Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-04-19

rreguarity in his habits
1t has been said. Notwithstanding, that
his character was 50 notorious that he was
not received into society, and made no re-
spectacle acquaintance. If during his
brief stay III The city, at period Of the
year when general entertainments are not
usual, he was met in the self-constituted
beau monde of the metropolis, it was from
Hls own choice. Within the week OF his
ARRIVAL cards and limitations were left for
| him at his hotel AS a reason for declIn-
ing to accept the last, he told me he had
no wish to appear i'll VIVA: is called socie-
ty. but added:
"There are, however, individuals resi-
dent in New York whose acquaintance
should be happy to make. Mr.. Washing
lngton Irving IS one. | have read his
works, and admire him much as a writer
and man. and would take great pleasure
in meeting him. Chancellor Kent is an
other. / have studied his Commentaries
think highly Of them, and regard him as
the first OF your jursts. would be hap
py to know him personally"
He did make the ac quaintance both of
Mr.. Irving and the Chancellor. and enjoy
ed the hospitality of the one al Sunny side,
and of the other al his residence in town.
lie saw some of the best French society
of the city; and: familiar with the his Of
ic name OF New York, avaled himself Of
the profered civiities of such families as
the Hami.ons, the Clintons, the Llvlngs.
tons, and others of like position.- Ii is not
true, therefore. that he was not rec eived
in society and had no acquain.ances of re-
speclability. He visited in some of our
first families in social position, and was EN-
tertained by some Of our most distinguish
ed citizens.
1t is said that lie was without means,
and lived OH loans which he neverIepaid.
This is simply absurd. | am under the
impression that his private fortune was
then unimpaired, aud beS ond the reach OF
the French Government; but, il this were
not the case, his mothers wealth was am
pie, and his drafts upon her for any amount
would have been promptly henored. |
doubt not that funds were waiting her ar
rival. OF, il not, were readily a, his cons
mand.
Louis Napoleon may have had some as
socialiou, in New York OF which | was
Ignorant! and he, like Dickens ard other
distinguished fore gners, may have carried
his observations, under the protection OF
the police, to scenes in which | would not
have accom- panied him. II he did, new
ef heard of il, and have now no reason TO
suppose such Was the fact. But that he
was an habitue.as has been publicly report
ed, OF drinking saloons and oyster-cellars,
gambling houses, and places oil worse re-
pele, do not believe. | can recall 10 my
recollection 40 young man OF the world
whom | have ever met, who, iii whit
seemed an habitual elevation Of mind and
an invariabte dignity OF bearing, would
have been less al ome than he ia saeh as
sociations.
There " as. however, in New York, at
the ,ame lme, AMI for about the same peri
cd, Prince Bonaparte, who WAS, l have
reason TO think, Of a very different char
acler. His anieredents in Europe had moi,
been favorable, and his reputation here
WIS not good. He too. was in exile, but
not tor a political offence. He may not
have been received into society and may
have had low associations. met him. but
from this impression, formed no acqua'nt-
ance with him. For the same reason the
Intercourse between HIM and his COUSIN was
unirequent aud formal. All that has been
SAID and published Of the one may be true
of the other; and, IN the search Ior remi
nscences of the soourn in New York OF
Louis Napoleon, on his elevation to a
throne fifteen years afterwards, it is not diff
iiculI to believe that those ignoran, of the
presence here at the same time OF Two per-
sons OF the same name, and same title, NAV
have coniounded The acts and character of
the one with the other. This doubt not
il the fact, and that however general and
firmly established the impression 10 the
contrary ma, be, the tep'oach of disre-
outable Lille here does not justly attach IL
self 10 him, who Is now con.essedly the
most able, the most fortunate, and the most
remarkable sovereign in Europe.
Z. S. STEWART. Us. Navy.