Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-04-16
Tprom die National In.snigepeerl
THE EMPEROR OF THE
EhENNH.

4 which my namc Is introduced IN connection with
The sojourn in this city, in1 1881, OF the present
/ Emperor Of the French, and statements and o
Ipfnions Of mine in regard to the character he
sustained here placed in antagOnism to q pre-
Vailing impression on the subject The pu6iici-
| ty thus given to ms as q defender of the Teputa-
itiou Of this gentlemas ut that period must be my
| apology for this communication, and for the re
quest that, in justice to the parsonage most
\ concerned. the National Intel genceE may be
come the channel of a brief rehearsal of the OPP
portunities had of correct knowledge in the
case, aud of the belief, based upon them, which
\ I'entertain.
| Louis Napoleon, after having been a prisoner
State for some months on board French
man of-war, was set at liberty on our shores at
Norfolk early in the spring of 1887. He came
I Immediately to New York, as the point at which
he could be put most speedily in communication
I with his friends in Europe Either on the day
or the day but one after his arrival was led to
call upon him, not as the bearer of an lllustrl-
Gus name OF inhcritor of an imperial Et'e, but as
q stranger and exile without a personal friend
in the country or letter ofintroduction. was
the more readily induced to this from reprcsen-
tations made to me by a near relative, in whose
family he had already passed an cTeulng, OF the
deep interest his appearance and whole manner
1 had excited in those who then met him. The
call was reciprocated with promptness and
corliality | had not anticipated, and IN a very
brief period led to an intercourse which was al
most daily for some two months and which end
ed only when we parted from each other off San
DIV Hook, on board the packet which returned
him to Europe.
The association was not that of hours only,
but of days, and on one OCCASION at least ofdays
in succession, and was characterised by a-trre-
dom of conversation on Il great variety of topics
that could scarce fail under the righteousness
and franEncss of his manner, to put me in pos
session of his views principles, and feelings up
on most points that give insight to character
/ never heard sentiment from him and never
witnessed feeling that could detract from his
honor and purity as man or his dignity as
prince; on the contrary, often had occasion to
admire the lofty thoughts and exalted concep-
tons which seemed most to occupy his mind.
/ His (avorite topics when We were alone We're
his uncle, the Emperor, his mother, and others
Of his immediate family, in whom he had been
deeply interested; his own relations to France by
birth and imperial registry the Inducements
which led to the attempted revolution at Stras-
burgh, the causes Gifts failure, and his chief sup
port under the modification of the rcsult-"the
iciH Of GOGl," Ito use his own wOrCls) ''hr0Hgh
a direct Interpolation Of his PrOeidence the time
hui not get GOMEZ"
He seemed ever to feel that his personal des-
tiny was indissolubly linked with France; or, as
his mother, Hortcnsc, expressed it in her will,
s'to know his position; :" and the enthusiasm with
lions for the prosperity, the happiness, and the
honor of his country, and to the high purposes
which he designed to accomplished for her as n
ruler, amounted, in words, voice. and manner,
to positive cloqucncc. Had taken notes of some
of these conversations they would be considered
now, when his visions Of power and earthly glory
are realized, scarcely less epigrammalc and ele-
waited in thought, or, as related to himself, less
prophetic, than many which have been recorded
from the lips Of the exile Of St. Helena.
He was winning in the invariablcncss of his
amiability, often playful in spirits and manner,
and warm in his affections He was most
fondlv attached son, and seemed to idolizc his
mother When speaking other the intonations
of his voice and his whole manner were often as
gentle and feminine as those OF woman. 1t
had been his purpose to spend year in making
the tour of the United States that he might have
better knowledge of our institutions and observe
for himself the practical workings of our politi-
cal system. With this expectation he consulted
me and others us to Encouragement of the route
OF travel so as to visit the different sections OF
tho Union ut the most desirable seasons But
his plans were suddenly changed by intelligence
of the serious illness OfQucen BOrtcnse, or as
then styled, the Duchess of St Leu, at her cas-
tic in Switzerland. was dining with him the
day the letter conveying this information was
received. Recognizing the writing on the en-
yclopc, as it was handed to him at table, he has
ulv broke the Seal and had scarce glanced over
half page before he exclaimed, "Aly mother is
ill; must see her. Instead offs tour OF the Sta
ties l shall take the next packet for England.
will apply for passports for the continent Mt eve
nv embassy in London, and, if unsuccessful, will
make my way to her without them" This he
did and reached Arencnbcrg in time to console
by his presence the dyinghours ofthe cx-Queen,
and to receive in his bosom her last sigh.
After such opportunities of knowing much OF
the mind and heart and general character oil
Louis Napoleon, it was with great surprise that
for the first time read, in distant part of the
world, when he had became an Emperor, repre-
sensations in the public journals of his life in
New York, land in New Orleans, too, though he
was never there,) which would induce belief
that he had been when here little better than a
vas,nbond-low in his associations, incorporate
in his indulgenccs, and dissipated in his habits.
In both eating and drinking he was, so far as
observed abStcmiouS rather than self-indulgent.
repeatedly brcakfasted, dincd, and supped in
his company, and never knew him to partake
ofany thing stronger in drink than the light
wines of France aud Germany, and of these in
great moderation. have been with him carly
and late, unexpectedly MS well as by appointment
and never saw reason for the slightest suspicion
of any irrcgularity in his habits.
1t has been said, Notwithstanding, that his
character was so notorious that he was not re-
ceivcd in society and made no respectable ac-
Ouaintanccs. Ifduringh his briefstay in the city,
at period of the year when general entertain
ments arc not usual, he was not met in the self
constituted benU-mOHdc of the metropolis, 1t was
from his own choice. Within the week of his
arrival, cards and invitations wcrecf for him at
his hotel. As reason for declining to accept
the last, he told me he had no wish to appear
in what is called society, but added:
"Tlcre are, Ehoweyer, individuals resident in
New York whose acquaintance l should be hap
by to make. Mr.. Washington Irving is one. ]
have read his works, and admire him both as a
writer aud man, and would take great pleas
urc in meeting him. Chancellor Kent is anotll-
err l have studied his Commentaries, think
highly of them, and regard him as:the first ofju-
rists. l would be happy TO know him person
ally"
wing and the Chancellor, and enjoyed the hos