The Empire County argus., 1855-06-09
The Empress Of the French.

Among the many romantic incidents that have
marked the life OF the Emperor Napoleon IIT. not
the least extraordinary was his marriage with the
beautiful and accomplished lady lately the guest of
the Queen. The course he took in this respect was
distinguished by the same boldness, self-reliance
and originality that have characterized the chief
events of his In his address to the Senate
and Legislative body, announcing the choice he
had made, he sketched, in a few mastery strokes
his motives and inducements. 81 have preferred"
he said, "t the woman whom | love and whom re-
spect. to one who is unknown and whose alliance
would have had advantages mixed with sacrifices ="
In taking this course, the Emperor at least avoided
the rock on which his uncle wrecked his fortunes
and although there were not wanting enemies who
censured him for not having married the daughter
of some soldier purely French in origin, the mass
If the people recognized in this abandonment of
the customary royal alliance q new tie binding
them to their ruler.
The Empress Eugene, in all respects but her not
being of some reigning royal house, is in every
way fitted to fill the place she occupies. She
who has been the object of my preference" said
the Emperor. on the occasion referred to, is of
distinguished birth. French in heart, by educa-
ton, by the recollectons of the blood shed by her
father in the cause of the empire, she has, as q
Spaniard. the advantage of not having in France
family to whom it might be necessary to give
honors and fortune" In respect of her origin and
ancestry, indeed, the Empress Eugene may claim
to rank with the proudest and noblest of Europe
Her great-grandatber. ON her mothers side. was
Kirkpatrick, of Conheath. in Dumfriesshire-- a
gentleman of large landed property. His son. Mr.,
William Kirkpatrick, went to Malaga as British
Consul and there married the daughter of Baron
Grevenue. His eldest daughter. Maria married
the Count Montijo; and of this marriage the En-
press was born. The Kirkpatrick family is of great
antiquity in Scotland, and various members of it
fUnr in tlrn of tbotl
1t is. however, on the fathers side that the an
cestry of the Empress is the most ustrous As
Countess de 1eba, she is q grandee of Spain, and
belongs to the ancient and illusrious house of
Guzman, which dates from the very foundation of
the Spanish monarchy. Among her ancestors was
the famous Alonzo Perez de Guzman, surnamed
Ell Bueno,' who in 1895, so herocally defended
er his son, and threatened to kill him before his
fathers eyes, unless he yielded. From the RAM
parts he saw them preparing their threat, while
his son supplicated with extended arms "Never."
exclaimed Guzman, will surrender the city con-
hded to my charge. Let my son die, but my honor
must remain unsulliel" Throwing them sword
he cried to item, Use it, if dare - In a few
moments the head of his ratified on the ground
and at the cry of horror raised by the soldiers he
said, on being told that his child was dead "What!
is it only that! thought the enemy must be Civ
ing the assault! - The family ever afterwards
adopted the motto "My King is worth more than
my blood"
The Empress also counts among her ancestors
the celebrated Gonsave de Cordova. the greatest
captain OF the age; also Antonio de Lava, the
greatest general of the Emperor Charles v One
of the female ancestors was Luisa Francesca de
Guzman. the wife of the Duke of Braganza, after
wards King of Portugal; and the blood royal of
Spnin also flows in her veins. She has certain u-
innate claims to the Spanish crown; in this respect
standing next to the Duke Of Medina Coela, who
regularly. at each coronation in Spain, makes
formal protest against the usurpaton of his rights
The f,ther of the Empress. the Count de Month
jo, embraced the cause of Napoleon when he en-
tered Spain. He was an officer in the French ar
my, and distinguished himself at the battle of
Salamanca. Later he was member of the Senate
of Spain. being Grandee Of Spain in right of no
fewer than six titles. He died in 1880.
The Empress was born at Granada in 1927 She
was partly educated in England-at Bristol we
believe--and resided during her infancy and youth.
alternately at Madrid, London and Paris, Here it
was that her beauty and accomplishments, which
made her the ornament Of every circle she fire.
quented, attracted the attention Of the Emperor.
who at once saw in her his future bride The
splend0r Of throne wore less the attraction for
Mile. de Montijo than the admiration she had con-
ceivcd for the Emperors character. On both sides
the marriage was one of affection. Since she has
occupied the throne the Empress Eugene has
gradually conciliated the respect and love Of the
French people Her beauty, her unaffected cheer
fulness of disposition, and. above all. her many
virtues. endear her to the nation. Her charity
and benevolence are already the theme of univer-
sal praise, and long before her elevation she had
given proofs of an extraordinary kindness of heart
N Y Herald.