The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-07-04


Prince Joseph hoyered about, appearing nov
in the gardens, now in the different apart
ments, ready to sink into exhaustion yet rous
ed into activity through his restless anguish
Even Napoleon found pity for the unhapp,
man; lac Joined his friends in trying to per
suade him to withdraw, and addressed few
words of encouragement and hope to hin
from time to time. But the presence and
words ofthe Emperor made no impression on
his stubborn despair; he had no ear save fol
the death-cry in his heart, and for the reports
always the same-of the messengers sent
hither and thither ON their hopeless quest.
Not till the fire had been well got under
did Napoleon return to St. Cloud. He left
behind him a thousand soldiers of the impe-
rial guard, who biyouackedtherc for the night,
and sat down at the sumptuous banquet pre-
pared for very different guests. As ifno ele-
ment Of horror were to be wanting, towards
morning fearful thunderstorm broke over
the smoking ruins. The rain now fell in tor
rents, and served to extinguish the fire COM
pletely Where the sun had set on that pal
ace ballroom, he now rose over a hideous
heap of ruins, charred beams, shattered ma
soury, broken furniture, mirrors, and porce-
lain eyory chance hollow was pool of stag
nant water. Fragments of lustres, swords
bracelets, and otlier ornaments lay fused to-
gelher in masses. Nor was this all; under
a pile Of half burned wood work, n corpse
WAS discovered. blacbcued and shrivelled al
most out Of human form. II could only be
identified rs that Of the missing princess by
a iewclcd necklace on which the names of
her eight children were engraved; ninth,
yet unborn, pcrishcd with the ill-ated wife
and mother. 4, this sadlcst of all sights,
every voice was hushed; tears stood in the
eyes of all, even in those Of the soldiers and,
at the moment, the last thunders of the storm,
two heavy claps, rolled soomnly overhead.
Dismal days succeeded this catastrophe.
4 universal gloom overspread Paris. There
were dark whispers of conspiracy, incendia-
ryism-rcports that the enemies of Napoleon
had resolved, by one bold stroke to rid them
selves Of the obnoxious ruler, his family, and
his devoted friends. The obsequies Of the
Princess Pauline Won Schwarizcnberg were
followed by those ofthc Princess Won Lcycn,
and Of several ladies Of high rank, who died
in consequence OF injuries received. More
than twenty persons lost their lives the mum
Der Of those more or less hurt was up
wards of sixty. The deep and unwholesome
produced on the public mind was
m impression which resisted
every effort made in high quarters to suppress
and divert IT, To the bulk Of the people, |
divorce and subsequent marriage
hal been extremely di,'astcfil; and this not
1a!y because Joacphcnc was universally be- !
loved, but that a supar5,i,ious bcliefhad aris-
in some degree by her husband
her presence was the good .
genius OF his fortune. Already there was
vague bat popular prediction cxiant that the .
lower of an Austrian archduchcss would be
bitter misfortune for Franco and its chief;
aud now the memory Of the terrible disaster
attendant on thenuptials Of Marie Antoinotte,
aunt to the Empress, with the Dauphin, was
revived, and tho present calamity considered
4 fresh proof that fate has a fearful warning
n store for every alliance Of France with the
House Of Hapsburg. When, within few
-ears the divorcer Of Josephine was discrowI
ID and forsaken, many prophets, wise 9fer
he event, behcll in this fatal festival, an
omen oftho downfall ofthe imperial fortunes.