Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-02-07
A sketch Of Louis Napoleon.
The news Of the election Of Louis \

poleon to the Presidency Of the French
Republic will naturally excite some curl
osity in regard to his history and public
charactar. Hitherto, he has only been
known through the foolish affairs at Stras-
bough and Boulogne, his published works,
notwithstanding the merits claimed for
them by his adhereents, having failed to
enlarge his reputation. His life has,ne
ertheless, been somewhat eyentful and he
does not lack the advantages OF varied for
tune and severe experiences: Wcsher he
has profted, remains to be seen. From
such hasty materials as we could procure,
we have arranged fer the Tribune the fol-
lowing brief notice Of his history:
Charles Louis Napoleon, son ofLouis ex-
King of Holland, was born in Paris on the
10Th of April, 1903. His god-parents
were the Emperor and Naria Louisa, and
during his childhood he was an especial
favorite of the former, On the return Of
Napoleon from EIba, he stood beside him
on the Champ de Mars, and when embrace
ed by him for the last time, at Malmaison:
the young Louis, then boy Of seven years,
wished to follow him at all hazards. When
the family was banished from France, his
mother removed to Augsburg, where he
received good German education. He
was afterwards taken TO Switzerland,
where he obtained the right of citizenship,
and commenced course OF military stud
les. After the July Revolution, by which
he was second time prescribed from
France, he visited Italy in company with
his brother, and in 1873 took plrt ina POI :
ular instruction against the Pope. This
movement failed, but he succeeded in maxi
ing his escape and his brother dying at
Forli the same year, he visited England
and alterward returned to Switzerland,
where, Tor two or three years, he conten-
ted himself with writing poetical and mil
itdry works, which do not appear TO have
been extensively read. The death Of the
Duke of Reichstadt in 1892, gave new
impulse TO his ambitious hopes. His first
revolutionary attempt, at Strasbours, in
October, 1886, completely failed; but af-
ter short Imprisonment in Paris, he was
sent to this country. The illness Of his
mother occasioned his return the following
year, and after visit 10 Switzerland he
took up his residence in England until bis
second attempt at Boulogne, i'll 1910.
In this affair several of his followers
were killed, and he himself taken and
sentenced to imprisonment for lie in the
Castle Of Ham. The particulars Of his
escape in May, 1916, after an incarcera-
ton of six years, are well known. lie
was returned as a deputy TO the National!
Assembly from the Department of the
Seine, while he has resided in England.
A late London journal, in describing his
mode of life, gives the following not very
flattering account:
''IIe was unscrupu'ors in contracting
obligations which were wholly beyond his
means Of Repayment; and his most serions
persut was the study Of alchemy, by
which he expected to arrive at the 'ilscov,
cry of the philosophers stone. So >isor-
ou>ly did he prosecute this exploded sci
ence, at g house which lie had fitted up as
laboratory at Camberwcll, and SO firm
was his faith in the charletan empire
whom he employed 70 aid him in trans
mu!ing the baseI metals into gold, that he
is said to have actually appropriated his
revenue in anticipation, andto have Gevo-
ted his first milliard Of his gaines to the
payment of the national dedt OF France, in
order TO acquire thus an imperial throne
by pdrchasc.'
The large majority by which he was cleo
ted 4 Representative astonished every one
and gave his followers the first encourage
ment to bring forth his maine as candi-
date FIR the Presidency. To defeat the
acknowledged Republican party, he re-
c!eved also the support OF the Legi'imatsts
and Orlcani>,s; and these combined in
tluences have elected him by an immense.
majority. The rest must be left TO Time
and Fate.-New York Tribune.