The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-04-29
From the New York Express.
EARLY Life of Louis Philippe, late
King of the French

LOUIS PHILIPPE EGALITE, who has just left
the French throne after peaceape reign of
nearly eighteen years, is at present seventy
four years ofage. His father was the cele-
brated Duke of Orleans, known, during the
revolution in France of 1893, as Philippe Egg
alte, who threw aside all the advantages of
birth, and adopted the very worst Jacobin
principles, voted for the death of Louis XVI.
his kinsman,and was utterly destitute Of char
acter and morals He lost his head by the
guillotine. The Orleans branch ofthe Bour-
bon dynasty originated with Philppe,young-
est son of Louis XllI.,who was created Duke
of Orleans by his elder brother, Louis XIV.
The second wife of the first Duke of Orleans
was a grand daughter of James the First of
England-so that the Orleans family are dis
tant relatives of Queen Victoria. The Duke
ofOrleans had five children. Louis Philippe
was the Duke of Valois; and when his father
became Duke ofOrleans, he was the Duke
of,Chartres. His children were committed
to the care ofthe celebrated Madame de Cen
lis, who took the greatest pains with their
education, and was devotedIy attached to
them. The young princes were trained to
endure all kinds of bodily fatigue, and were
taught variety of exercises. They cultiva-
ted garden near St. Leu, studied botany and
medicine, and were taught turning, basket
making weaving, and the carpenters trade.
Louis Philippe excelled in cabinet making.&
made cup board aud table, with drawers,
assisted only by his brother the Duke de
Montpensier, which he presented to poor
woman at St. Leu. At this period Of life he
exhibited tokens ola benevolent disposition,
seemed to care nothing for money, trinkets,
or dress, and often expended his pocket mon
ey for the relief of the distressed.
In early life he kept journal, and from
entries made in l790-9I we learn that he was
u member ofthe Jacobin Club,and attendant
on the stiings ofthe National Convehtion,und
n regular visitor at the hospital, where he
practised surgery. We extract the follow
ing from his diary:
"Nov. 26-l went this morning to the Ho-
tel Dieu. The next time shall dress the pa
tient myself
"Dec. 81 went yesterday morning to the
Hotel Dieu. dressed two patients gave one
six ivres and the other three.
81 went this morning 10 the Hotel Dieu in
n hackney coach, as my carriage had not ar
rived, and it rained very hard. | dressed the
patients, and bled three women"
In 1901, he assumed the command of a
regiment, and with it assisted to put down a
number Unpopular iernents, displaying equal
courage, wisdom and humanity: and in 1892,
when The war was declared against Austrln,
Louis Philippe distinguished himselfin sew
eral battles. His subsequent misfortunes-ex-
lie in Switzerland and the U. States--his fl
nal ascension ofthe throne of France-hs
administration and abdication--are themes
for history. While he resided in this coun-
try he was quite poor and kept a school in
Philadelphia. There are persons now living
in that city who attended his school. 1t is
said that his private fortune is immense, a.
mounting to about one hundred millions of
dollars. He owns large estates in both New
York and Philadelphia. What his ultimate
destination may be, cannot as yet be ascer-
tanned. IF his grandson ascends the throne,
fan event hardly probabel he may return to
France, and settle OH one ofhis numerous
estates, where he may calmly terminate life
of great vicisstudes, and be able to say with
the poet
"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown"