Litchfield enquirer., 1848-08-24

missed her attendants, and rang for her women. who, on entering, foand him bend ing over her liel Ss foEm with an expression ef the deepest anxiety and anguish Naa
 poieOn slept not that night. but paced his room m silence and SOliiade, prohal,ly dashed by an averaging conscience. He frequently, during the night. returned to JnSephine's room to inquire cOncernine her situation, but each time the sound of his foOls'eFS, and Of has voice aimos, threw the agonized empress into convulsions.- 'No. no !" says Josephine, eI cannot de- scribe the horror ofsmy situation duri,e that night. Even the interest which Ae af. fected to take in my sufferings, seemed ,a me an additional cruelty. O, how ~.ius,ly had reason to dread becoming an em, pre>s." F r.t -
 Al length the day arrived for the public announcement, of ,he divorce. The impe- is.al cOancil of state was convened in the Tuileries, and all the members of the i'm perial family, and all the prominent officers of the empire were present. Napoleon, with his pale and care worn features, bat ill,concealed hy the dropping plumes which were ara nged to ovefshadoW them, sacra> fcing strong love 10 still stronger ambi> ton, with a voice made hlm by the very struggle with which he was agiia,cd, In the following terms assigned 10 the would the reascn, for this cruel separation:
 "The political interests of my monarchy, he wishes of my people, which have con
 slanlly guided my actions, require that l should leave beh,nd me, to heirs of my | love fir my people, the throne on which | Providence has placed me. For many years have lost all hopes of having chii> dren by my beloved spouse, the Empress Josephine. That is that induces me to Q slcrifce the sweetest affections of my own heart, to consider only the good of my sub.
 jeclS and desire the dissolution of oar marriage. Arrived at the age of foriy years, 1 may indulge reasonable hUpe of liv,ng long enough to rear in the spirit of | My thoughts and disposition. the children with which it may please Providence 10 | bless me. God knows what such a deter m ,na,,on has cost my heart; but there is nu sacrifice winch is above nay c0uruge, when il is proved to be for the interests of 1 France. Far from having any cause of complaint, ! have nothing to say bat in praise of the attachment and tenderness of my beloved wife. She has embeiiished fifteen years Of my life the remembrance of them shall be forever engraveR on my heart She was crowned by my hand she shalt retain always the rank and title Of an empress. But, above all, let her never Goub. my feelings, or regard me but as. her best and dea rest tread"
 Josephine, with faltering voice, and
 with her eyes sufused with tcars, repl'ed,
 "I respond 10 all the sentiments ot the en-
 peTUr in cOnsenting to the dissolution Of
 marriage which hencet0rth is an obstacle
 to the happiness of France, by depriving q
 of the blessing of being one day governed
 by the descendants of that great man, evI.
 Gen,ly raised up by Providence to eface
 the evils of a terrible revolution, and re-
 store the altar, the throne, and social order
 Ba. his marriage wiil in no respect change
 the sentiments of my heart; the emperor
 will ever find in sue his best friend
 know what lEis act, commanded by policy
 and exalted interest, has cost h,s heart bu
 we both glory in the sacrifces which ws
 make to the good of OUT country. fee
 elevated by giving the greatest proot of at
 lachmeni that was ever ven upon earth.'
 Such were the sentimenls, reple.e will
 dignity and grandeur, which were uttered
 in public but Josephine returned fron
 this dreadful eff,rt to her chamber of th'
 darkt st we, and so violeni aRd so protrac ted was her anguish, that for six month she wept so necessarily as 10 be near blinded by grief. The next day after tn . public announcement t0 the imperial corn
 cil ot state of the attended separation, tn whole imperial family were assembled il ; the grand saloon of the Tuileries, for thu . legal cons uHn ma ton of the divorce Is wa the l6,h of December, 1910. NapoleO was there in all his robes of slaie, yet care
 worn aud wretched. With his arms fold i, ed across hts breast, he leaned against z pillar as motiOnIeSs as a statue, uttefinl act word to any One, and apparently in sensible of ihe tragedy which was enact ing around him, Of which he was the sol
 author, aud eventually the most pitiabi , vrc.im. The members of the BOnaparl family, who were jealous of the aImos
 boundl:ss influence which Josephine ha
 exerted over their imperial brother, were al there; secretly rcjoicing in her disgrace. = In the centre of the apartment there was small table, and upon tt, writing appara ius of gold. An arm chair WAS placed be fore the table. 4 silence as of death, per : l bouSo buC 1OONs SAh eve WSAS hASA ~tO , that chair and table, as .hough. hey wen / the instruments of dreadful execution. =
 A side door opened, and Josephine entered . suppOried by her daughter, HOrlense, whs !. not possessing the iortilude of her mother burst into tears as she entered the apart .. ment, and continued sobbing as thoug
 her heart would bieak. All immediatel arose upon ihe appearance of JoseP ine.-- She wore simpl- dress of white muslin unadOrDed by . single ornament. Wit ! that peculiar grace for which she was 'ev CT distinguished, she moved slowly and s. Iently to the seat prepared for her. Lean ing her elbow apon the table, and support ing her paii.d brow with her hand, sh , struggled 10 repress the anguish of her sou
 as she listened 10 the reading of ihe act
 separation. The voice of the reader va ! interrupted only by the convGIsive sobbi1g 7 of HOrlense, who stood behihdhef mOaiier
 chair. Eagene also stood behind his moth er in that dreadful hour, pale and tIemblini
 ike an, aspen lraE Josrphine sat ~ill