Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-01-15
MISCELL A n E GU S
BONAPARTE AT MALMAISON:

We translate, says the U. S. Gazette, a
passage or two from an account Of Malmai-
son, place which was considered as a
.haunted house," before it came into the
possession of Bonaparte. 1t had been the
scene of fearful crimes. 1t was certainly
the scene of wonderful events in the nine
teenth century.
At Malmaison, Bonaparte was no more the
man of the battlefield than Of the council
chamber. He left, if may SO express my
self, his glory at the door and retained only
his afectionate qualities. The conqueror
of Italy and of Egypt, he who had dictated
| laws at Milan and at Memphis, was at NAL
maison only a good citizen, exclusively &C.
cupied with the affection of his family.
Every one was received at Malmaison with
equal courtesy, though the intimate society
of the Consul consisted of a very small
number of persons. Among the military
were remarked Bournonville, Lannes, kel-
herman, Duroc, Berthier, Murat, and Junot
Among the Swans, the diplomatists, the lite
/ rati, and the artists, were Iessrs. de Iailey-
jrand, Volney, cabaria, Deagenettes, Lanay.
Cenon, Chenier, Ducos, lie Mercier, David
lsabry, Mehul, Chaudet, and Talma. And
this elite Of the amiable and sprightly con-
versatonalists, naturally associated with the
family of Bonaparte, where were to be seen,
as is we'll known, many charming women
1t was in the fresh shades of Malmaison
that the brothers of the hero, who were at
late date to wear the crowns of Naples, oil
Spain, of Holland, and of Westphalia, might
suspect the high distances which was re-
served for them, and discover, so to speak.
the sceptres which were then hidden in the
consular fasces.
In these assemblies equally distant from
Republican coarseness, from the bad tone Of
the directory, and the cold rigid etiquette OF
the old court, there reigned a freedom full
of elegance There each expressed himself
.Ifreely. The savan could sustain his sys-
TENS, the diplomatlst his designs, the arts
and the poet their reveries, with the same
Independence as in their own saloons. The
Consul mingled in their conversations, broke
lance with every one, nor did he remain
stranger to single debate of art, science
literature, or politics. Thus with Lemarciel
; and Talma, he sustained the preemlnenct
? of Corneille over Raciue, with Demon ant
David, he placed Michael Angelo above Ra
( phael, with DesegnaLtes and Cabiris he de
5 nounced surgery and medicine, and finally
| with De TalIeyrand and VoIney, he pu
;, Montesqueu far above Pufendorf. The
? evenings at Malmaison were sometimes oc
t cuped in reading works. The popula
| drawingroom was formed into an Areopagus
! where were carefully weighed the merits o
b, new works which were then attracting pub
S lie attention.
Napoleon himself read the "Genius O
Christianity at Malmaison, and COLLECTED
+ thus the opinions of all his auditors in say
ING. "Gentlemen the book of Chateaubrlant
$ is work of lead and of gold, but the GOLD
predominates."
Sometimes, in warm summer evenings
e the Consul surrounded by his customary
: associates. Hortense, Beauharnois, and Eu
gene, his adopted children, would propos'
game of "prison bare'' upon the beautiful
lawn of the place, The two parties woult
: be formed, and the game commence, Napo
leon always confident in his good fortune
would deliver himself up SO impeIuously t.
the pursuit of the enemy, that he was al
WAYS made prisoner in the very beginning
n of the game The exchange of prisoners
the reproaches which the conquered made
to each other, formed admirable and pleas
sling episodes.