The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-10-04
Lamartine's New Work.


Restoration Of Monarchy in FNnee," by LA-
mAriine, Is from the London Examiner
What witt probably interest The greatest
number " readers IN this volume are ~ ref
erences TO the pryAte and domestic life Of
Napoleon. LamArtine Il the first writer ~
mark aud authority who has fairly put lance
IN rest for the good name and fame Of Marie
4 louise. We bring together the principal
passages urged in her Justification.
II Marie Louise was little known % the Paris
ians and but little beloved la France. Borne
away from Vienna as a trophy Of victory CON
quered more than courted, succeeding Ia the
heros couch the still LIKING Empress Joseph.
inc, whose Creole gracea Apparant goodness,
aud light hearted disposition, made her, even
with thope very defects, more popular with 20
light and superficial people stranger In
the midst Of France, speaking it- language
n VIII umidiS, studying its manners with em-
barussmeut, Marie Louise lived in seclusion
like captive, amidst the official circle with
which the emperor surrounded her. That
court Of beautiful women, ncwly titled, Anx.
ioua 10 ropresa every attraction, except thai
Of their own rank aud high favor, allowed
nothing 30 bo known OF the new empress, ex-
eept tho simplicity and awkwardneas natural
10 one who was almost a child, aud which was
calculated 10 render hor unpopular in her own
court. That court was the naughty slanderer
Of tho young empress, Marie Louise .ook
refuge In court ceremony solitude and in
silence, against the malcvoence that acted as
n spy on her every word aud action. mIinl-
idated by the ihmc, 10y the grandeur, aud by
the impetuOus tenderness OF the rayisher,
whom she dared not to contemplate As n hus-
band, Il 10 unknown whether her timidity
permitted her Go love him with unrcstrnined
affection, Napoleon loved her with feelings
Of superiority and pride, She was the blsfon
of his AfliliAtion with great dynastirs; she was
the mother Of his son, and the establishment
OF his ambition. But though he exalted no
iavoritcs, less from virtue than constitutional
disdain, he was known 20 have had passing
predictions for SONS OF the beautiful women
by which he was surrounded Jealousy, there
fore, though she dare not accuse her rivals,
might have chilled the heart OF Marie Lou
ise. The public were unjust enough TO re.
fquire from her the most passionate and do
Neted les,., -'si,,,tt her uuturu rUufh 0uty iiI-
spire her with.duty and respect for soldier
who had merely recognized ia her hostage
for Germany and pledge of posterity.
This constraint obscured her natural
charms, clouded her features, intimidated her
mind, and depressed her heart She was on
ly regarded as foreign ornament attached To
the columns of tho tlnonc. Even history,
rrrfttrr iYuQT7JJIT5 oT Tire truth, aud infiu-
enccd by the resentment Of Napoleon's cour-
tiers, has slandcred this princess. Those who
have known her will award her,not the stole
al and theatrical glory which people required
of her, but her natural qualities. She was a
charming daughter oil the Tyrol, with blue
eyes and fair hair. Hor complexion varied
with the whitencss of the SHOWS and the roses
of lis valleys; her figure light aud graceful,
its attitude yielding and languid, like those
German maidens who seem TO look for tho
support of some manly heart Her dreamy
glance, full Of internal visions, was veiled By
the silken tringes of her eyes Her lips were
somewhat pouhng-her bosom full OF sighs
and fruitful affection her arms were of due
length, fair and admirably moulded, and fell
with graceful languor on her robe, as il wca-
ry Of the burthen of her destiny. Her neck
habitually inclined towards the shoulder
She appeared of northern melancholy trans
planted into the tumult of Galhc camp
The pretended insipidity of silence concealed
thoughts delicately feminine, aad the mys,e-
ries OF. sentiment, which waited her in iniag-
nation far from that court TO her magnificent
but nude place Of exile. The moment she
returned to her private apartments, or toi the
solitude of her gardens, she dgain became es-
I tsentially German. She cultivated tho arts
of poetry, painting and music. In these ac-
complishments education had rendered her
perfect, as if to console her when far from her
native land, for the absence and the sorruws
to which sho would ono day bo exposed. In
these requirements she excelled; but they
were confined to herself alone. She read and
repeated from memory the poetry OF her ma
tive bards. BY nature she was simple, bnt
tpieAstng, and absorbed within herself formed
, for domestic love in an obscure destiny but,
dazzled ON throne, she felt herself exposed
to the gaze of the world as the conquest of
pride, not the love Of a hero. She could dis
semble nothing, either during her grandeur,
or after the reverses of her lord and this was
her crime The theatrical world into which
she had been thrown, looked for the picture
of conjugal passion in captive of victo-
ry. She was too unsophsticated to affect
? love, when she only felt obedience tiuidity,
and resignation Nature will pity, although
History may accuse her.
"This is a true portraiture or Mario Louise.
/ wrote it in her presence ten years after
wards. She had developed at that period,
during her liberty and her widowhood, all
the hidden graees Of her youth. They. wish
ed her TO play part--the actress was want
ing, but the woman remained. History should
award her-what the partial verdict Of Napo-
. laon's courtiof.s has ref,tao,l- tanderDess