Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-02-05

WIDOW OF JEROME ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WIVES
AND FRENUH PRINCEeJ ,Ila4G.| ...-. h
After nearly half century of quiet resigna'
tion to what seemed to be the DEGREES OF tate,
the first wife of Jerome Bonaparte 10 about to
emerge from her retirement, and, In the french
lcourts Of law, contest her claims to be consid-
cred his legitimate wife, land to secure for her.
self and son their part Of the personal property
left by the recently deceased prince. The his
tory Of Madame Bonaparte (formeriy fiis5 Pas
terson) Is too well known to our readers to need
recapitulaton here, and we will only nowsmake
an abstract of the details of the proposed trial
from the long account furnished by the Paris
correspondent of the London Times.
The case will come before the Tribunal OF
| the First Instance at Paris, on the 25Eh OF the
presedt month, with M. Berryer and M. Legrand
as counsel for Madame Bonaparte They have
drawn up printed memoir of the facts, com.
mencing with recapitulation of the life OF
Jerome Bonaparte, and history of bis ac'
quaintance and marriage with Miss Patterson.
The marriage certificate reads as follows;
s-. j. "BALTiMolE, December "a, 1893.
"With license, this day united in the holy
bonds of marriage, In conformity with the rites
of the Holy Catholic Church, Jerome Bonaparte,
brother to the First Consul of France, with
| Elizabeth Patterson, daughter Of William Pat
terson, ESQ.,, of the city Of Baltimore, and OF
Dorcas Spear, his wife.
I j., BISHOP OF BALTIMORE"
This certificate was vari6ed by the French
Vice Consul, Henry Vernet.
The subsequent efforts Of the Emperor Ma.
poleon, to break up the marriage are then re-
counted. With these efforts and their results
our readers are familiar. Napol con wrote to
Jerome in May, 1905:
"Your union with Miss Patterson, is null in
the eyes of religion and the law. Write to Miss
Patterson to return to America. l shall give
her pension of 60 ,000f. on condition that in
no case shall she bear my name, to which she
has no right, by reason of the non-existence OF
the union. Inform her, of yourself, that you
havenot been able, and that you cannot, change
the nature of things"
At the same time the Emperor addressed a
letter to his other brother, Lucien (afterwardl
Prince of Canino), who, in his opinion, had
formed o mesaliiance by wedding Madame Jou-
berton Lucen, more manly and honorable
than Jerome, boldly replied:
LUclEn REBUKEs NAPOLEON.
"You conclude by tracing out for me the line
of conduct ought to pursue--viz., to destroy
the contract which has united US for the las
three years-to bring back to Paris my wife
changed into concubine-to separate my
daughters from their mother, who have fount
In her their parent--to acknowledge my two
children illegitimate. And you call that q sim
pie proceeding And you think that, after hav-
ing divided poor family, dishonored my wife
disinhefted niy children-that, after having de-
prived them of their name and their position
which is no longer mine but theirs-I shoult
Al foro ~ nh haaa In chi
graces and favors which you say would enable
my illegitimate children to.live honored AM
happy Sir, respect in you the organ Of th'
Emperor. Know, however, that rather than de-
scend to such intamy, would immediate my soI
an daughter with my own hand.
Moreover, am again writing to his Majesty
| excepting the sacrifice demanded of me, am
ready to make all others that may be thought
useful to France. My dignities belong to the
Emperor. The choice Of the place Of my re-
treat belongs to lin. When he commands mt
to change it, will obey without murmur; Il
he erequires it, shall quit Europe, but will mo-
quit my vile and children, except with my life
LUCIEN BONAPARTE.
"Pesaro, May %, 1906"
Pope Plus. VII. as is well known, refused tC
paomulgate bill declaring Jeromes marriage
null and void, and had the Prince possessed ever
an ordinary degree of manliness, bis wife would
not now have been obliged to contest her elaimt
In court. But Jerome fell in with the ambitious
schemes of.his brother, and, in hopes Of wedding
Wurtemburg princess, forsook his American
wife.
On the lst of June, 1906, the Archbishop o
Paris issued decree annulling Jerome's mar
riage-a decree which the memoir terms ~
melancholy monument Of the vices engendeIet
A. ...Ik q nIaa-
cension of Ecclesiastical authorities to the exac
tions of government"
Jerome, when King Of Westphalia, Offered
his first wife q residence and revenue, with tn,
title Of Princess of Smalcalden, II che woult
come to Germany; but this offer was refused
and Madame Bonaparte obtained divorce ii
the. State of Maryland. In 1919 she visited Eu
rope, and her son, the young Jerome, was re-
ceived with every attention by his Bonaparte re
latives in France and Italy.
The counsel in the coming case have embo
died In their memoir large number OF letters
intended to prove that the Bonaparts recognize
Young Jerome as one Of their family. The fol
lowing are copies:
l. MADAME LRTITIA BoNAPARTE TO JEROME II.
i November, 10 1899.
MY DEAR GRANDSON: l have heard with pleas
ure of your marriage, as the person you hav
! chosen possesses all the advantages one coul
desire. earnestly pray that you may be hap
py in the union you contract, and II my blesain
can contribute to 1t it will be complete and last
ing. I beg of you to present my affectionat
wishes TO your betrothed, though have not tn
pleasure of knowing her. Your father is Ell
in the country, he will not return before th
18th. He is we'll, as also your brother and yor
sister (the present Prince Napoleon and Prince;
Mathilde) embrace you tenderly. Your al
fectionate mother. MADAM
PRINCESS MATHILDE TO THE ELDER JEROME.
! I'' November, II, 1910.
MY DEAR BRoTHER believe you will lear
. with all the interest of q sincere friendship q
conclusion Of my marriage, with Prince d.
midof
4 NV new condition realizes all the hopes which
had anticipated. But, while am happy, a.
not the less attached to all the affectionate sent
ments which professed before my marriage
and YOU know, my dear Jerome, what o shai
YOU have In my affections. Give my affection
ate compliments to my sister-in-law, though
have not the pleasure Of knowing her; assn
her of nv affection for her. A thousand con
F pliments from the Baroness. Ale,
l-IfIN au1 Your most affectionate sister,
= Kiss my little nephew for me, MAriIDE
TIE YoUNaER JEROME TO LOUIS NAPOLEON.
When Prince Louis Napoleon went to Amt
ica after the ssaflairr Of Strasburg, NJ. JeroI
ie Roma parte offered him his house as resident
III Tha Prince (the present Emperof) replied: