The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-03-03
From the New York Evangelist.
Maria Louisa.


ny REV. JoHS s. c. ABBOTT.
There are few events Recorded in history,
which appear 10 me more 10 be deplorcd than
The result Of the battle Of Waterloo. The
wars Of Napoleon were it, the main, undeni-
ably, wars of self defence. The unrelcntinC
and persevering hostility with which Eng
land endeavored to combine the powers OF
Europe against the elected Emperor OF
France, has not shadow of justification
aud every day the verdict Of the world, upon
this subject, is becoming more unanimous
and decisive. With all the faults of Napo.
leon. he was UNNECESSARILY superior to the
banded kings who were struggling, by his
overthrow. to support the despotism Of their
thrones. Napoleon, during his short reign
did more for the promotion Of civil and re.
ligi0us liberty, and for the elevation Of the
masses Of the people, than all the combined
kings of Europe have done for the last three
centuries. The prevailing impressions Of
Bonaparte are derived from the gross carl
catures of the English hstorans--his invet.
crate foes. Can Lockhart and Scott, who
write to, nater national vanity and to please
arfstocratic ears, fairly delneate the charac-
ter Of the renowned enemy whom that ma
ton has SO long delighted to traducc? As
well may you expect the Quarterly Review
fairly to describe republican America.
"When heard of the result Of the battle
of Waterloo" says Robert Hall, 81 felt as il
the clock of the world had gone back six
ages" The eyes of all nations were fixed
upon the spot where the armies of Christen-
dom were concentrating for the decisive con.
ilict? On the one side were all the banded
monarchs Of Europe. On the other was
Napoleon. The match was almost an equal
one. A morning Of the peaceful Sabbath
ushered in the dreadful conflict. During all
the long hours of that sacred day, tillthe sun
was descending, the battle ragged with san
culinary ferocity. At every point Napoleon
was victorious, and the mangled, waverine
lines before him, gave assurance that the
eagles of France were again triumphant
Wellington, as he eaZed upon his melting
-battalions, trembled before the genius of Ma.
poleon, aud wipng the cold sweat of agony
from his brow, exclaimed 81 wish that Blu.
cher or night were comew The foamine
couriers Of the Emperor were on their way
to Paris, with the tidings of the victory.
At that eventful hour black mass Of thir.
ty thousand Prpssans suddenly appeared
headed by Butcher, and poured down like
all avalano he upon the field Of battle. The
troops of Napoleon, exhausted by the hcrcu,
lean toll of the day, and unable to resist thi.
new onset, were, after the most desperate
resistance, overwhelmed and swept away
All was lost. Maria, from the palaces o.
Vienna, locke on apparently with imper.
turbable equanimity, as the star Of her hus
bands glory paled and faded away on the
field of Waterloo. His defeat relieved hel
mind from serious embarrassment. She
moved smilingly amid the group Of his ex
hitting foes, and even appeared in public
leaning upon the arm Of the Duke of Wei
lington. There is no evidence that she she,
a tear or experienced an emotion of regret
as her husband was borne, like Gagged lion
TO that barren rock which was TO be his pris
on and his grave. Not one word of sympa
| thy or tenderness was sent to him from Ma
ria, as he babe adieu TO every object he hell
dear upon earth, and entered upon doom
more intolerable than death.
| Napoleon had hardly arrived at that drea
ry rock, where in misery he was TO weaI
away the few remaining years of his life
when Maria Lonisa, highly elatcd with he
own good fortune, departed from Vienna il
\ gilded chariots. surrounded with fawning ia
vorites, TO enjoy her possessions as Duches
of Parma. She assumed no Carb Of mourn
ing. She affected no grief Of bereavement
and widowhood. Congratnating hersel
that her lines had fallen to her in plcasan
places. and that she had Condly heritage
she allowed no pleasures 10 be marred b,
unavalinc regrets. Forgetting her imrcri
al husband on that dreary rock which Iii
suiirrngs have mmortaizcd forgetting he
son, bern tosoe exalted destiny, more splcn
didly. hut none the less incloriously an cxil
and prisoner in Vienna she suircndeic,
herself, with the most amiablc philosophy
to all the emioynents within her reach.
Colonel Ncipperg, Hungarian Count
had been appointed by the Austrian Cabine
TO accompany Maria Louisa to Parma. II
was TO do all in his power TO divert her min
from the grandeur from which she had fallcr
aud to lure her to all the public and privat
haunts of lestivity. His task was easy am
agreeable. and faithfully he performed hi
mission.
The slvcry lake is gildcd by romanti
moonlight. The soft mir Of Italian summc
invites TO an excursion upon the water. Tn
pVd SSoNti WV uHi 'IINh su'i"'Vs w NV
shows concave Of moon and stars and faith
omless immcnsity beneath as above. Sol
music, of flutes and still more liqnid voice.
floats upon the cool zephyrs. Maria re
clnes upon the cushioned seats, leaning uI
on the arm of Neipperg, and yields herse
to the luxury Of the hour. How can sh
send her imagination from that scene Of CT
chantment to the foggy, storm-swept, rail-
drenehed rock where Napoleon is imprisor
ed! A pleasure jaunt is planned to Geno'
The ducal chariot is drawn by prancin
stceds gaily caparisoned. Livered servant,
and outriders with gittcring sabres and !
rich uniforms, compose the splendid corteg,
The brilliant vision sweeps along throug
the cver-varying scenes Of sunny Italy. ]
T the luxurious carriage Of the yonng Duchc,
sits Ncippcrg by the side Of Maria. The
read, they talk, they sing. Looks Of aztec
tionate recognition are interchanged, an
words of tenderness are uttered. Tho,
sands of leagues Of stormy ocean interver
between Maria and Napoleon. She ca
never SEQ him again. Why, then, shoul
she think Of him any more. Marriage, say
|, iu6dnl E,,ronc Ia n mn n n rrs hin IN he forp