced climbing wilh IN,
handsAnd knees The next thing sa,
was,R bis.brick house coming fullsplt !,
i round. the corner! and believe It ra
2 right over me, for don't remember al
J. more" ~ Picayune.
: At the siae Of Genoa, the leg Of Ma,
shal Sou't was fractured by shot, bu
he resisted ali the impor,uni.les Of hi
. surgeon for immediate amputation. H
: : has since made thirty campaigns, an
mounts a horse with eas.' by means Z
the condemned member, and is able to re