The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-21
TIE AuERIcay BoyArARrE FAMILY.


Our Paris Correspondence.
PAsis, March 20, 1880.
stHar, ". Bourbon Amongst Usf-DiseussiSs Of The
Subject Reriuea in France--Orgin and History Of the
lme,Ioon BonapGre Famiy--Thc Prince Jeromes AL
wnt In Ntto Tort--Marrioge to Mss Patason-Retur"
10 Europe and Subsequent Marriage to the Daughter OF me
Xia9 of Wwtemburg-M. Jcroms Napoleon BondpaNe,
ut BastiwOrs, TIE Offspring Of he fsra 1arna9'-m'
cgaims to Royolty-Decree Of the Emperor W Heya'a~
the Fust Marriage, &c, de- de-
The recent publication OF the nth volume OF lhiers
ssFsorv Of the Consulate the Empire has revived
she discussion OF question which may yet lead TO no
Stt,e trouble in France and which, directly affecting ~
es the rights honor OF the descendants OF an Amer
ran family cannot fail to be Of interest TO American cit
ua.s We aude TO the question Of the right OF the mem
hers Of the American Bonaparte family to be considered
az belonging TO the present Imperial family OF France-a
reht which been denied by the present Emperor but
one which, perhaps at come future day. be acknow
legged by the French people, when they get ready for
change Probably oil Of readers aware that there
10 family Of American Bor apaites, but few probably
familiar with the simple fscts which constitute their
claim claim which, under certain contingencies, n'
wolves the possession OF less prize than the mps
rial throne Of France.
IN the year 1900 Jerome Bonapare, the youngest OF
She brothers Of Napoleon and who had year previous
% this entered the service OF France, was given
leuenancy by Napoleon and ordered TO join the exped
ton commanded by his brother in law, General L.
slero, which Napoleon WAS about despatchng to st.
Domingo, then in . state Of servie insurrec-
ton the negroes being commanded by the celebrated
Toussnt LOuverture Soon alter his arrival however,
1t St Domingo General Lecerc sent him back to France
with confidential dispatches for the First Consul and az
Ter fulfilling his mission in command Of the frigase
IEpervier which he had been promoted, he fastened
10 return with troops The result OF the expedition 10
u.aIh ioknr
n cos. the life OF the brave General Lecerc and hosl
ses having recommended with England towards the end
of 1902 many French officers taken prisoners and
Jerome Buonaparte obliged to leave or share the
same fate the English had sent such superior naval
swse that useless TO contend against them he pro-
ssrred the former course, and went to NewYork.
During his sojourn in New York, a. well Is in Philade
mia and Baltimore he treated with great deal Of
respect the Of the best families of those
shree cities and all Americans at that time felt An In
,srest the fortunes Of France which had so recently
rendered US such essential service in struggle for in
dependence the brother Of the First Consul could not fail
10 attract o great deal Of attention wherever he
went On the oath of December 1903, being then in
The twentieth year of his age, he was married. after
short courtshp, Miss Elizabeth Patterson, beautiful
Young LADY, belonging to wealthy and distinguished
family in Baltimore. In the month OF April OF the
following year. Jerome with his young and beautiful wife,
embarked the ship Erin on perious voyage across
NE ocean The ship several times chased by English
crueers succeeded in escaping Them and toward the
end Of May arrived the port OF Lisbon whence Jerome
IN his to apprse the Emperor Of the circumstances
Of his marriage took post horses and urged them with all
upeed 10 Paris. Here terrible reception awaited him,
and he learned upon his arrival that his marriage had
been annulled by the Emperor. Jerome endeavored TO
change the purpose Of his brother but all his efforts
unavailipg Meanwhile the Erin, on board which the
young wife remained, sailed for Amsterdam, where
Jerome had agreed join her and from there take her
France But upon arriving at Texel the commander Of
The vessel received peremptory and formal command to
depart the Emperor having ordered that the wife OF
Jerome should not land. She remained on board, and
went to England, where in the following month, the
Nh Of July 1906 she gave birth TO son, the present
Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, resident OF Baltimore.
mot our purpose here to follow up the history OF
Jerome After the conferences Of Tst by the terms OF
which the territory OF Prussia, from the ef bank OF tho
Ebe, was joined to the kingdom Of westphaia, Jerome
wus placed by his brother upon the throne Of that king
o and was soon aterward married TO Frederica Cathe
rne daughter Of the King Of wurtemburg by whom he
had three children two Of whom the present Prince Ma
yoleon and the Princess Mathde still living also
sheir iather, the ex King Of wesphalia.
Such are the simple facts necessary to complete
erstandng Of the claims made by Bon aparte of Bal
uore and which several forms have been urged
Ne accession Of the present Emperor to the Imperial
throne OF France. Tho volume Of the Consulate and
Enpre referred above and which has been just pub
nshed in Paris contains note which Bonaparte who
STYLES himself ga French citizen, residing at
Baltimore, OF the United states,' requested the
publisher TO insert, and which, after Ter Stang
son proceeds say that the marriage celebrated
by the Bishop Of Baltimore, according to the rites Of the
Csthoc Church, and that duly registered that Je
rome Bonaparte then years had attained the
required by the French law to contract valid marriage;
chat his father being dead, his mother eia Bonapare,
did not within year required by the French de-
nand that the marriage should be declared null am void
poeon Bonaparte the Of that marriage "her
son. and signed herself in letter to him, "hs very aec
Nonate mcsner that IN 1905 the Emperor Napoleon de-
that the Pope replied there was no reason aunul the
rge and that were he to do 30 he would be guilty OF
abominabe abuse Of his sacred ministry before the
tribunal Of God and before the entire Cnurch Such
The statement Of Jerome Napoleon the Of Mss Pat
serson The Prince Napoleon the OF the father
by Catherine Wurtemburg, sent to the publisher
answer to this note, which annexed The Prince says
that Madame Ieta Bonaparts did ION the third ventose OF
Me year 49, she heard Of the marriage protest
legally az follows-"rhat in order that her intentions
should be well known and that 1t no future time her
silence should be interpreted in contrary her
real sentiments in order to express her will on the offence
~ declares rs that her consent was never demanded
BY her son, being minor, and that she would have
refused from motives which the law authorizes her mot
against marriage contracted by her son Jerome
Bonapare, in foreign country without her consent and
she expressly TO herself the right Of appealing
MUS and before the competent authority as soon she
can procure copy 9th marriage certificate in order TO
The annnlnent of the marriage pronounced by the
49, and was approved by the Council Of stats. The fol-
luwing are the terms Of the decree
PALACE OF THE TrIIERrns, March 2, 1905
We Napoleon, Emperor Of the French, having the
document received by Ragudeau, notary Of Paris the
Ahnrn