The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-06-02
The DiVare Of Nspolaon.

A work just published. Meneval's Sow
enters Historiques of Napoleon and Maria
Louise, gives, for the first time, the reasons
assigned for allowing the divorce.
A Sena,us Consultum had declared the
marriage between Napoleon and the Empress
Josephine to be dissolved. After some ex-
plantations, the official authorities at Paris
annulIed the religious bond. The civil acI
OF this first marriage contained causes of
nullity which would suffice to have author
lied its rupture. but the idea of taking adj
vantage of these defects, which would have
wounded the Emperor's dignity, did not even
present itself TO his mind. The two witness
es were NJ. Camlct, friend of the Beau
harnars family, and Captain Lemarios, Gen
eral Bonaparte's id-de-camp.-The latter
was minor, born in l7c6; he was scarcely
90 years of aseiu 1876, the period of the mar
riage. The age of the parties had not been
accurately stated. The civil act had been
executed with an irreSularity which ighi
he excused by the negligence which pre-
vailed at that period. The production OF
copies of registers Of the birth Of the parties
had not been required, or these documents
were but specifically examined. General
Bunaparte was described as having been born
on the 5ih of February. I7Go, although he
really came Into the world on the 10th OF
August. 1863. This fact no doubt was the
foundation for the statement made by some
bioeraphers, that Napoleon was born beloi c
the union of Corsica with France. Was the
annuncation of this date the effect Of forget
Gulness or carelessnesS on the pant Of General
Bonaparte's agent, or did the General &c
sire, bv making hilaself eighteen months oil
der, TO approach his age TO that of MADAME
de Beauharnos, who. on her side, made
step towards his The date of the 9Th o
February. is not that of the birth Of any o
his brothers.
At the conclusion of the mournful cere
mouv. which dissolved the bonds, which
had Josephine borne children, wosd have
been as durable as their lives, the Ex-Em
press Withdrew to her apartment. and tn
Emperor returned TO his study silent ant
sad. lie threw himself on the sofa in a stat
of complete prosiration. He remained ther
some moments, his head reclining oil his hand
and when he arose his features were dlstor
ted Orders had been previously given 1
proceed to Trianon. When il was announce
10 him that his carriage was ready. he too
his hat, aud said, 'Mencval, come with me
| followed him by the winding staircase. wh'c
led from his study To the apartment of tn
Empress, That Princess was alone, and ar
pearcd to be overwhelmed with the mos
painful reflections. AT the noise caused b
our entrance she qickIy raised and threw her
self sobbng on the Emperor's neck, VIII
held her 10 his breast and embraced her ev
eral times, but, overcome by her emotions
she tainted. hastened to ring for assis
lance. The Emperor, wishing to avoid tn
r.. .C.x r 1. -.
in his power 10 calm, placed the Empires
in nv arms when he perceived her beginnin
TO recover her senses, and, charging me nc
to leave her, he withdrew rapidly by III
drawins-room of the ground floor, at the doc
Of which his carriage was waiting Tor hin
Josephine Immediately perceived that III
Emneror had retired, aud her sobs an
means increased. Her female attendant
who had entered the apartment, laid her O
couch where they carefully attended he
In her agonv she seIzed my hands, anxiOus
besought me 10 tell the Emperor not TO forg
her. and to assure him that her attachmel
would survive all contingencies. She mad
me nromise 10 send her news of the Emp'
ror from Trianon, and to take care that !
should write to her. II was with difficult
that she suffered me TO leave her, as if IN
absence was about to burst the last link b
which she held the Emperor. quilted he
much affected at the sight of such sincere a
tachment. / was profoundly grieved duriu
my journey, and could not but dePlore tn
rigorous exisencies of politics, which so vic
lenrIy burst assnnder the links of well-trie
affection in order to impose another unloi
which offered butan uncertain chance oil hal
piness.