The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-25

fere 10 every affair respecting his family aud to proven,
suppress anything that may be against his person Al
dgra.y, or appear offensive 10 his Majesty 10 his
throne
Article /. All the municipal officers of the Enpife A.
forbidden in their registers the OF marriage
which jerome Bonaparte Is said TO have contfasIed
abroad.
AT the time when this decree was published Eliza.
beth Paterson, Mrs. jerome Bonaparte was pregn ant
with son, who is still living.
Jerome Bonaparte, obedient to his brothers a.
mand, returned to France, where, two years ~
the 18th of August, 1906 he married The Pra !.
FREDERICK Catherine Sophia daughter Of the King oi
Wurtemberg. The Princess Matilda aud the Prince
Napoleon were the fruit OF this union.
Although separated for political motives from his
first born son, the KING OF Westphalia never ceased
to take lively interess in his welfare. CORE ;
pondence has constantly been carried on between
them, and the numerous proofs of esteem and friend
ship, manifested by Jerome, induced his son to be-
eve that he held an equal share in his fathers af-
fiction with the children of the Princess Of Wurten-
berg.
When, after tn. Revolution of ls4s, the fortune
OF the Bonaparte family seemed once in the as
cendant, the American descendants of Jerome deter
mined to assert their claim to the family name, and
TO participate In the vast political power which Lou
Napoleon was beg inning to dispense to his relatives
and jerome Paterson Bonaparte, with his eldest son,
the offspring OF marriage with lady of Baltimore,
and late an officer in the United States army, de.
parted for Europe about two years ago, where they
have since remained The wife and a younger son
OF Jerome Paterson still reside in Baltimore, we be-
lieve, and decline t. assert their claims to admission
to the imperial fam lily.
The young ofictr was presented at the imperial
court where he wal at first graciously received and
upon the breaking out Of the Eastern war at his
own request was sent to the Crimea, and distin-
guished himself, in moderate degree, during the
campaign, under General Morris. Two years ago,
the Patersons, both father and son. demanded their
act of naturalization, in which they reconnised
members of the imperial family; and in the official
paper, the Momiteur, the title Of Ibis Imperial
appointment as Lieutenant in the army 1t seems
that from this qualified membership, which might
hereafter form the ground of claims the part of
the American Bonapartes, they are now to be per-
petually excluded. 1t Is true that since these APP
prehensons arose, direct heir to the throne has
been DO n which seems to decide the matter for the
present, until contingency Shall arise, by which
the inheritance will again become open to the heirs
Of kinG Jerome but weighty reasons seem to have
demanded an immediate solution Of the question, by
the privy council of the imperial family upon which
the Emperor has conferred the power to de eide in
all pu rely personal matters relative to the Bona
parties.
Jerome has therefore insisted upon the immediate
decsio of the question, and offers to prove the e
gality NJ the marriage and the dissolution Of 1t by
The church. The Patersons, on the other hand,
deny the authority of the decree Of 1905, which,
they contend intimated no doubt Of the legality of
the marriage, on which only civil court could de-
eide, but merely forbade it to be recorded in the
public registers Of France They refer also to their
unntt rTupIeO snu unquestOned position as legltl-
mate heirs, and on the good faith Of Elizabeth
Paterson, in contracting her marriage with Jerome
BonaI,afte. Jerome, however, demurs TO this good
faith, which he attempts to discredit by citing a
cause in the marriage contract in which, in case Of
the dis solution of the marriage union at the request
Of the wife or her parents, it is stipulated that
ointure OF 1000 francs year shall be paid to her
which sum Elizabeth Paterson Bonaparte really re-
ceiyed during her lifetime.
Mr.. Anem represents Prince Jerome and Mr.. Der.
ryer, the Industrious legtimist the American claim
ants, before the council. Interesting letters from
Napoleon l., Pope Plus VII, the Emperor of Russia
The court consists of the keeper of the Privy Seal
President, Mr.. Fould, Troplong De Morny, Baroch
and Oreano. The Judgment of the council must be
given within a month. 1t is supposed that the legi-
timacv Of the Patersons will be recognised, although
the right Of accession to the throne will be denied
them.-P0st.