Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-04-20

descent at Boulogne. sua ls stf
3. Amongst the steadiest adversaries of the
Prince at this time was M. de Persigny; who,
judging him by the sketch in these volumes,
may be taken as an impersonation of those
SNOWY Partisan adventurers painted not by Eu-
gene Sue, but by De Balzac. Yet the Marquis
de Remey in the MYSTERIES de Paris" may be
taken as a type of the natures to Which M. de
Persigny belonged. M. de la Guerroniere, as
quoted in these volumes, (and who writes with
favorable leanings towards the President, thus
describes M. de Persigny, whose name is, Of
course, familiar to all our readers, as the success
or of M. de Morny in the office of Minister
"With quick and easy wit, clever, energetic
and bold, and with will full of resources, M. de
Persigny was at once the conception and the
execution, the directing intelligence and the act
ing hand of the adventure to which he had devo-
ted himself. Diplomatic by instinct, rather than
by education, he wove the threads of the con-
spiracy with consummate ability, and in man.
ner to leave him free to Impress it with whatev-
er direction he thought best. Somewhat of a
flatterer, fattery with him was only means Of
ruling, and leading the self-will and vanity of
men, as with a sort Of chain of flowers, much
stronger than chain of iron. conspirator
by disposition, and upon calculation, an adven-
ouiO hau HiSolotioIC aIudCtAOlIS III ulul DCNOu
of enthusiasm or passion, he enlisted himself
rather in the fortunes of the man than for the
man himself or his cause. Cool and impossible
in the face of danger, no danger could deter or
stop him. With forethought which prepared
all the combinations, and boldness which ap-
pretended nothing--such was nj de Persigny."
Whether NJ. de Persigny counselled the inva-
sion at Boulogne it is not important to inquire.
The life which Louis Napoleon led in London
from the end of 1888, till the month of August,
1910, is described briefly, but emphatically, as
what is called, in vulgar parlance, that of a man
about town." His days and nights, it is here
stated, were passed son the turf, in the betting
room, or in the clubs, where high play and des-
perate stakes reused the jaded energy Of the
Jlase gambler" Whatever may have been his
private habits, however, he resolved to play
again for power. He left Margate, in August,
1910, on board the City of Edinburgh steamer.
He voyaged en- prince with well supplied GEL
lar and larder, cook, scullions, valet, maitre d
hotel, q secretary, chasseur, a hair-dresser,
grooms, and last of all--a tame eagle He had
two travelling carriages, footmen and grooms in
English liveries and splendid dress case. The
party amounted, in all, to fifty-six, among whom
was Count Montholon, the companion Of the
Emperor at st. Helena. The whole affair reads
like farce, even by present lights. They sum-
moned the troops at Boulogne to surrender or
join. A young lieutenant, called Aladenize, was
the only one who accepted the call TO ENROLL
Finding the soldiers not willing to join, Louis
Napoleon retreated with his motely followers
to the Napoleon column, on the hill above the
town; and there he planted flag with golden
eagle on the staff. In the meanwhile the garri-
son turned out. Several of his adherents were
shot down. Louis Napoleon wounded one per-
son--and is described as having been as calm
and phlegmatc rs Duchman. He retreated
to the beach, and tried to get back to the steat-
err, but with his followers, he was taken prison
er.
When the news Of the second attempt reach
ed the authorities at Paris, it was resolved that
something more than ridculeshould be employ
ed to turn Louis Napoleon from his dynasiic
desperation, as his passion then appeared to be.
Some Of the particulars of the descent caused
much amusement The tame eagle had been
intended for stage effect. 1t was to be let loose
from the vessel, and to fly straight, it was said,
to the Napoleon column, where it was expected
to alight as an omen. For that purpose, the
bird had been trained to take its food from the
hand of Louis Napoleon. Such farcical and clap
trap incidents were to make part of the serious
history of the age. The tame eagle" of Bou-
logne now flies wild over France.
Louis Napoleon was tried before the House
Of Peers. His speech was strong, and full of
that selfreiance which, whether for good or for
i'll, has been his main resoucce. His defense
was conducted by the great French orator, Rer.
ryer, who had in it theme favorable to the dis
play of his powers. The eloquent advocate
skfully attacked the government of the barri-
cades, under the mask of defending his client
Louis Napoleon was sentenced to perpetual i'm
prisonment at Ham. He was looked on as a
political lunatc, worthy of compassion rather
than vengeance. Immured in his prison, he be-
came irritable, and quarreled often with the au-
thorties. But he still devoted himself to elab-
Grating on paper his Napoleon system, and did
fail in passive energy. He corresponded with
his friends, read in various departments of liter
ature, and cultivated flowers. He made repeat
ed applications to the government on various
subjects, and begged hard to be allowed to go
and see his dying father In his prison treat
ment, it would appear, that the authorities were
not harsh towards him the fortress was large
one, and he was allowed to take horse exercise.
He escaped from Ham, with the aid of Dr. Con-
neau and his valet.
A. Again Prince Louis Napoleon arrived in
England, in May, 1896 And now, without seek
ing to invade ground which is generally forbid
den to us, it is not necessary that we should