The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-05-30
THE SIEGE OF VIENNA.
AND SECOND WIFE OF NAPOLEON.

the New York Evangelist on the Aus
trlan Empire, thus describes Napo
Icons siege of Vienna, the divorce 0
Josephine, and the espousal of Mari;
Louisa:
The ramparts Of Vienna had long
been the peculiar glory of the metrop
oils. They were shaded by magnifi
cent trees, which had been accumula.
ting their growth for centuries. These
ramparts formed a delightful promen-
ade for the citizens. They were the
favorite, and almost only resort for the
young and the old, on every bright
evening and every gala day. These
venerable Notifications had ages before
arrested the progress of the victorious
Turks, when they were sweeping like
desolaiing flood over Europe; and
they had been rendered illustrious by
the heroism of Maria Theresa. Napo-
leon ordered, as he left the city, their
demolition. Mines of terrific power
were constructed under the principal
bastions. These, exploding with the
energy Of volcanic fires, uphove the
mountainous ramparts from their foun-
dations, and scattered them through
the air, mingled with volumes of flame
and smoke, darkening the sky and
strewing the earth with the enormous
ruins. 1t is said that these successive
explosions, one after ano!her,presented
one of the most sublime and awful spec
tacles Of the whole revolutionary war.
Showers Of stones and fragments of
masonry says Alison, fell on all sides.
The subterraneous fires ran along the
mines, with smothered roar which
iroze every heart with terror. One
after another the bastions were heaved
up and exploded, till the city was en-
veloped On all sides by ruins; and the
rattle OF the falling masses broke the
awful stiffness of the capital This
cruel devastation produced the lnost
profound impression in Vienna; it exas-
perated the people more than could
have been done by the loss of half the
monarchy; it brought the bitterness Of
conquest home to every mans breast;
the iron had pierced into the soul of the
nation. And thus Napoleon termina-
tedhis most singular courtship of Maria
Louisa.
Napoleon at this moment stood on
the very highest pinnacle Of his great
ness; he was now, in fact, the Empe-
ror Of Europe, and all the kings who
surrounded him were but the governors
Of the remote provinces of his empire.
But he was chidless. He had no heir
to perpetuate his name, and to inherit
his power. He therefore resolved,
most insanely for his influence and his
fame, to divorce Josephine, the wife of
his youth, and seek bride of royal
blood, who would associate with his
name all the pride of ancestral renown.
For Napoleon was well aware that
mankind are generally even more fas-
cinated by ancestral glory, than by in
diyidual heroism. In this, he, howev-
er previously misinterpreted his own
position, and by the re pudiation of Jo-
sephine, who had greatly aided in the
advancement of his fortunes, he accele-
rated his own downfall. The grandeur
of Napoleon's fortune, and the solidlty
of his throne were now such that he
could choose at his pleasure from all
the princesses of continental Europe.
"The divorce for the sake of marri-
age with another, was, however; fear
ful subject for Napoleon to break to
Josephine. The rumor of her approach
ing degradation had for long time FL
led the heart of the Empress with the
most terrible lorebodings. Still, neith-
er party ventured to introduce the to-
pic which filed the ears and occupied
the tongues of all Europe. They dined
together one day, in the deepest EN-,
barrassment; and not one word was
spoken by either during the repast.-
Napoleon exhibited marks of the stron-
gest agitation; convulsive movement
accompanied with hectic flush, often
passed over his FEATURES; and he SEEM
ed afraid to raise his eyes to thea EN-
press, except by stealth. Josephine
was equally embarrassed and agitated,
and had all the day been weeping. The
dinner was finally removed untouched,
neither having tasted a morsel. jose
phine has described what ensued: 'We
had dined together as usual. strug-
gled with my tears, which, notwith-
standing every effort. overfowed my
eyes; uttered not a single word during
that sorrowful meal; and he broke ST.
lence but once, to ask an attendant
about the weather. My sunshine, ]
saw, had passed away; the storm burst
quickly. Directly after coffee, Bona
parte dismissed every one of the COM
pany but me. and remained alone with
him. ! watchedin the changing express
sion OF his cOuntrnnnrp that ctrnuuIa