The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-10

II kneel and kiss his hand, but he FASTENED to
raise her up, and, after embracing her, conduct
ed her into the saloon of the throne, where he
presented her to bis assembled family as their
sister and daughter. She was Immediately sur
rounded, caressed, and treated from that mo-
ment sister of Tho Emperor.
Such wete the opening scenes in the welded
life Of Catherine of Wurtemberg. Need il be
eddec, that her after path was one beset with
thorns rather than strewed with flowers? Forced
70 bestow her hand upon man from whom she
lnstlnctively shrank, as being, in her opinion,
already espoused to another, the unhappy Queen
of Ses-phalia had not even the poor satisfac-
ton Of being treated with respect BY her royal
husband. Many were the humiliations which
sae snf=r az the Court of Cassel, and she bore
them al in silence. Faithfully did she strive to
faihi the onerous duties of her position. and
never was single murmur suffered to escape
her lips. The only happy moments of her
crowned LIE were those in which she clasped
her infants to her arms; although, perhaps, the
name OF Napoleon, which. had been bestowed
upon her son, often brought pang to her heart,
as reminding her of him through whose insa-
table ambition hopeless blight had fallen upon
her opening life.
lime passed on. The eventful years OF
l8l4-l5 elapsed. Napoleon had fallen, and
those modern dynssties, which had fourished
IN the sunshine of his power, were whitening
away beneath the shadow of the Holy Ali.
ance." The Queen of Westphalia had taken
refuge, with her children, beneath her fathers
root. Jerome had Joined his brother Napoleon
IN Paris, on his return from Eiba, and had car.
ried with him thither all the bsubles of ROYALTY
IN the hope that, at no distant day, he might
once more appear in public with these insignia
OF power. In this expectation, however, he was
qalckly disappointed, and, on the evacuation
OF Fans, be retired, with the army, beyond the
Lore. HIS situation being now a very preca
rious one, he gladly accepted a refuge in the
Chateau of Douy, where, under the assumed
name OF Carrier, he was Hospitality entertained
by NJ Ouvrard, the eminent fnancier. Owing
to the frequent presence of military men, who
were quartered in the chateau, Jerome was
obliged to remain secluded in his own apart.
ments.
One day, in a moment of ennni, the ex.mon.
arch opened trunk, took out his royal robes OF
state, together with the many brilliant orders
which had been bestowed upon him in his hap
pier days, and clothed himself in all the mag.
nlhcence of royalty. Just as his splendid toilet
was completed, the door Of his apartment open
ed, and VI Onward entered. The discreet finau.
cier was astonished at such an act of imprudence
on the part of his guest and fearing that rep.
etition of his folly might betray his secret TO
the whole household, and thus involve the fam
lly IN political danger, he counselled Jerome
no longer to delay his escape out of France
On the following morning, before daylight. the
deposed king was on his way to the Eastern
frontier, whence he FASTENED to Stuttgart. and
entering 10 secret his father-in-law's palace,
besought his wife to procure for him well
come in the home of her childhood and her
youth. The Princess, mindful only of her bus
bands forlorn position. welcomed him heartily
TO her apartments. The news Of his arrival
however, quickly reached the ears of the King
Of Wurtemb berg, whose political position made
him shrink from communication with any of
the Bonsparte family.
On the following morning, therefore, he sig
nlhed his pleasure to the ex-Queen, that her
husband must forthwith quit his palace, as he
could not hsrbor beneath his roof one of pro
scribed and outlswed family, pointing out to
her at the same time the example of Maria
Louisa, who had consented to a separation from
her husband. He also expressed his desire
for an interview with his daughter, that she
might learn his wishes more emphatically from
his own royal lips. The Princess Royal imme
diaiely addressed to her parent q reply, which
merits place in the annals of all those ma
tons where women are counted worthy of honor
as well as of love. 1t wss in the following
terms
"SRI: Your majesty has summoned me
this morning to your presence. Fer the first
time in my life, have denied myself the pleas
ure of obesing your commands. Knowing the
was not sufficiently collected to speak of it.
venture here to unfold the motives of nv con.
duct, and to make an appeal to your paternal
affection. Your majesty has been rightly in
formed yes, sire, Prince jerome, your son.in-
Law, my husband, and the father of nv chill
dren, is with me. l received him from your
hands at a time when his family reigned su
pIeme over many kingdoms, and when his own
brow was encircled with q crown. The bonds
imposed at first by policy have since then been
strengthened and confirmed by the feelings OF
my own heart; aud he is far dearer to me now,
in the hour Of his adversely, than ever he was
in the time of power and prosperity.
Marriage and nature impose duties which
cannot be affected by the vicissitudes of fortune
l know these important duties, and desire TO
fulfil them. l was once Queen, and | am
still a wife and mother. Although raised by
fortune above other men, We are ofen only the
more to be pitied. A will at variance with our
own may influence our destiny, but there its
power ceases, for II can by no means affect the
obligations which Divine Providence has i'm
posed upon us. The husband who was given
to me by Gcd and by yourself-the child whom
| have borne in my bosom-these are now q
part of my very existence. With this husband
| shared a throns; with him, will share exile
and misfortune. Violence alone can senara,e
me from him. But oh my father, nv sove
reign! | know your heart-your Justice and
the rectitude OF your principles; know what
those principles have ever been on the subiect
of domestic duties. / do not ask your majesty.
out of affection toward me, to make any chance
In the line of conduct which has been adopte
In conformity with the Termination of the
most mighty sovereign of Europe; ! only crave
your permission that my husband and NAV
remain near your person.
" But oh J my father, my sovereign if this
boon is denied us, let us at least be assured Of
your favor and kindness before we set out for
a strange land. Without some proof of ycur
psternal love, can scarcely find courage to
appear in your presence. If we must depart
at once, let US bear with US at least the assn
rance Of your affection as we'll as the hope OF
your protection in happier times. Our mis-
fortunes will surely one day have an end. Eu
rope will not always command our humiliation
it will not always delight in degrading princes
who have been recognised by former treaties
and who are allied to the most ancient and
most illustrious houses in Europe Il not thei,
blood mingled with our own? Pardon me
nv father and my sovereign, for having thus
expressed myself, and deign to let me know
that this letter has not been received with dis
pleasure. Believe me, &c, CATHERINE"
This touching and noble appeal could scarce
" fail to melt the heart of father; but politi
cal motives were 81 that critical period Car more
powerful in the breast of monerchs than the
gentler voice CT domestic affection. The Prn