Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-01-13

dFOWGu tic TCSOluLlOH WHICH i MAD so long read
in his countenance."
The fatal day for the announcement at length
arrived. Josephine appears to have had some
presentIment that her doom was sealed, for all
the day she had been in her private apartment.
weeping bitterly. As the dinner hour approach
ed, to conceal her weeping and swollen eyes she
wore a head dress with a deep front, which shad-
ed all the upper part of her face. They dined
alone. Napoleon entered the room in the deep
est. embarrassment. He uttered not a word, but
mechanically struck the edge of his glass with
his knife, as if to divert his thoughts. Joseph
inc could not conceal the convulsive agitations
of her frame. They sat during the whole meal
in silence. The various courses were brought
in, and removed untouched by either. Says Jo-
sephine, owe dined together as usual. | strug-
gled with my tears, which, Notwithstanding eve
ry effort, overflowed from my eyes | uttered not
a single word during that solitary meal and he
broke silence but once, to ask an attendant about
the weather. My sunshine, | saw had passed
away the storm burst quickly" Immediately
after the sorrowful repast, Napoleon requested
the attendants to leave the room. The Elnpe-
ror, closing the door after them with his own
hand, approached Josephine who was trembling
in every nerve. The struggle in the soul of Ma
poleon was fearful. His whole rame trembled.
His countenance assumed the expression of the
firm resolve which nerved him to to this unpar-
donable wrong. He took the hand of the En-
press, pressed it to his heart, gazed for a mo-
ment, speeches., upon those features which had
won his youthful love and then, with a voice
tremulous with the storm which shook both soul
and body, said" Josephine, my good Joseph
inc, you know how l have loved YOU; it is to
you, to you alone, that | owe the few moments
of happiness | have known in the world. Jo-
sephine, my destiny is more powerful than my
will. My dearest affections must yield to the in
terests of France"
"Say no more," exclaimed the Empress in
mortal anguish T" Iexpected this. understand
and feel for you but the stroke is not the less
mortal" and with u piercing Shrek she fell life
less upon the floor.
Napoleon hastily opened the door, and called
for help. His physician, DR.. Corvisart, was at
hand, and entering with other attendants, they
raised the unconscious Josephine from the floor
who in a delirium of agony was eXclaining, ooh
no, yon cannot, you cannot do it, You would
not kill me-" Napoleon supported the limbs Of
Josephine, while another bore her body, and thus
they conveyed her to her bedroom. Placing the
lnsensible Empress upon the bed, Napoleon
again dismissed the attendants and rang for her
women, who on entering found him bending
over her lifeless form, with an expression of the
deepest anxiety and anguish. Napoleon slept
not that night, but paced his bedroom in silence
and solitude, probably lashed by an avenging
conscience. He frequently during the night,
returning to JosephineIs room to inquire con-
onrn;D. -. alterations b,t ooob t;,,o tbo c,uoJ
Of his footsteps and his voice almost threw the
agonized Empress into commissions. "No! Mop
says Josephine, " cannot describe the horror o.
my situation during that night Even the in
tcrest which HE affected to take in my sufferings
seemed to me additional cruelty, O my God
How Justly had | reason to dread becoming al
Empress r.
At length the day arrived for the public an
nouncement of the divorce. The imperial Coun
Gil of State was convened in the Tuileries. ant
all the members of the imperial family, and al
the prominent officers of the empire were pres
ent. Napolen with his pale and care worn fea
lures but i'll concealed by the dropping plume
which were arranged to overshadow them, sacri
icing strong love to still stronger ambition, will
a voice made firm by the very struggle witt
which he was agitated, in the following term
assigned to the world the reasons for this crue
separation 4:
"The political interests Of Monarchy, tn
!, wishes of my people, which have constantly guild
E ed my actions, require that | should leave behint
me, to heirs of my love for my people, the thron
on which Providence has placed me. For man
years | have lost all hopes of having children b
: my beloved spouse, the Empress Josephine. Tha
it is which which induces me to sacrifice til
! sweetest affections Of my heart, to consider onl
the good of my subjects, and desire the dissolu
i, ton Of our marriage. Arrived at the age of Al
years, l may indulge "a reasonable hope of Twin
long enough to rear, in the spirit of my ow
> thoughts and disposition, the children with whicI
! it may please Providence to bless me. Go
q knows what such a determination has cost IN
heart; but there is no sacrifice which is abov
my courage, when it is proved to be for the in
terests of France. Far from having any caus
of complaint, | have nothing to say but in prals
i. of the attachment and tenderness of my believe
wife. She has embellished fifteen years of m
! life the circumference of them will be foreye
cnuraven on my heart. She was crowned by m
hand she shall retain always the rank and It'll
= of Empress; but above all, let her never dout
my feelings, or regard me but as her best an
dearest friend"
Josephine with a faltering voice, aud with he
: eyes suffused with tears, replied:
81 respond to all the sentiments OF the Empt
6 ror in consenting to the dissolution of a mai
. rage which henceforth is an obstacle to the haT
piness of France, by depriving it Of the blessin
of being one day governed by the descendants
n that great man, evidently raised up by Prov
= dence to eface the evils of a terrible revolution
? and restore the altar, the throne and social orde
! But bis marriage will in no respect change tn
h sentiments Of my heart the Emperor will eve
!. find me his best friend. / know what this ac'
commanded by policy and exalted interest," ha
! cost his heart; but we both glory in the sacr
;. fee which we make to the good of our country
= feel elevated by giving the greatest proof OF a
tachment and devotion that was ever given uPo
earth"
e Such were the sentiments, replete with dlgn
n ty and grandeur, which were uttered in public
y but Josephine returned from this dreadful effor
I. to her chamber Of the darkest woe, aud so viz
al lent and so protracted was her anguish, that (