Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-08-31

Ia crossing the river Liamone, on their way
from Monte Rotondo TO Ajaccio, Che river
was found to be swollen, and Letitia Bona
parte was nearly drowned. On getting |
back to Ajaccio, Paoli, who was ordered
iEtoexile by the French, wished Carlo Bo-
naparte to accompany him to England.
The condition of his wife, however, ,preven-
ted him she was near her time |; and on
the 18th August, 1859, only few. days
after her return, Napoleon the Great was
born. Letitia had attended mass On the
morning of the 18th of August. CD her
return home she suddenly became lnwell.
! A temporary bed was prepared foi her in
a room hung with old tapestry; AMI those
who have since, examined the tapesty have
declared that it gives the history Of the he
roes of the niad. Such was tie birth of
Napoleon /.
NAPOLEON II.
The birth of the "King of Rome" (Na-
poleon H., as he is now designated, though |
he never wore the crown,) took place in |
April, 1911, short year after the mar
riage between the Emperor Napoleon and
Marie Louise, which took place at Vienna,
March IL, 1910, was sconsumnateda at Com /
piegne, March Is, and re-celebrated in
Paris, I'd of April, 1910. Napoleon's first
marriage with Josephine took place 9th of
March 1895.
The circumstance of the birth of the
King of Rome are thus described by
Southey "Napoleon's wishes were crown
ed by the birth of son. The birth was
difficult one, and the nerves Of the medi-
cal attendants were shaken. She is but
woman,' said the Emperor, who was pres
ent, treat her as you would bourgeoise of
the Rue st. Dennis The accoucher, at
subsequent moment, withdrew Napoleon
from the couch, and demanded whether in
case one life must be sacrificed he should
prefer the mother or the child 2 The
mother's,' he answered, st is her right p
At length, the child appeared, but without
any signs of life. After the lapse of some
minutes feeble cry was heard the infant
thought to be dead was awakened from its
lethargy by the discharge of one hundred
and one pieces of cannon. Napoleon en-
tered the ante-chamber in which the high
functionaries were assembled, and announ-
ced the event in these words 1t is a King
of Rome
"The birth of the heir of Napoleon was
received with as many demonstrations of
loyal enthusiasm as had ever attended that
of Dauphin yet the JOY on the occasion
was far from universal The Royalists con-
sidered the event as fatal to the last hopes
4f ault5fs the Boarbons the ambitious generals
epvied Bonaparte's despotic power, as the
progeny of the revolution, looked forward
with deep distrust to the rule of dynas-
ty fond of shedding the blood of the haugh-
.tiest of the houses Of Europe, ard conse-
quently were more likely to make common
} cause with the little band of hereditary
sovereigns, than with the people. Finally,
< the title, king of Rome, put an end to the
fond hopes of the Italians, who had been
taught by Napoleon to expect that after his
death their country should possess Gov
t ernment separate from France; nor could
' the same title fail to excite some bitter feel
e ings in the Austrian Court, when the hei
a apparent under the old empire had beel
d commonly styled king of the Romans
But the most interesting event of al
: connected with this birth, is the letter o
the divorced Josephine to the Emperor
L This truly affecting epistle runs in the Ian
:: guage following
it NAVARRO.
- "Sire Amidst the numerous congra'
~ ulations which you receive from all part
=. of Europe, from every town in France, an
;s every regiment in the army, can the feeb
20 voice OF woman reach you! And WI
" you condescend to listen to her who so o
ten consoled you in your sorrows and a
suaged the pangs Of your heart, when 81
speaks only of the happiness which has ju
crowned your wishes! Being no long
your wife, dare offer my Fluctuations G
your becoming father? Yes, doubles
Sire for my soul renders the same justi
OF to yours as yours to mine conceive VIII
es: you now experience as readily as you
OF vine my emotions on this occasion; thouG
0 separated, we are united by the sympatl
OF which bids defiance to events.
y, / should have been glad to learn t
pm birth of the King Of Rome from yourse
ia and not by the Canon Of Goreux, or t
:. Project, Cuvier, but am we'll aware tt
~, your first attentions are due to the me
er- bers of the corps diplonaotique, to yc
ing family, and above all, to the happy primes
- who has just realised your dearest hoI
no. She cannot be more devotedly attached
au- you than I am; but she has had it in
be- power to do more for your happiness
ca assuring the welfare of France; she b
OF therefore, right to your first sentimel
ma to all your cares; and |, who was y
'33, companion in misfortune only, can cls
'ver but a far inferior place to that which MI
N Louise occupies in your affection.
lerd will have watched round her bed, aad
Jaw. braced her son, before you take mp y
for pen to converse with your best friend.
aoil' will wait
! to at is, however, impossible for me to
vent fer telling you that more than any one
769, earth | share in your joy. You will
erty, doubt Of my sincerity when say thai
snch from being afflicted with sacrifice, so
the cessary to the repose Of all, rejoice th
ated Ehas been made, row that 1 suffer aIo,a
>. Suffer, do / say No, since you are
carlo tented, my only regret is, that l have
they yet done sufficient to prove how dear
allied were to me-"
ever, NAReEEes III.
. thsl Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, the pr
.he Emperor Of the French. was born on