Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-08-08
THE TALISMAN OF CHARLIE
IMAGINE.

Many years back, "Prnce" Napoleon was
stated to be in possession of the talisman of
Charleuagne--"a small nut, in gold fligree
enveopment found round the neck of that mon
arch on the opening of his tomb, and given by
the town of Achen (Aixla Chapelle) Buona-
part, and by him to his favorte Hortcnse, CT de-
uant Queen of Holland, at whose death it de-
scended to her son." the present President of the
French Republic. The Germans have curl
Gus legend connected with this talsman. 1t
1t was framed by some of the magi in the train
of the ambassadors of Aroun al Raschd to the
mighty Emperor Of the West, at the instance of
his spouse Fastrada, with the virtue that her
husband should be always fascinated toward the
person or thing on which it was. The constant
love of Charles to thise his spous was the conse
quence but, as it was not taken from her finger
after death, the affection of the emperor was
continued unchanging TO the corpse, which he
would on no account alloy to be inferred, even
when it became offensive. His confessor, hav-
ing some knowledge Of the occult sciences, at
last drew off the amulet from the inanmated
body, which was then permitted to be buried,
but he retained possession of it himself, and
thence became Charles chief favolite and prime
minister, till he had been promoted to the high.
est ecclesiastical dignity, as Archbishop of
Mentz and Chancellor of the Empire. At this
pitch of power whether he thought he could
rise no higher, or scruples of conscience were
awakened by the hierarchical VOWS, he would
hold the heather charms no longer, and he threw
it into lake not far from his metropolitan seat.
where the town of lngethum now stands. The
regard and affection of the monarch were i'm
medlately diverted from the monk, and all men,
to tho country surrounding the lake; and he de-
termined on building there a magnificent pal
ace for his constant residence, and robbed all
the ancient and imperial residences, even to the
distance of Ravenna, in Italy, to adorn it. Here
ne subsequently resided and died but it seems
that the charm had passive as well as an ac-
tive power; his throws of death were long and
violent; and though dissolution seemed every
moment impending, still he fingered in cease
less agony, till the Archbishop, who was called
to his bedside to administer the last sacred rites,
perceiving the cause, caused the lake to be
dragged, and, silently restoring the tailsman to
the person of the dying monarch, bis strug-
Cling soul passed quietly away. The grave
was opened by the third Otto in 997, and possi-
bly, the town of Achen may have been thought
the proper depository of the powerful drug, to
be by them surrendered to one who was beliey-
ed by many, as he believed himself to be Sec
ond Charlemagne. So much for the introduce
ton to the following queries:-l. Can any IF
your readers say whether this amulet is still in
possession of the President of the French Re-
public2 2, If so, might not the believers in
the doctrine of Sympathy attribute the votes of
the six millions who, in December, 1e48, voted
in favor Of hls election, to the sympathetic nflu
ence Of his "Dut in gold 6ligree," and be iusti-