Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-06-21
TPROPRIETORS.

to be the interest Of France Far from hav.
ing cause Of complaint have no,hing to say.
but in praise Of the attachment and tenderness
teen years Of my life, and the remembrance
ofthem will be forever engraved on my heart.
She was crowned by my hand. She shall
retain always the rank and title Of Empress.
Above all, let her never doubt my feelings.
or regard mo but a. her best and dearest
friend.
Josephine, her eyes filed with tears. with
faltering voice replied
Il respond to all the sentiments of the EN-
Peror. in consenting to the dissolution Of
marriage which. henceforth. is an obstacle to
the happiness Of France. by depriving it Of the
blessings Of being one day governed by the
descendants Of that great man. evidently raised
up by Providence to efface the evils Of a ter.
rible revolution. and to restore the altar. the
throne and the social order. But his MARI.
age will. in no respect. change the sentiments
ofmy heart. The Emperor will ever find in
me his friend. know what this act com
manded by policy and exalted interests, has
cost his heart; but we both glory in the sacri-
fee we make for the good Of our country.-l
feel elevated in giving the greatest proof Of at.
tachment and devotion that was ever given up.
on earth."
Such wers the sentiments which were ex-
pressed in public. But in private. Josephine
surrendered herselfto the unrestrained domin.
ion Of her anguish. No language can depict
the intensity other woe For six months she
wept SO necessarily that her eyes were nearly
blinded with grief. Upon the ensuing day.
the council were again assembled in the grand
saloon. to witness the legal consummation Of
the divorce. The Emperor entered the room
dressed in the imposing robes Of state, but
pallid careworD and wretched. Low tones Of
voice. harmonizing with the mournful scene,
filed the rpom. Napoleon. apart by himself
leaned against a pillar. folded his arms upon
his breast. and in perfect silence, apparent y
lost in gloomy thought. remained motionless az
a statue. A circular table was placed in the
centre OF the apartment. and upon this there
was writing apparatus Of gold. A vacant
armchair stood before the table. Never did
multitude gaze upon the scaffold, the block,
or the guillotine, with more awe than the as
sembled lords and ladies in this gorgeous ga
loon contemplated these instruments Of more
dreadful execution.
At length the mournful silence was inter.
rupted by the opening. of side door and en-
trance Of Josephine. The pallor Of death was
upon her brow, and the submission Of despair
nerved her into temporary calmness. She was
leaning upon the arm Of Hortense. who, not
possessing the fortitude Of her mother, was en-
trely unable to control her feelings, but imme-
diately upon entering the room, burst into
tears. and continued sobbing most convulsive-
y. The whole assembly rose upon the en-
trance of Josephine; all were moved to tears.
With that grace which ever distinguished er
movements. she advanced silently to the seat
provided for her. Sitting down, and leaning
her forehead upon her hand. she listened to the
reading Of the separation. Nothing disturbed
the silence of the scene but the sobbings oi
Hortense. blending with the mournful tones oi
the readers voice. Eugene, in the mean time
had taken position by his mothers side.-
Silent tears were trickling down the cheeks ol
the Empress. =. .s--....
As soon as the reading of the act Of separa-
ton was finished, Josephine for a moment
pressed her handkerchief to her weeping eyes.
then rising. in clear and musical, but tremuious
tones. pronounced the oath of acceptance. She
then sat down. took the pen and affixed her
signature to the deed, which sundered the
dearest hope and fondest ties which human
hearts can feel. Poor Eugene could endure
this language no longer. His brain reeIed
his heart ceased to beat, and he fell feless up
on the floor. Josephine and Hor,ense retired
with the attendant, who bore out the nsensible
form OF the affectionate son and brother. Il
was fitting termination Of this mournful but
sublime tragedy. ts#
But the anguish Of the day was not yet over
Josephine. half delrious with grief. had ano.
ther scene still more painful to pass through
IN taking final adieu Of him who had been
her husband. Josephine remained in her
chamber in heart.rending, speechless grief. un
Ill the hour at which Napoleon usually retired
for the night. The Emperor, restless and
wretched, had just placed himself in the bed
from which he had elected his most faithful
and devoted wife, and the attendant was on the
point OF leaving the room, when the private
door OF his apartment was slowly opened, and
Josephine trembling entered. Her eyes were
swollen with grief; her hair dishevelled and sh.
appeared in all the dishabille Of unutterable
anguish. She tottered into the middle Of Tho
room, and approached the bed-then irreso
lutely topping, she burst into a food of tears
A feeling Of delicacy seemed for moment to
have arrested her steps. consciousness thai
noso she had no right to enter the chamber Of
Napoleon-but in another moment all the penl
up love Of her heart burst forth. and forgetting
every thing, she threw herself upon the he'd
clasped her arms around Napoleon's neck and
exclaiming. MY husbandlmy husband!' sobbed
a. though her heart were breaking. The i'm.
perial spirit Of Napoleon was for the moment
entirely vanquished, and he also wept almost
convulsively. He assured Josephine of hi.
love. of ardent and undying love. In every
way he tried to soothe and comfort her, a,d fol
sometime they renamed locked in each Others
embrace. The attendant was dismissed. and
for an hour they continued in this last private
interview. Josephine, then, in the experience
Of an anguish which few hearts have ever
known, parted from the husband whom she
had so long, 80 fondly, and SO faithfully loved
The beautiful palace of Malmaison, which
Napoleon had embellished with every possible
attraction, and where the Emperor and EN-.
press had passed many Of their hsppiest hours
was assingned to Josephine for her future resi-.
dence. Napoleon also settled upon her Join.
ture of about six hundred thousand dollars a
year. She was also still to retain the title and
rank Of the empress queen.
The ensuing day. at eleven O'Clock, al the
household Of the Tuilleries were assembled up.
on the grand staircase. and in the vestibule, to
witness the departure Of their beloved mistres,
from scenes where she had 90 long been the
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