The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-12-20

Dur1nS all last WIN er the c,ndtlct OF lii
Imperial Majesty had been anything bu
what can be termed regular, and his healtl
had been mush the worse for his excuses
The brain showed manifest signs of weak
ness, and considerable alarm was felt h,
those around him. One fair lady, in partic
ular, had been the object of the Imperial az
tentions, but GOODNESS had ensued when tn.
journey to Plombers effected a reconclia
! ton. At Plombiers, unfortunately, NOR.
than one witness can speak to the exceeding
! Irregularities committed. Upon his return
those near the Emperor were painfully &c
fected by the oft-rcpeatcd proof he gave OF
carebal perturbation. The word ''absence'
was used to characterize this state, but these
absences were upon one or two occasions
so strong that between those most inlnedi-
ately called upon to watch and assist in gui-
ding the progress of circumstances, the near
eventual ty of regency was more than once
seriously discussed. The Empcr. was most
solernnly warned by his medical attel .nts.
but lie left Paris for Biarritz undetermined
t. stay at the seaside, and without giving NJ,
his project Of returning to Paris alone
However, at B;arritz his resolution was at
length taken to remain during the whole
time of the Empress stay, and when he re-
turned to ST. Cloud it was the positive opir-
ion of all his medical advisers that the crisis
had been for the moment entirely warded
off, but that he absolutely must resolve to
lead regular life under pain of the erayest
possible consequences.
Now, as the chronicles Of palaces are mat
tiers Of history. | will enter into some few
other details that Indirectly bear upon all
this. For the first eighteen months or two
wears after his marriage, it ID a matter of
European notoriety how strictly the Empress
was imprisoned in an etiquette which it is
one of Louis Napo!eon's vanity t. render,
starched and stiff as that practiscd at tie
Courts of what are termed the Legitimate
monarchs of Europe" Like all things eff
fectea, this was carrie to a perfectly ri,licu-
ous pitch and the Empress, by lie SO con-
trary to all her antecedents and habits, was
made pcoportionably unhappy. This gave
way however, from the moment when, by
concessions in his own interior, the Empero:
sought to secure indulgence for his behavior
out of doors AMI the result is, now, almost
free permission for the Empress to resume
&; habits which were familiar TO her as
Mdl'e. Montijo, and which, however, inno-
cent they may appear to us, are regarded by
public opinion in this country as unrardona-
bic eccentricities.
For instance, two little anecdotes will suf-
flee to illustrate the position. Very shortly
after her marriage, the Empress declared sh,
would go out and take walk in the streets
d 'Essllng, appeared, seif-sumnoned, and
said the proceeding was contrary to etiquette
but that if her Majesty chose she was will
lao, n,xr- lor .,,
90 whittier her Majesty thought lit. 4
scene ensned; the Empress was angry, and
Dew 10 TIE Emperor to be supported against
Madame d'Esslng but the Emperor very
gently, but infexihly supported the grand
mistress, and the Empress found that Ler
liberty was lost.
The other day, when the Emperor had
left for Plmbicrts, Madame d'Essling ap-
peared ready to mount guard over the En,-
press, to whom she very quietly observed
that tie instant the Emperor Was absent
the duties Of her Office called upon her no,
to leave the Empress That is what we
shall see,' was the indignant reply ; and a
Geographic dispatch u Plombieres upon tn,
very instant demanded whether it was in
tended TO appoint a duenna to watch over
the actions of the imperial princes mother.
This time the reply was that tie Empress
was at liberty t. do as she liked with Ma
dame dEssling. In this respect every thn@
is altered, and the pony ph@tons, driven by
the Empress herself her attendance at bal
fights dressed in the Spanish costume, and
her shooting at ST. Cloud, attired in sort
Of fancy dress, all these seemingly little in
cidents are signs to those who live in the
close intimacy Of the imperial court. You
must live in the heart of French society to
know how severely these various lancies of
the Emperor are judged by high and low,
and by the Imperiaists as much as by others;
but Louis Napoleon has lost the right to
gainsay his wfes wishes, and he could now
with great difficulty compel her to that fri
gid dignity, to that perpetual observance of
decorum which French prejudice in all ranks
exacts from people of exalted rank.
One Of his oldest friends, speaking to me
yesterday of Louis Napoleon, said, g think
| see him now before me, as lie went one
day with the Empress and their suite to in
spcct the works at the Elysee. The En-
press, with bound, nearly jump, crossed
some planks, when in an instant, the Empe-
ror, telling her sharply to stop, caiiic to her
side. took hold Of her arm, and in a loud
tone If great displcasure, said, :" DO walk
as you ought to do, EuSenic what will all
the people think of you ?" and my interlocu-
tor added, shaking his head, II am afraid
he would not stop her now am afraid he
has no longer the right to make any obst r.
vation."- lMaachester Guordiaa Cmnsitn