Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-03-30
Written for the Eastern Times
Louis Napoleon.
ATrEMPF UPON sTRAsBURGH.
-" But that's a cause
Not often unstlcceasf,il."

Having led our hero before your notice,
dear reader, shall pass over. his early life,
his education in Switzerland, his zeal for
mathematical pursuits, especially that Of en-
gineering, directing your attention to his great
failure at Strasburgh, which is regarded by the
world as ''folly, fault or crime" The
expedition, however, had far greater chances
OF success than many of his uncle's daring
schemes, and more than all, was fattering to
the bold conceit which has ever been strik-
ing characteristic of the Bonaparte family.
No Bourbon, though one of the most simple
of royal families, would have undertaken what
required disbelief in the possibility Of hap
py issue, and we have noticed that the unsuc-
cessful cause is always condemnable.
"Treason doth never prosper, what's the reason
For if 1t prosper, none dare call it treason"
If Napoleon's passage across the Alps had
been as fatal as his march into Russia, it
would have been esteemed as rash.
In 1886 the French nation was still in ex-
element, still swaying in its crater from the
half subdued eruption of 1880. Frequent APP
peals were made to Louis, so garnished with
assurances of fidelity, that the sanguinet prince
resolved to make a fresh endeavor for his fam
lily honor. Having adopted this cause, trusty.
agents were sent along the frontier of France,
to sound an the regiments. His historians
say that no pains were taken to stir up i'll
blood among them, but we can hardly believe
that such a polite leader having assumed
revolutionary principles, would scruple at
their delicate accomplishment They say two
questions only were asked, care you content
with the government" emo" 'sWill you
promise, should occasion arise, to follow "a
Bonaparte!'' "Yes." Their names were
then enrolled, and they became members of
the council at that moment debating concern
ing the most suspicious time and place for the
enterprise, Finally the city of Strasburgh,
on the frontier of France and Baden, was
chosen as the one in which the prince should
make his appearance in August. On his ar
rival there at the appointed time, officers Of
ceive him, but discovering that affairs were
not then encouraging, it was mutually agreed
to suspend operations for two months. Mean
while preparations went on rapidly, and the
news from France seemed to justify the idea
that only the prestige of victory was neces-
sary TO draw around his standard men of in
fluence and ability The similarity of this
expedition to the cause of the Stuarts, and es-
pecially the Inflated movements of the pre-
tender, has often occurred to me, although the
leading characters are very unlike both re-
lying upon their names, to furnish an army,
both admired even when failing.
But to continue the narrative. Louis Ma
poleon, leaving his mother, under the pretence
of joining the chase, and reaching Strasburgh
few days after, for the first time fully real
lied his critical position when Col. Vaudrey
warned, yea, cntreated him to leave cause
exposed to numerous and serious dangers.
But had he wished, it was now too late TO
draw back, and at midnight, the officers meet
ing in secret council, half matured plan for
future guidance. Napoleon, ever mindful of
his mother, wrote her two letters, one to be
given in case of triumph, and the other if per
chance he should never see her again. These
lie gor0 with "a trembling hand and swim
ming eyes" to an aid-de-camp. We can per-
haps imagine his anxiety, from the fact that
he provided for the consolation Of one who he
would most desire should gaze on his success
The sun rising on the grey walls Of the court
yard, warned the adventurer that the time for
action had arrived The signal sounded in
the Austerlitz barracks and the soldiers rushed
into the courtyard, where, having been ar
ranged in a double line, Col. Vaudrey, from
the centre announced the Prince as follows ::
"Soldiers, great revolution begins at this
moment. The nephew of the Emperor is
before you. He is arrived on French soil to
restore TO France her glory and her liberty.
1t is now to conquer, or die for great cause,
the cause of the people. Soldiers Of the 4th
Regiment of artillery, may the nephew of. the
Emperor count on you!" The shouts which
followed this, startling the swallows from their
nests, must have seemed to the young chieftain
sure promise of success, and as swords
flashed in the red light of the morning, and
plumes tossed about on heads now fired with
expectation, he waved his hand and silence
ensued. Soldiers" said he, sit was in your
regiment, the Emperor Napoleon, my uncle,
first saw service with you he distinguished
himself at Toulon; ii rcas your braUe regiment
that opened the gates Of Grenoble to him on his
return from Ella. Soldiers, new destinies
are reserved to you. Here is the symbol of
French glory it must become henceforth the
symbol of liberty and taking at that moment
the eagle from an officer near him, he mo-
toned the troops to fall into line, which they
did, cheering excitedly. At that moment the
band striking up, led them on to the barrack,
where body of infantry was to join them
What an illustration of the song of the old
Pensioner
"One day our ranks beheld there
thin, dark man at their head irHti
He asked us-we asked him no questions,
We followed wherever he led
+ On the way, Gen. Viorol, veteran soldier,
was taken prisoner, which many persons con-
slider unnecessary, since it was universally
supposed that he secretly favored the family