New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-02
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MEMOIRS OF JOSEPH B0NpARrE.

t. yO.s.. syO Paris ferroun SOD ot Nsan<No'
Among the yoluminous collections oiposthumous
memorials, illustrating the career of Napoleon
none possess greater historical value than the
copious documents presented in these biographical
notices and correspondence of the temporary hlng
Of Spain They consist of a sketch OF the leading
events in the public life OF Joseph, and formula
bic array Of his letters, from the commencement
of his political history to his decease IN loif. "A
large proportion Ofthese were addressed to Napo-
leon. discussing the mosl important questions that
arose In the accomplishment of his civil and mill
tary purposes-freely exposing the secret views
Of the parties most intimately concerned in hts
measures-and Of course, throwing great deal of
light on scenes and transactions, wh;h have
hitherto been left in Obscurity, or illustrated only
by ingenious comments and conjectures. Anex'
position Of the numerous points, which are here
placed in a novel aspect or are TO certain extent
cleared from the difficulties, with which they
have been attended would be too elaborate task
for cur columns but they will doubtless receive the
attention of writer's, with more time and space at
their disposal. We can only give a few specl-
mems Of the correspondence, and as possessing
greater local interest, will select our extracts
from the letters of Joseph during his residence
in the United States Previously, however, a
brief outline of his life after the fall OF Napoleon,
may crafty our readers, as the facts are taken
from manuscript journal kept BY Joseph Bona
parte, and made public for the first time in the
present Memoirs.
After NapoleOns retirement to Elba, in loli,
Joieph, with his family, took up bis residence at
the Chateau &c Prangns, in Switzerland on
the banks of the lake of Geneva. During this
period he was informed of a design to assasslnate
Napoleon. The discovery was announced by
visitor Of Madame de Stae OF COppet, that tive
persons had sworn to take the Emperor life,
and were about to proceed to Eliza to execute
their purpose. Madame de Stael at once hurried
off to PraDgins to give Joseph notice OF the plot
She found him at breakfast, with Talma at the
table. The celebrated tragedian and Madame lie
Stael disputed with each other the honor OF warn
iDgNapoleOn of his danger in person. Joseph, how
ever, dispatched an OLD family servant who
lived in the DeighborhOod, with the cautions; one
Of the assassns landed on the island, but was
arrested on the spot aud taken back to the Con-
tinent.
Joseph was at Prangins when lac heard Of the
landing of Napoleon in France in 1915. He re-
ceiyed q message to join the Emperor as soon as
possible. Leaving the chateau secretly at ten
O'Clock on the night Of March -, in few hours
he reached the frontier of France; his depar ;ure
was at the right time; for in the morning an Of
fcer of the Swiss Government, with a troop of
cavalry came to the chateau to seize his person
and conduct him TO Berne.
Joseph, as he always had done before, now
placed himself entirely at the disposal of his
brother. After the battle of Waterloo, Joseph
gave the same advice to Napoleon that had been
offered by Garnet and Merlin de Dousy, :" Re
turn, said be, "tO your army, aud leave US to
fight it out with the Chambers" Ii was the En-
peror's opinion that be could still save France,
but not without the concurrence Of the Cham
bers.
In June 1915 ss Napoleon was about leaving
the Eysee for Malmaison, he infOr ed Joseph
that he had sent to his house a small box contain
ing papers Of great value, among them copies of
the letters addressed 10 him by the allied SOW
ereigns, which he wished TO prevent coming into
the bands OF the police. When Joseph left Paris
TO follow the Emperor TO Rochefort, he gave in
struc.ions to hs wife and to his secretary to take
good care ofthe papers left in his cabinet, and
entrust them to friends Of the family. Some
years after, when O'Meara was about to return
from ST. Helena to England, he wrote 10 behalf
Of Napoleon to Joseph, who was then in this
country, to publish in the United States the cor
respondence confded to him, as the best reply
to the calumnies with which he had been pur.
sued. Joseph wished to comply with his brothers
directions, and wrote 10 his wife, who had re-
NAMED ID Europe, and also to his secretary, to
forward him all the papers left in their care,
especially the correspondence OF the allied
soyereigns. But, upon searching for the docu-
ments, they found that they had disappeared.
Every attempt to regain them was fruitless. But,
during his stay in England, several years after
Joseph was informed by OMeirs that the
original autographs Of those letters had been
offered for sale in London in l322-that they had
been in the hands Of Murray the celebrated pub
lisber-snd that the letters concerning Russia
had been purchased by diplomatic agent of the
Government. After numerous attempts to get
on their track, Joseph could learn nothing def
mite with regard to their sale. There is, accord
inely scarcely the shadow Of hope that they will
ever respppesr-a loss which the Conscientious
historian will know how 10 regret.
Joseph rejoined Napoleon at BochefOrt, where
II was the intention of both 10 embark for Amer
leo in two diferen. vessels. After passing some