Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-05-03
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.l
Jerome Bcnaparte,

There are doubtless those who recolect the sen
| sation produced by the style in which Jerome Bo
naparte, with his beautiful and accomplished bride
| the late Miss Patterson, in the year 1906, drove
from Springfield to this city, stopping on their way
at Brookfeld. He was on his way to join his ship
we believe, at this port, on his return to France
Not only to such persons, but to more youthful
readers, the following sketch of his eventfu hisor,
will not be without interest We copy it from the
London Times, the subject of it having been called
| to notice by his recent dangerous illness:
The illness of Prince jerome Bonaparte carries
back to an oge, which is not only historical but
above all others discussed by historians. Although
the youngest brother of the great Napoleon is little
more than 10 years old, he belongs to time Of
which hardly representative remains to the pres.
ent generation. He was neither born great Or
achieved greatness the alternative expresses most
happily the nature of his fortunes. His name APP
pears in history early the opening of the pres
ent century, when he was but a boy. His famous
brother had overthrow the republican constitution,
seized absolute power under the name of Consul.
and within four years established an Imperial
throne 1t was an amiabie feature in Napoeon's
character that he sought to advance the fortunes
Of his relatives, for We can hardly conceive that
his own interests were furthered by such course.
Indeed, it may be thought that the founder of the
Bonaparte dynasty, like his successor, Louis Phil
]ippe, endangered his throne by a policy which,
though it may have been dictated somewhat by
pride, nevertheless had in it much of family affec-
lion. Napoleon had no sooner attained the chief
power in France, by the first revolution, than young
Jerome was placed in the navy. This service was
then disorganized, neglected and unpopular. The
courage and enterprise of the band of heroes who
commanded the squadrons of England had almost
driven the flag of France from the sea. 1t had
~. ,oA1, La Il
had been the first naval power, France had been
an obstinate and sometimes victorious rival
Old French sailors might remember the days of
Sufferein and Paul Jones, and contrast with the
disgraces which had befallen the republican tri-
color the time when, under the white flag, French
feet terrified the southern counties of England.
Napoleon was no mere general; he had no narrow
professional instincts; and from the day he began
to rule France he became statesman in the high
est sense. To humble England he must make his
country naval power; he must unite to his own
feet those of the secondrate naval states and Or
ganize force which would enable him to carry on
an offensive war against the only nation whose
enmity was to be feared. We may imagine that
some vision Of the coming empire prompted him
to connect the name of his own family with the
naval renown Of France. The years of the Con-
sulate were years of great naval preparation, and
active service. Shortly after his brother had been
elected Emperor, Jerome, then only 10, committed
what was, in imperial eyes, his great indiscretion.
Without leave, he made hasty marriage with a
young American lady, and by this union the cos
mopolite family of Bonaparte counts among its
members many citizens Of the great republic On
his return home he was chased by Sidney Smith
and Sir Richard Strachan, but escaped by running
his ship under battery. France was then so ac-
customed to ill-success at sea that a captain who
evaded capture was considered to have no mean
merit, and Jerome thought himself entitled to APP
probation. But Napoleon was angry, for many
reasons; his brother had made what the world calls
a mis-aIance and professionally he had done
nothing to illustrate the family name. jerome re-
NAMED sometime is disgrace, although he was
again employed, and received the command of a
squadron and the rank of Rear-Admiral But the
navy, now utterly discredited, was no profession
for Bonaparte, and Jerome in 1907 entered the
ranks of the great army with the grade of General
Then came the epoch Of the new dynasties.
Joseph went to Naples and then to Spain; Louis
to Holland; young Jerome, married to Princess
of Nuremberg, received the new crown of West
phalia; Murat ruled at Naples; Bernadotte was
heir to the crown of Sweden. All the continental
world was represented at Paris by rich embassies;
England was apparently alone under the ban Of
mankind 1t was natural to be elated by such mi
raculous and sudden greatness, and, though Nine.
Mere is reported to have said, 81 may one day
be called to find bread for all these kings" her
children had no misgiving. Jerome was not much
of a ruler, he had not been much of sailor, and
he afterwards proved to be rather an Indifferent
general. He commanded 10000 Germans in the
Russian campaign, and was surprised at Smolensko,
Disconnected the plans of the Emperor, and was
sent back in disgrace to Germany. Europe rose
against the falling conqueror; Jerome fled from
his kingdom, which had now ceased to exist. After
a separation from his consort, his wanderings led
him to Trieste, where he received the news that
Napoleon had escaped from Elba, and was once
more in France, an Emperor, and able perhaps,
to make him once more king. The Austrian
government watched Jerome, who, however, found
means to escape. Murat sent ftigate to take him
off secretly, and he was soon in Paris one of the
heroes of the Hundred Days Waterloo was his
last field, and for many hours of the 18th Of June
The corps under his command attacked in vain the
Chateaux Of Hougoument. When Napoleon fell.
for the last time, his brothers career seemed to
have closed. A German tile and German estate
were conferred on him, and it seemed likely that,
after having been Admiral General, King, fugitive
and proscript-after having seen campaigns by
land and sea, and borne part in the greatest
drama the world has witnessed, he would sink into
obscurity at thirty years Of age.
But he was once more to be lifted to eminence.
third of century passed away, and two dynasties
had fallen in France Another generation had
arisen, new ideas and new sciences had changed
he face of Europe. All the old soldiers and
statesmen were gone; even the traditions of their
age seemed departing, when Jerome Bonaparte,
who had been heard Of as early as any Of them,
upon the Stage, still not very old
nan. An Augustus had arisen to continue the
empire of the modern Julius, and Jerome was
once more Prince Of an Imperial family. We
certainly need not search ancient history for in
tances of the mutability Of fortune in pulling down
md setting up men. The present age has enough
examples to supply moralists for all time, and the
houses Of Bourbon and Bonaparte may furnish
James to adorn all the tales that are likely to be
written. Napoleon III was anxious to connect his
,wn rule as much as possible with the memories Of
he old Empire, and Jerome, with his resemblance
his brother, bis evenul life as one Of that strange
,and of Kings, and his share in what is to French
men almost the whole history Of France, was a
who could not be too highly placed 1t
vas well that Bonaparte should be seen at the
Cuileries who had been seen there when men were
eading in the Moniteur about Austerlitz or Fried
and. As dynasty involves the idea Of inherit
nee, it was desirable that there should be an heir
to the throne, and it is strange that
he falling health of the old man should coincide
4 time with the expected fulfllment Of the Empe