New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-11-09
THE SON OF NAPOLEON.

tE...,--,, A.. - 49,, 80 -
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~ lali TO be read with deep interest:
Only three years ago, when he came with his
mother to reside at Schonburn, the young Duke
Of Reichstadt spent the whole remainder of his
life either there or at Vienna !; only on one or
two occasions travelling from either beyond the
distance of few miles. By his grandfather,
the Emperor, as well as by all the members of
the royal family, he seemed to have always been
treated with extreme kindness. After the de-
parture Of his mother to the Italian States, he
was committed to the care of various masters,
under the superintendence of an Austrian noble
man OF rank, the Count Maurice de Dietrichsten.
Regarding his early education, only two facts of
any interest are mentioned; his excessive re-
luctance ct first TO learn German, which, how
ever, ,soon became more his own than French :;
and his fondness for historical reading, and
especially for books relating to the career of his
father. As q boy, he was, on the whole, dull,
grave and worthless; but docile and affectionate
The news of his fathers death, which occurred
when he was ten years of age, is said to have
produced o visible effect upon him. 1t was eyi-
dent, indeed, that the boy. young as he was, had
been brooding in secret over the mystery Of his
own changed condition, and cherishing as we'll
as he could the thought of its connection with
the extraordinary human being whom he could
dlmly recollect as his father, whose bust and
portraits he could still see, and who, as they
tried TO explain to him. was now shut up on an
island on the other side of the earth, whittier
the nations of Europe had conspired tosend him
Tor their own safety. The thought OF his father
became the boys simple passion; and when he
could no longer think of that father as still ex-
listing on the earth, his respect for his memory
amounted to a worship. Every book that could
tell him any thing about his father he devoured
with eagerness; and if he CHANGED to hear Of
the arrival of Rny one at Vienna, who had had
personal relations with the Emperor, he was
| uneasy until he had seen him. At last, TO
gratlfy this anxiety for information, his tutors,
| at his grandfather command, began tolnstrnct
MN systematically IN modern history and poll
| tics; eoneeaiing from him nothing, says NJ de
Monthel, that could eniighten him to the real
course Of his fathers life and Its effects on the
| condition OF Europe, and only adding such com
| ments ana exposItlons as might make him aware,
at the same time, In what point his father was
| to De reprehended
Perplexed BY such lessons IN history, accord
ing TO Metternlch, the poor boy dld his best to
come TO the right conclusion and to express him.
SELF Jhaiclousiy TO MS tutors regarding what he
was taught to consider his fathers errors and
excesses In all cases OF feeling and instinct
however, his reverence Tor the memory OF his
| iatner prevailed. Inc very DOCKS Whleh hls
father had liked, such as Tasso and 0ssisn, be
came for that reason his faVorltes. HIS father
campaigns ana dispatches he made SUBJECT O
ldlngent study, using them as text Tor his owl
military lessons. In short, before he had at
tanned his seventeenth year, ne had read ant
re-read every thing that had been written re
gardlng Napoleon, ana had hxed IN his memor,
all the most minute particulars relating to hi
military or political LIE, the names OF his gener
ais, ms chlef battles, ana the various incident
MS burial IN st. Helena one point IN thu
great history ne would dwell on with special IN
terest--that where amid universal acclamations
ne himsef had come into the world the uncon
scious helr TO mighty empire.
Ihls bfoodlng on the past naturally assumed
the form OF q restless anxiety respecting the fu
ture That he, the son OF Napoleon, was
common person; that, as the owner OF grea
name, superior actions and qualifications woult
be required OF him that IN some way or othe
he must take part in the affairs OF Europe--sucl
was the idea that inevitably took possession Q
MN. Inc Pedantry OF ms teachers seems L
nave fostereo 1t to an ndueextent. Il, Tor ex
ample the poor youth contracted an admiratlol
for the poet Byron, his teachers were at ham
70 crltlcise the poet 1or MIN, and reduce nj
opinion to the just shape and standard, lest h
snoula commit Wnat, IN ms case, %ould De IN
signal improprlety OF exaggerated praise. L
again, ne was seen 10 De 1alhng IN love with
lady Of his grandtather,s court they we're
hand to reason him out OF the affair BY consider
atlons OF what was que 10 ms peculiar sltuatlol
ana ms Importance IN tne puphc eye. WIZ
thls notlon Oh the Pecuharity OF ms positio
orandished before nm irom morning tlll nigh
ne would go moplng aoout me imperial cour
an amaole, put unhappy youth ana VIVA
after an' was tne pecnnarlty OF MS situatloi
except extreme lnsignlncance!
a pensioner, IN the mean n tlme, on 1ne In
pefial bounty ultimately 1he mere possessor
some bohemian estates, TINS mothers secon
marriage IN iei9 with 1he count Nlpper