Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-08-20
M SC ELL A n Y
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From the Ne,o York Her
he American Bonapartes.

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From the Neo York Herald.
The American Bonapartes.
"a few days since we published the following
extract from the Paris correspondence of the
Belgian paper LIE Nord:-
The special commission appointed by the En-
peror Napoleon some time ago, to examine into
another delicate family matter-the differences
between the Princess of Canine and her husband
has now decided upon the still more impor-
tant question of the validity of Prince Jeromes
first marriage with Miss Patterson, in America,
q matter which was referred by the imperial
nephew of the person most concerned to the
same discreet counsellors. The result of the in
vestigaton is, that the validity OF the marriage,
which, to the great offence of Napoleon l., was
always maintained by the Pope, and divorce
consistently refused by the Holy See,is now con-
firmed by the Imperial Commission, and the
consequence is, that young sous-Lieutenant in
the French army, the grandson of Prince jerome
and Miss Patterson, must be recognized as leg-
innate member of the Napoleon dynasty, and
that Prince Napoleon, the son of Jerome by his
second marriage, would be excluded"
If the above statement be correct, (and from
the well known unfriendly feeling existing be-
tween the French Emperor and Prince Napole-
on there are good grounds for believing it to be
so.) it will only add another to the innumer-
able proofs that we have that there is no wrong
which will not sooner or later bring its retribu-
ton. After the rehabilitation of Miss Patterson
and her descendants by the Imperial Commis-
sion, it becomes interesting to retrace the partl-
culars of her connection with the King OF West
phalia. We quote from "The Napoleon Dynas-
ty," by the late Edwin Williams
When hostilities began between France and
England Jerome was looking for an opportunity
to distinguish himself, and his vessel cruised
about for several months on our Southern coast
when she put into New York. The name of his
brother had already echoed through the West
ern world, and wherever he appeared no was
greeted with the most marked attentions. lie
went much into society in New York, Phlladel-
phia and Baltimore, and having formed an ac-
quaintance with Miss Elizabeth Patterson,o the
latter city, he conceived an ardent attachment
for her, and they were married in Baltimore,
December 24, 1903. The marriage ceremony
was performed by John Carroll, Bishop of Balti-
more, (and brother of the last signer OF the De-
claration of Independence, )agreeaby to the rites
of the Roman Catholic Church and the laws OF
the United States. The ceremony was preced-
ed by q marriage contract drawn up by MIR. Dal-
las, afterwards Secretary of the Treasury, and
witnessed by NJ. Sotin, CommiSsary of CONNER
cal Relations OF the French Republic, and Alex
ander Carnus, afterwards Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Jerome's kingdom of Westphalia,J John
Oomegys, and the Mayor of the city of Balti-
more. Miss Patterson, his wife, was the daugh-
ter of rich merchant of that city, who was
born of a Scotch family in the north of Ireland.
She was an exceedingly beautiful and accom-
plished Young lady, and fully worthy of the
most ilhlstrious nuptials 1t is believed that the
attachment was mutual and ardenta the fair
est prospects opened before them in the future.
For more than year Jerome remained in
this country, visiting almost every object of in
terest with his young wife, they were every
where treated with the utmost kindness and at
tention 1t has been suggested that the cause
Of his remaining so long in the United States,
was the offence which his marriage had given
to his brother Napoleon, who, having already
in conte mplation the elevation of all his brothers
TO European thrones, wished to form for them
alliances with the princesses of the
royal houses of Europe. However this may be,
rs we shall presently see, the marriage was neV-
err acknowledged by the Emperor.
In the spring of 1905 Jerome embarked with
his wife for Europe, in the American ship Erin.
When their vessel arrived at Lisbon Gin May0
Jerome started for Paris, directing the ship to
proceed TO Am ;terdam, since, owing to the dell
cate health of his wife, she thought it not pru-
lent to risk the fatigues of so long aourney, land
,lso the fact that some doubt was entertained
whether passage could be procured which
would admit her into France. On the arrival
Of the Erin at the Texel, Mrs. Bonaparte learned
that an order had been received from the gov
ernment at Paris prohibiting her landing. She
accordingly sailed for England, where she arriv-
ed in the month of June, and took up her resi-
lence at Chamberwell, in the neighborhood Of
London, where she passed the summer. On the
7th of July 1905, she gave birth to her son, -Je-
rome Napoleon Bonaparte, now citizen OF
Baltimore jerome, who was atfectionately at
ached to his wife, brought all the influence he
,ould to appease the anger OF his brother, but
his endeavors were fruitless. Napoleon would
lot recognize the marriage, nor allow jerome to
,rinr his wife to Paris Believing that if she
hould once appear before the Emperor, her
,eauty, grace and accomplishments would secure
or her a generous reception, he hoped till the
asst that this privilege would be accorded to
lin. The request, however, was resolutely re-
used No step had been taken in Europe to an
lul this marriage until March 3, 1905, when the
Emperor caused his Council of State to enact
special decree, "forbidding all civil officers OF
he empire to receive on their registers o tran
script of the act of celebration of a pretended
marriage contracted by Jerome Bonaparte in a
oreign country" This decree, amounting to a
declaration of the nullity of the marriage, relat-
ID to the formality prescribed by article III of
he Civil Code, viz; that three months after the
.eturn to France of French subject he should
ranscribe on the public register at tho place of
,is domicil the act of the celebration Of any
marriage contracted in foreign country.
In the following May the Emperor, in letter
O Plus VII, requested him to grant bull an
Milling the marriage. From this letter, which
vas dated May 81, 1906, copy of which we
ave been favored with by member OF the
sonaparte family, we make the following ex-
ract -
II have frequently spoken to your Holiness OF
young brother, nineteen years of age, whom
ent in a frigate to Americs, and who, after
ojourn of month, although minor, married
Protestant, daughter of merchant OF the
United States. He has just returned. lie Is
ully conscious of his fault. have sent back to
america Miss Patterson, who calls herself his
wife. BY our laws the marriage is null. A
spanish priest so far forgot his duties as to pro-
lounce the benediction. / desire from your Ho-
mess bull annullng the marriage. l send