The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-14


| We understand that the Rev Mr. GaIlaher will
preach tomorrow in the First Presbyterian church. -Four.
anda half street, at o'clock and at half-pas, o'clock
Literary Notice.
Lgend Of the lfaidsnses and other Taies BY MARY ].
WISDLE, Washington, d. G. Published by j. w.
MOORE, Philadelphia. Third edition, enlarged. (For
sale by TAyLoR g. MAURY)
The legends and tales Of which this volume is com.
posed were originally written for and appeared in one of
the monthly magazines, where they attracted SO much
favor to lead to their publication in compac, FORM
Miss Windle writes with great cleaness and vgor and
while she delinenes with elke accuracy those nicer
shades OF human feelings, passions, and sympathies all
redundancy of language and all fantastic needless
brancy OF style are carefully avoided Her object in
the present work has been 10 impart instruction aud
pleasure by endeavorng to reconsider historical &C.
currences OF general nterestto trace the influences
which produced them and to DE- scribe the characters OF
the prominent actors therein. Among the tales which
! compose this volume is one entitled Florence de
Rohsn." 1t is well known that this lady the be-
trohed bride OF the Duke fEnghien. whose midnight
execution in the fosse of the Castle Of Vincennes by
der OF Napoleon. excited the terror and Indignation OF
every court Of Europe. We make the following ex-
tracts that readers may Judge for themselves in
gard to the style Of the writer. promising have
space disposal for the insertion OF the whole tale
that interview between Florence and Napoleon has
been described, in which the former interceded in vain
for the life of her lover few months elapse Napoleon
is made Emperor OF France, and Paris is alive with the
festivities Of the coronation The tale proceeds
Napoleon, .a,ated with the gories of the day, re-
paired, at early hour TO his room-not, however,
TO rest When midnight he still sitting pensive
and alone Hs noted no, that the illumination, was
changed to silence and forsetfulness
What. after all. had power and fam. brough, him
In bitterness of heart, he started up and paced the
with hurried steps As he did this. the very anos
pbere seemed 10 leem with unnatural life. mist came
gr adually up, and thousand living shapes in it,
He forms and faces that he knew amidst the
dead, and heard the means OF the ing and the suppl
cations of the lost His eye wandered round with
vague gaze, following some imaginary form. Amidst
those dreadful gazers the noble victim to his late
Ievengs-the Duke dE.nshsnmln the psnss OF assou.
ton. In vain he wed the apparon to be gone there
it was. and would abde-s sad, reproachnl look grow
ing more proschful sill!
Napoleon resoried TO the excitement Of stimu.
lans 10 support his spirits Approaching sidetable,
he filled goblet with the sparkling fluid and swal Owed
ito contents When in the act OF replacing the gas.
distant clock olled out, with piercing ds,nctness the
hour OF ONE The tones. aided by the ateness oil the
night, fell mounfully upon his ear. and the echo
ceased he started hearing tootslep on the stairs To
his surprise, the steps neared his own door moment
after OF his body guards stepped in. The entire ex-
preston OF his countenance underwent instant change
and he completely recovered the stern manner so habit
ual 10 him-a which may perhaps be ascrbed
small part OF the Influence he exercised at will over
inferior minds.
physician He snapped the seal asunder. and read as
follows
:" SIRE have been called attend lady of di.nc
tion suffers lingering illness that must very
prove iaa II her request that Majesty
70 her Immediately after this innau,n !, Teseissd
Napoleon ordered out his carriage, and few min
utes afterwards he descended the grand stairway the
steps of which lay scattered few sleepy guards. The
coachman in waiting had already received his directions
and quickly as Napoleon entered drove towards the
"Pont Royal" and thence along The broad road that
runs parallel with the Seine.
The scene that presented itself was strange one and
10 his mnd-no, yet relieved from the active ierrors OF
the imagina,ion-an awfuy impressive one On a bed
propped up by cushions, lay the emacated figure OF a
young female. The Emperor, almost shrouded in the
gloom OF curtains, advanced TO the bedside The very
first glance enough TO show him that IN the midst OF
suffering and death be Florence de Roban the be-
rothed OF the Duke d EngbleD, from whom he had last
parted in the pride of health, There was fearful his
Tory in those sunken temples and wasted ieaures-a
change which told Napoleon, in startling accents, what
mental suffering had been compressed into tina. interval
of time He stood with arms folded his breast,
and gazed upon the altered lace Of that dying sT Inc
appeal tha, eventful night his signing OF
the death warrant and her words at partng-words so
fearfuy propht,ic-all these traced with indescn
bable rapldity on his mind.
The hollow eye. OF the invalid at length Enclosed,
and strange 10 say lighted up with ray OF Joy as they
rested upon the Emperor This smile might be compared
to tina, which llumInes the the pauses OF It's
storms-sad and unaacve in its sweetness. Presently
the low voice OF Florence heard, and Napoleon bent
] forward TO listen.
Pardon me, sire, il on the verge OF the grave have
forgotten the prerogaves OF royalty to sink Tor
a moment the subject in the Emperor II needs not that
repeat TO you what | have suffered since our inter.
view, for will be in land where the weary are
al rest"
This. from one so fra. and yet resigned served as
browning stroke 10 the remosefu feelings Of Napoleon,
whose sinking head and continued silence told the work
ing at his heart The sufferers face suAused with
more fe-like tint she witnessed Napoeobs relent.
ing manner and she spoke again with sudden strength
that apparently contradcted the professional knowledge
of her medical attendant As her tears fell softly upon
Nsuoeops hand she .ad II the living, the dead,
Who need our grief and ask for sympathy. Support
from above has enabled me TO meet death with compo-
sure and before depart from earh rsce'ce forgive
ness ] shall not have lived in vain II yon bear This
lesson Of ambitions doDgs TO your royal home u may
serve perhaps to curb you for the future and TO instruct
you that conscience true 10 her trust kemorse
must vsi, The heart which yields itself to unxhteons
i dicates." ,,,
bosom faint but beautiful smile rested on her features
as though OF satisfaction with THIS inerview with nei
d.s,royer Her pration grew fainter and ainer and
her vsl,er felt The damp chill hand relax lie hold 81
l.n,ly turning away, Napoleon left the room