The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-15
THE DIVORCE OF NAp0I EoN

A work just published, Menevals Souvcn;rs fIs.
tongues OF Napoleon and Marie Louise. pi,es. for
the hrst time, the reasons assigned for allowing the
als .n Inc reader Will remark the mockery Of
ruin 40 the last sentence, the rigorous exgencics
OF politics." Exigencies are never wanting to ty.
rants 70 Paillate their brutaEties The book says:
"a Senatus Coneultum had declared the marriage
between Napoleon and the Empress Josephine 10 Be
dlssolved Alter some explanations the official au-
lnorties at Paris annulled the religious bond. The
clvii act OF this first marriage contained causes Of
nudity which would have suficed to have authorized
its rupture but the idea Of taking advantage of these
defects, which would have wounded the Emperors
dgh'y did not even present itself to his mind The
Two " witnesses were M Camelet, friend of the
Beaunarnals family, and Captain Lemarois General
bonaPartes a'd-de-camp The latter was minor.
born IN l776; ne was scarcely twenty wears of age
IN 1890, the period OF the marriage The age of the
parties mad not been accurately stated The civil
act had been executed with an irregularity which
might De excused by negligence which prevailed at
that period The production of comics of registers
OF the birth of the parties had not been required or
those documents were but specifically examined
General Bonaparte was described az having heen
born on the 5th of February 1885, although he real
y came into 'he world on the 18th Of August, 1862
ms TACT no doubt was the foundation for the state
ment made by some biogra pliers, that Napoleon was
born before the union of Corsica with France Was
the enuncation of this date the effect of forpetful
ness or careiessness on the part of General Bona
parties agent or did the General desire, by making
| himself eighteen months older, to approach his acc
to that OF Madame de Beauharnais. who. on her
side, made step towards his The date Of the sin
OF February is not that of the date of any of his bro
theirs. -
At the conclusion of the mournful ceremony, which
dissolved the bonds, which, had Josephine borne
children, would have been as durable as their lives.
the ex-Empress withdrew to her apartment and the
Emperor returned to his study, silent and sad. He
tnrew hmseli on sofa in state of complete pros
tration. lie remained there some moments, his head
reclining on his hand and when he rose his features
were distorted. Orders had been previously given
to proceed to Tranon. When it was announced to
MIN that his carriages ready, he took his hat
and said, Meneval, come with men | followed
him by the winding staircase, which led from his
study 10 the apartment of the Empress That Prin-
cess was alone, and appeared to be overwhelmed with
most painful reflections At the noise eau. ed by our
entrance she quickly raised and threw herself SUBJ
bng on the Emperor's neck who hold her to his
oreast and embraced her several times, but, over
come by her emotions, she tainted. | fastened to
ring for her assistance. The Emperor, wishing to
AVOID the renewal of scene of grief which was not
In his power 10 calm, placed the Empress in my arms
when he perceived her beginning to recover her
Senses and, charging me not to leave her, he with
drew rapidly by the drawing rooms of the ground
floor, at the door of which his carriage was waiting
Tor him. Josephine Immediately perceived that the
Emperor had retired, and her sobs and means in
creased Her female attendants, who had entered
the apartments laid her on couch where they care
fully attended her In her agony she seized my hands,
anxiousy besought to tell the Emperor not to for
get her, and TO him that her attachment would
| survive all contingencies She made me promise TO
send her news of the Emperor from Tranon, and TO
take care that he should write to her. II was with
dnhculty that she suffered me to leave her. as If my
absence about to burst the last link by which she
held the Emperor ! quilted her, much affected at
the sight of such uniegned grief and such sincere
attachment ] was profoundly greved during my
Journey, and could not but deplore the rigorous ext
gences OF politics, which so violently burst asunder
the links OF welltried affection in order to impose
another uni n, which offered but an uncertain chance
Of happiness.