The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-01-16

e The following article appeared in small
part of our edition last week. We retain it in
the present number, as an article of especial in.
tercst, which most of our readers have not proba-
bly, seen.
A SKETCH OF LOUIS NAPOLEON.
The news Of the election of Louis Napole-
on to he Presidency of tire French Republic,
will naturally excite some curiosity in regard
TO his history and public character. IIither-.
to he has only been known through Che foolish
affairs at Suasbourg and Boulo;.Ee, Lis pub
lishcd works, notwithstanding the merits claim
cd for them by his adherents. having failed to
enlarge his reputation Ills life llas, never
theiess, been somewhat evcntiiil, and he does
not lack the advantage of varied fortune and
severe experience. Whether he has proficd
by it, remains TO be seen. From such hasty
materials as we could procure, we have "a
ranged for The Tribune the following brief no
tce of his history
CHARLES LOUIS NAroLEoH, son Of Louis
Ex-King of Holland, was born in PaEs on the
20;h of April, 1908. Ills god-parcnts were
the Emperor and Maria Louisai, and during
his childhood he was an espcrial fiyorite Of
the former. On the return OF Napoleon from
Elba, he stood beside him on the Champ dc
Mars, and when embraced by him for the last
time, at Malmaison, the young Louis, then "a
10y of seven wears, wished to follow him at
all hazards. " hen the family was banishcd
from France, his mother removed to Augs-
burg, where he received good German edu-
cation. lie WITS afterwards taken to Swiizer-
land, where he obtained the right Of citizen
s'rip, and commenced course Of studies. Af
ter the July Revolution, by which he was
second time prescribed from France, he visit
. I;ay in company with his brother, and ia
1881 took part in 4 popular Instruction l.
gainst the Pope. This movement tailed, hut
he succeeded in making lis escapc, and. his
brother diving at Forli the same year, he visit
ed England and afterwaTl returned To Swit-
zerland where for two or three YEAR, ,he cohtcn
ted himself with writing political and military
works, which do mol appear to have beer en-
tensiyely rea!.. The death of the Duke Of
Reichstadt,in 1S32jsave new M sc to li>sm-
bilious hopes. His first revolutionary atteInT at
Strasbourg, in October 1885, completely fail
cd, but after short imprisonment at Paris he
was sent TO this country. The Illness of his
mother occasioncd his return the following wear
and alter visit to Switzerland he took up his
residence in England until his second attempt
at Boulognc, in $50
In this affair several Of his followers were
killed. and lie was himself taken and senienc-
ed TO imprisonment for life in the Castle Of
Ham. The particulars Of his escape in Nav.
after an incarceration of six wears are well
known. From that time until the end Of Sep
iember last, when he WAS returned ~ n Dcpu-
~ TO the National Assembly from the Depart
ment of the Seine, he has resided in England.
A late London Journal, in describing his mode
Of life, gives the following not very fatterins
account:
lie was unscrupnlous in contracting obi
cations which were wholly beyond Lis means
Of repayment; and his most serious pursuit
was the study of alchemy. by which he ex-
pectcd to arrive at the discovery of Tie philos-
opher's stone. So vigorously did he prosecute
this exploded science, at house which lie bad
fitted up as laboratory at Camberwcll, and
so finn was his faith in the charlatan cmpiric
whom he employed TO aid him in transmitting
the baser metals into gold, that he is said to
have actually appropriated his revenues in an
ticipaiion, and to have devoted the first mill
lard of his gains 10 the payment Of tie nation
al debt Of France, IN order to acquire thus an
imperial throne by purchaser
Tic large majority by which lie was elected
a Representative astonished every one, and
gave his followers the first encouragement to
bring forth his name as a Candidate for the
Presidency. To defeat the acknowledged Re
publican party he received also the support
Of the Legitimists and the Orleanists, and
those combined influences have elected hini
by an immense majority. The rest must lie
left to Time and Fate.