The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-04-19
Gbc 4fleu of the Gimrs.
From the National IntelIgcnccrl
The Emperor OF the French.
NEW York, April 4th, 1856


NEW York, April 4th, 1856.
To the Editors Of The National Lteligencer:
-GENTLEMEN My attention has been called
to an article in your journal of the 2Sth
ultimo., in which my name is introduced in
connection with the sojourn in this city, in
1887. OF the present Emperor of the French,
and statements and opinions of mine in
regard to the character he sustained here
placed in antagonism to prevailing i'm
preston on the subject. The publicity thus
gwen to me as the defender of the reputation
OF Tins gentleman at that period must he my
apology Tor this communication, and for the
request that, in justice to the parsonage most
concerned, the National Intelligcnccr may
become the channel ola brief rehearsal of the
opportunities had of correct knowledge in
the case, and Of the belief, based upon them,
which entertain.
Louis NAPOLEON, after having been pri-
Soncr OF State some months on board a man
oi.war, was set at liberty on our shores at
Norfolk III the early spring of 1887. lie
came immediately to New York as the point
at which he could be put most speedily in
communion with his friends in Europe
Either on the day or the day but one after
his arrival was led to call upon him. not
40 WIG cN"'Si VI all 1iIuStr1OuS name OF IN
hcritor OF an Imperial title, but as stranger
and exile without personal friend in the
country or letter Of Introduction. was
| lac moic readily induced to this from repre-.
sensations made to me by n near relative, in
whose family he hal already passed an even
ing, OF the deep interest his appearance and
whole manner had excited in those who had
then met him. The call was rccprocatcd
with promItncSS and corlialty | had not
ANTICIPATED, and in a very brief period led to
| an intercourse which was almost daily for
| some two months. and which ended only
when we parted from each other of Sandy
HOOK. on board the packet which returned
him TO Europe.
The association was not that Of hours ONLY,
hut days, and on one occasion at least ofdays
| III succession. and was characterised BY n
freedom of conversation on great. variety of
topics that could scarce fail. under the in
! gcnouSnrsS and fiankncSS of his manner, to
put me in possession Of his views, principles,
and feelings upon most points that give in
| sight to character. | never heard sentiment
| from him and never witnessed feeling that
could dctract from his honor and purity as
man or his dignity as n prince. on the CON
tra1y. often had occasion to admire the
| lofty thoughts and exalted conceptions which
seemed most to occupy his mind.
Ills favoriie topics when we were alone
were 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: tn e
inducements which led to the attempted rev.
| olu'ion at SlraSburgh. the causes of its failure
and his chief support under the modification
Of the rcsnlt-''tIte ~W IF God," Ito Use his
own words, )"Mroash direct ntcrposiiinn of
has Prormence tie fme had not get come ~
lie seemed ever to feel that his personal
destiny was indissolnbty linked with France:
or. as his mother, IIortense, expressed it in
her will, "to know his positions" and the
enthusiasm with which at times he gave ut.
| tcrance to his aspirations for the prosperity,
the happiness. and the honor of his country.
and to tile high purposes which he designed
to accomplish for her rs a ruler, amounted.
in words, voice, and manner, to positive
| cloqucnce. Had | taken notes of some of
these conversations they would he considered
now, when his visions ofpower and glory are
realized, scarcely less epigralnmatic and
| elevated in thought, or. as related to himself.
less prophetic. than many which have been
recorded fiom the lips of the exile of st,
| Helena.
lie was winning i'll the invariab leness of
manner and warm in his .m.o,;n,i H. II, ".u
a most fondly attached SON and '' seenoJ T" a.,
idolizc his mo.brr Whon s,aaI. ;,'l, ~ ,
the intona,ions of his vo;co and ~, VI ,, "J'
manner were often &C oentIo and fnn; " no'.
those of woman II h,a hoo,, liz, s'''"m. a.
| to s,end vc,r in ,pat ;n,r 10 ms P'.Pu .i
United States thu, he m;obt h "" " ho, ,nr
knowl, tlgc of orr ius,iutions and nhsorno r..
himself the practical workings Of o,,r no,;,;',I
system. With this eypectation he clnsulted
me and others as 10 the ar,,no.n,ont 81 ,ha
route of travel 50 nc to vis;t ,l,e l;m,.a,,t
sections of the Union Mt ,be most dos;rol,Ia
seasons. Bnt his mans warn snddonI,
changed bv intelligence nf tbo serious ;Ilna:s
of Queen IIortcnsc mr. nc tham st,.IoI ~
Duchess Of St Len ot bcr castle i, Sv,;tvar
land. | was dining with him rho d,v flo
letter conveying this information was rcc,;vcI
Recognizinr the w,;riun IN ths onvo,ona .s
it was handed to him At tahlo ho has,;i,,
broke the seal and Ind scarce o,ancoJ ov.r
half page before Inc cxcl,;msd M ,notho o,
is i'll: | must see her. Instead Of a tonr Of
| tho S,,,a,T ~ ~. ~, VI 'o''' vi
England. will on,ly cor nossnorts for , ib'
continent ot oror,, a,nh.ss,. IN 7 a,,da,, as