Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-08-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
prco,, pcTloNs OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.
no nps AsELL-LArE MISS ELIZA BALcoME.
fCOntiRusd)

L -
myself and my two brothers, who were quite Gun
N.no,sop determined on not going down to the town
oo,;, aud wished his TO be got ready LOT 't I'M
media,ely. Some chairs were tneh ;sss nm one he
request upon the lawn, and seating himse on que ns
dss;rod me 10 take another which did, with beating
heart He then said,
| aYou speak French
replied that did, and he asked me VINO hau 'ausa'
me informed him, and no put several questions 10
me about nv studies and more particularly concerning
geography He inquired the capitals OF the different
Countries of Europe.
ssWhat is the capital of France =
"paris.''
"Of Italy,"
"Rome."
petersburg now replied; "Moscow formerly
| On my saying this, he turned abruptly rouho' anu
fixing his piercing eyes full on my tace' no uen'"o
slernly,
SOU la brue ?, -.
On seeing the expression of his eye and hearing ms
changed voice, oil my former terror OF HIM re'uIneo'
and could utter n syllable had often heaa 'he
burning of Moscow talked Of and had been present NJ
discussions as 10 whether the French or Russians were
the authors of that dreadful confagalon and teareo
10 offend him by abiding to it.
lie repeated the question; and s'ammereo' 10
not know, sir , ~
"Oui, oui," he replied, laughing violently; "vou'
,avez, tres bien, c'est moi qu la brue.
On seeing him laugh, gained little courage, ana
said,
81 believe sir, the Russians burnt i, to get rid OF the
French
knew any thing about the matter
The arrau re me made for him were necessarily most
hurried and while we were cndeavorlns 10 complete
them in the way thought most likely 10 contribute
10 his comfort he amused himself by walking about
the grounds and garden In the evening, he came INTO
the house and as my father and mother spoke French
with difficulty that Language being much less s'uoeo
in England then, than it is at present, he addressed
himself again to me, and asked me whether liked
music; adding,
"You are too young to play yourself
felt rather piqued at this and told him could both
sing and play He then asked me to sing; and sang,
as we'll as could, the Scotch song. aye Banks and
Braes When had finished, he said II was The pref.
test English air he had ever heard.
replied il was Scottish ballad, not English; and
he remarked, be thought it TOO pretty to be English
"'Their music is vlle-;he worst IN The world
He then inquired if knew any French songs, among
Others, "Vve Henri Quatre."
| said did not
lie began to hum the air, became distracted, and
leaving his seat, marched round the room, keeping
time to the song he singing. When he had
done, he asked me what thought Of it; and told
him did not like it at ALL for could not make out
the air.
In fact, Napoleons voice was most unmusical, nor
do think he had any for music for neither on this
OCCASION any of his subsequent attempts al sing
ing, could | ever discover what tune 1t was he was
executing.
He was, nevertheless, a good Judge of music, IF an
English may say after his sweeping denuncia-
ton Of claims to that ience probably from hav-
ing constantly listened TO The best performers lie ex.
pressed great dislike to French music which he said
was almost as bad as the English and that the Italians
were the only people who could produce an opera
lady, friend Of ours who frequently VISITED us al
the Briors, was extremely fond of Italian singing,
which "she loved, indeed not wisely, but too WE'LL for
her attempts in the 6rapura style were the most
absurd buresques imaginable.
Napoleon, however, constantly asked her to sing,
and listened with great poteness; but, when she
was gone he often desired me to initiate her singing
which did as nearly as | could, and it seemed TO
amuse him. He used TO shut his eyes, and pretend he
thought it was Mrs. -, tour departed friend" and
then pay me gravely the same compliments he would
have done 10 her.
The Emperor retired for the night shortly after my
little attempt 10 amuse him, and terminated his first
day at the Briars
II is not, however, in my power 10 give detailed
account Of the events of each day the Emperor spent
with
| shall never cease regretting that did not keep
journal of all that occurred but was too young ano
loo thoughtess TO the advantage of doing Be-
Sides trusted to naturally most retentive memory
thinking it would enable at any time to recall the
nnutest incident concerning Napoleon In this have
deceived myself. My life has been chequered ane
melancholy one and many Of its incidents have beer
/
ton from every thing but the consideration Of presen
misery THIS, continued for length Of time, ha
erased things from my memory which | thought ne
yer could have forgotten, bat of which now realr
nothing but the consciousness that they took place.
the regret that am unable TO record them.
| Many Of the circumstances | am about to relate
however, did write down shortly after they occurred
and the others have been kept fresh in my memory by
being repeated TO friends that the reader of my LITTLE
volume may depend on the absolute truth and fidelity
of my nsrrative-a consideration, indeed to which
have thought it right to sacrifice many others
/ do not, then, profess to give journal of what Ma
poleon daily said and did at the Brars but the
repces do relate have inserted as nearly possible
in the order in which they took place.
The Emperor habits during the time he stayed will
US, very simple and regular his usual hour o
getting up eight, and he seldom took any thing Blu
cup Of coffee until one when he breakfasled rshe
lunched; he dned al eight and retired at about clever
10 his own rooms. His manner was so Unaffected,
kind and amabe, that in few days felt perfectly o
ease in his society, aud looked upon him com
panion of my age, than Tie mighty warrior e
whose name 'ihe world grew pale" HIS spirits wcr
very good and ne times almos, boysh in his Low
of mr,h and slee, no, unmixed sometimes with ting
of malice.
Shortly after his arrival little girl, Miss Lagg th
daughter Of friend, came 10 visit at the Briars-
The poor child had heard such terrific stories Of Buona
parle, that when told her he coming up the lawn
she clupp 10 me i'm agony of terror Forgetting nv
tell Napoleon of the childs fright, begging him to come
into the house lie walked up 10 her. and brushing u,
his hair with his hand shook lis head making hofibl,
faces, and giving sort of savage howl.
The little girl screamed so violently, that mama wa
afraid She would 60 into Mysteries, and took her
the
Napoleon laughed good deal the idea of his being
such hngaear, and would hardly believe me, when
told him that had stood in the same Of him.
When made this confession, he tried to righten me
as he had poor little Miss Legg, by brushing up hi:
hair and distorting his features but he looked more
grotesque than horrible, and only laughed at him.
He then, as last resource tried the howl, but was
equally unsuccessful and seemed, thought, little
provoked that he could not frighten me. He said, the
howl was Cossack, and certainly barbarous enough
for any thing.
He took good deal of exercise at this period, and
was md of taking exploring walks in the valley and
adjacent mountain. One evening he strolled out, &C
c,mpanied by Gen. Gourgaod, my sister, aud myself
into meadow in which some cows were grazing. One
Of these the moment she saw our party, put her head
down. and q beeve) her tai up, and advanced pas
dc charge against the Emperor lie made skfu
and rapid retreat and eaP'ng nimby over WALL placed