Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-01-20
Historical.
From the New YORK Evangelist.
The Divorce Of Josephine,
BY REV. J. 8. C. ABBOTT.
CONCLUDED.

separation, the whole imperial family were as
sembed in the grand saloon of the the Tuileries,
for the legal consummation of the divorce. 1t
was the 10th of December 1910. Napoleon
was there, in all his robes of State yetcare-worn
and wretched With his arms folded across his
breast, he leaned against pillar, as motonless
as a statue uttering not word to any one, and
apparently insensibe of the tragedy enactng
around him, of which he was the sole author,
and eventually the most pitiable victim The
members of the Bonaparte family, who were leal-
GUS of the almost boundless influence which Jo-
sephine had exerted over their imperial brother,
were all there secretly rejoicing in her disgrace.
In the centre of the apartment there was a small
table, and upon it writing apparatus of gold.
An arm chair was placed before the table. A
silence as of death pervaded the room, and all
eyes were fixed upon the chair and table, as
though they were the instruments of dreadful
execution. side door opened, and Josephine
entered, supported by her daughter Hortense,
who, not possessing the forttude of her mother,
burst into tears as she entered the apartment,
and continued sobbng as though her heart would
break. All Immediately arose, upon the appear
ance Of Josephine She wore simple dress of
white muslin, unadorned by single ornament.
With that peculiar grace for which she was
ever distinguished, she moved slowly and silently
to the seat prepared for her Leaning her elbow
upon the table, and supporting her pallid brow
with her hand she struggled to repress the ang-
uish OF her soul as she listened to the reading of
the act of separation, The voice of the reader
was interrupted only by the convulsiye sobngs of
IIortense, who stood behind her mothers chair.
Eugene also stood beside his mother in that dread
full hour, pale, and trembling like the aspen
leaf Josephine sat with tears silently trcklng
down her cheeks, in the mute composure of des-
pair. At the close of this painful duty, Joseph
inc for a moment pressed her handkerchief to
her weeping eyes-but instantly regaining her
composure, arose and with her voice of ineffable
sweetness, in clear and distinct tones pronounce
ed the oath of acceptance. Again she sat down
and with a trembling hand took the pen and plac-
ed her signature to the deed which forever sepa-
rated her from the object of her dearest aifec-
tons, and from all her most cerished hopes.
Scarcely had she laid down her pen, when Eu-
gene dropped llieess upon the floor; and he was
borne to his chamber in a state of lnsenslbllty
as his mother and sister retired.
But there still remained another scene of an
guish in this day of woe. Josephine sat in her
chamber, in solitude and speechlessness, till Ma
poleons usual hour of retiring to rest had arrived
In silence and in wretchedness Napoleon had
lust placed himself in the bed from which he
had ejectedthe wife of his YOUTH and his servant
was waiting only to receive orders to retire when
suddenly the private door to his chamber opened,
and Josephine appeared, with swollen eyes and
dsheveled hair, and all the dishabile of unutter-
able agony With trembling steps she tottered
| into tha ho6 tho nod ooJ hon
rresolutely stopped-and burst into an agony of
tears. "Delicacy-a feeling as if she now had
no right to be there seemed at first to have ar
rested her progress but forgetting every thing
in the fullness of her grief, she threw herself on
the bed, clasped her husbands neck, and sobbed
as if her heart had been breaking. Napoleon
also wept while he endeavored to console her,
and they remained for some time locked in each
others arms silently minglng their tears togeth-
err" The attendant was dismissed, and for an
hour they remained together in their last private
interview, and then Josephine parted forever
from the husband she had SO long, so fondy and
so faithfully loved AS Josephine retired, the
attendant again entered, and found Napoleon so
buried in the bed clothes as to be invisible. And
when he arose in the morning, his pale and hag-
gered features gave attestation to the sufferings
of sleepless night.
At IL o'clock the next morning, Josephine
was to leave the scene of all her earthly greatness
and to depart from Tueries forever. "The
whole household assembled on the stairs and in
the vestibule, in order to obtain a last look of a
mistress whom they had loved and who, to use
an expression of one present, carried with her
into exile the hearts IF all who had enjoyed the
happiness of access to her presence, Josephine
appeared, leaning on the arm of one of her la
dies, and yelled from head to foot. She held a
handkerchief to her eyes, and moved forward
amid silence, at first uninterrupted, but to which
almost Immediately succeeded universal burst
of grief Josephine, though not insensbe to
this proof Of attachment, spoke not but instant
y entering close carriage, with six horses drove
rapidly away, without casting onel look backward
on the scene of past greatness and departed
happiness
The palace Of Malmaison was assigned to Jo-
sephine for her future residence, and jointure
of about six hundred thousand dollars year
settled upon her. Here, after many months of
tears, she gradually regained composure, as time
scarfed the wound which had been inflicted upon
her heart. She heard the merry peas of the
bells, and the thunders of artillery and the
shouts Of the populace as they welcomed Napo-
Icons new bride, Maria Louisa, to the throne
and the palace from whence she had been ban
ished. She witnessed the Examinations and the
reioicings with which all France was filled, upon
the birth of the long-wished for son. Napoleon
continued to cherish for Josephine the most sim
cere regard, and though from motives of deica-
cy he never saw her alone, he frequently called
upon her, and continued frequently to cores
pond with her. In all the busiest scenes of his
downfall and ruin, he would seize moments to
write to Josephine. And letter from her was
Immediately torn open, the moment it was re-
ceived, however pressing the engagements in
which he was involved. And strange tosay, Jo-
sephine continued to cherish for him emotions
of the most ardent affection She seemed most
cordially to rejoice in the birth of his child
All her griels we're forgotten in seeing Napoleon
happy The emperor often called, taking with
him his idolized boy who was as greata favorite
of Josephine as of the father In letter to Ma
poleon she says, "The moment saw you enter,
leading the young Napoleon in your hand, was,
unquestonab!y, one of the happiest of my life.
1t effaced for a time the recollection of all that