Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-22
The Dentl,of Jose p,iue.

The Death Of J ose ephine.
Darkness and clouds surrounded tho
pathway Of Napoleon. In vain he strng-
gled to retrieve his fortune. The last
engagement at Leipsic decided his for.
tunes for the time and consigned him 10
Elba.
Narcicon was an exile, but in his re-
tircmcnt he did not forget the only being
he ever really loved, his Josephine. He
Immediately addressed letter TO her,
breathing the same spirit toward, her that
he had always manifested, rather congra,-
ulating himself that his head and spirit
were ireer from the enormous weight Of
care. ana intmut.ng that hereafter his pen
should be substitute for the sword.
The world" said he, "hos as yet, only
seen me in profile. | shall now show
myself in full. How many things have
to disclose! how many are the men upon
whom false estimate has been placed!
have heapcd benefits upon millions Of
wretchcs! What have they dohein the end
for mel They have all betrayed me
yes, all. | except from tins number the
good Eugene aud yourself Adieu! my
dear Josephine. BE resigned. as am.
and never forget him who never forgot,
and never will forget you. Farewell Jo-
sephinc. NAPOLEON"
Upon reading these tidings so terrible,
Josephine was overwhelmed with gricf.
and Immediately Unanswered his letter, breath
ing the same spirit of devotion TO him, who
was once her husband, that had always
characterized her noble heart and entreat-
ing him to say but the word, and she
would hy to mm. The remaining circum-
stances connected with her illness and
death we give in the language Of Mr. Ab-
bott
A few days after this letter was written,
the Emperor Alexander. with number Of
illrstroos gud5ts dined with Josephine at
Mamaison. In the evening twilight, the
party went out upon the beautiful lawn in
| front OF the house for recreation. Joseph
me, whose health had become exceeding
y prccarfous through care and sorrow. be.
| ing regardless Of hcrselfin devotion TO her
friends, took violent cold The next day
she was worse, Without any very def
mite form of disease. she day after day
grew more faint and feeble, until ], wts'eyi
dent that her final change was near at
hand. Eugene and Hor,ense, her mos.
affectionate children, were with her bv
day and by night. They communicated
TO her tho Judgment Of her physician. that
death was near. She iraald the iidings
with perfect composurr, and called for 4
clergyman 10 administer TO her the last
rites OF religion.
Just after this solemniiy the Emperor
Alexander entered the room. Eugene and
Hortense, baihed iniears, were knccling al
their mothers side Josephine beckcncd to
the Emperor 10 approach her, and said 10
him and her children. IL have always de
sired the happiness of France. did all
in my power to contribute to ii; and can
soy with truth, TO all Of you now present,
at my last moments. that the FIRST wife OF
Napoleon never ceused a single tear 20
| flow"
Che called for the portrait OF the Em.
peror; she gtzed upon it long and tender
y; and then, fcrvcntIy pressing it in her
claspcd hands to her bosom, family artcu-
lated tho following prayer:
90 God! watch over Napoleon while he
remains in tho desert oi this world. Alasl
though he hath committed great faults,
hath he not expiatcd them by great suffer
lngsl Just God, thou hast looked into
his heart, and has, seen by how ardent a
desire fer useful and durable improvements
he was animated. Deign TO approve my
last petition. And may this image of my
husband bear me witness that my latest
wish and my latest prayer were for him
and my children"
1t was the 26rh of May 1914. A uan-
quil summers day was fading away into a
cloudless, serene and beautiful evening"
The rays of the setting sun struggling
through the foliage Of the open window,
shohe cheerfully upon the bed where the
empress was dying The vespcr songs Of
the birds which filled the groves of Nal
rnaIson foated sweetly upon the car, and
the gentle spirit Of Josephine. lul.cd to re.
pose by these sweet anthems, sunk into its
last sleep. Gazing upon the portal, oi
the emperor, che exclaimed, Il isle 'Elbc
-Napoleon!' and died.
Alexander, as he gazed upon her life.
less remains, burst into tears. and uttered
the following affecting yet just tribute Of
respect to her memory: "She is no more;
that'woman whom France named the be.
neicent, that ngcl ofgoodness is no more.
Those who have known Josephine can
never forget her. Che dies regretted by
her offspring, her friends, and her con'ern-
porarics."
For four days her body remained sbrou.
ded in state for its burial. During this
time more than twenty thousand Of the
people Of France visited her beloved re-
mains. On the I'd Of June, d-day, the
funeral procession moved from Malmaisou
to Ruel, where the body was deposited in
a tomb of the village church. The funeral
services were conducted with the greatest
magnifccnce. as the sovcreigns ofthc alli-
cd armies united with the French III doing
honor 10 her memory. When all hnd left
the church but Eugene and Hcrtense. they
knelt beside their mothers grave, and for
long time mingled their prayers and their
tears. A beautiful monumcnt of white
marble. representing the empress kneeling
IL her coronation robes, is erected over her
burial place, with this simple but efcciing
inscription:
EUGENE AND HoRTExsP
TO
JOSEPHINE.