Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-02-21
THE American BONAPARTEs.

THE AMERICAN BONAPARTES.
The GreaA Trial in Paris-Spssek Of N.
Berger n behalf Of Mrs. Paifersoa- BOzs-
parie-Rsply in behalf o. PTiaes HaPOlsoR.
The Paris papers contain the opening pro-
eesding, on the 25th ult., in the suit brought
before tbe Tribunal OF First Instance, to test
lhe validity Of Jerome RonsPsrte's msrriags
With Miss Patterson, Of Baltimore. We find
in the Philadelphia Bullefia the following
translation Of the proceedings:
No description could give an idea Of the
crowd that filed al the passages to the fret
chamber lcug before the opening OF the doors.
Nothing like il has been seen for ten years.
After s-seral judgments had been pronounced,
the Isss vas called at half past eleven O'Clock.
In toe ndst Of a religious silence, NJ. Berger
opened tue case, announcing tkat be would
saw nothing to crafty ID curiosity; that be
would even force himself 10 forget the high
position Of the adverse side, and to ask for bis
eide only the justice that It would have a right
to obtain II It was pleading against an or
dinsry citizen
Nevertheless, II pronouncing the name Of
Madame BoBspsTte, he could not help feeling
Profoundly affected in thinking Of the suffer-
ings that that iadY-one Of the most honorable
in the whole w0Tld-kas endured during the
sixty years that she has been waiting for this
day Of iustice-,his daV Of a solemn debate on
the position that is denied her, and Of which
slIe has never filled to show herself worthy.
She is here in your presence, this lady Of
ssyentF-fvs wears she comes to vindicate the
homo Of Der whole life and the legitimacy Of
her only son
In toe early part Of October, 1903, Mr.. Je
rene Bonsporte announced to bis family bis
intended marriage, in letters hat were entTust-
ed to Mr. Barney. The Charge d'Afsirs Of
France, Mr.. Piehon, in The same month Of De-
to5er, made known to the French government
the conferences that had taken place. His
dispatches, It is said, were deposited in the ar
ch yes Of the ministry OF foreign sff,irs at
Paris. In the correspondence tnat was eK-
changed on the sabiect between the two
countries, President Jefferson wrote, November
4. 1903, 10 Mr.. Livings on, minister Of the
United states at Paris, as follows;
"Mr Paterson is the President Of the Bank
Of Baltimore. He is probably the richest man
in Maryland, and perhaps in the United States,
except Mr. Carroll. he is a man Of great
virtue and great respectabllity. His mother is
a sister Of General Samuel Smith. The posi-
ton Of the family is, therefore, among the first
IN the society Of the United States. Such con-
ditions determine rank in country where
there are no hereditary titles"
What was the law concerning the marriage
OF French people at that time? It was the
q
citizens at twenty-ons years. Prince Jerome's
commission ss lieutenant in the navy gave him
twenty-five years. The pregenlation took
place through the minister Of Spain. II is tTIe
that The French consul, NJ piehOn, who had
fret presented NJ. Jer5ms to the President Of
the United States, failed TO give the ceremony
the sanction OF his presence, and that be even
wrote to hin, and also 10 Mr.. Patterson, In
forming that sfter search Of two hours, IN
q - 81 1nHf - h. fa3. ha
bad discovered a law newly promulgated,
which required twenty-five Ye3rs for the grand
majority, and then after respectful submission
to the father OF mother, Il they survived.
The prince and Mr.. Patterson FOR some time
gave Up tbe projected alliance. Two months
elapsed, and the marriage was at last eele-
brstsd on the "a. Of Decemser 1893.
Mr.. Berger then read the civil contract
that preceded tie religious ceremony. One OF
the witnesses to II was NJ. Sotin, vice consul
Of France. He presented also the certificate
Of marriage, signed By the Archbishop Of Bal
sinsre, and authenticated by the vice consul Of
Baltimore.
A year after this, at the time Of the cres-
ton Of the imperial government. NJ. Jerome
Bonsparte had occasion to 20 back to France.
He started for lisbon, leaving there with bis
wife, a note in pencil, inviting her to 60 to
Amsterdam and wait for hin there. The let
ter was a. foliows;
LISBON, April 8, 1905.
"To MADAME J. BOEAPARTE: At last here,
we are on our way, ny COED wife. BaRish
from your mind al dark prssentiments. Have
confidence in your husband, and the greatest
misfortune that can befall US is TO live quietly
ia foreign land. When We sre together are we
not certain to be happy There are several
things that I forbid you to do. 1. Do not
weep, for tears DO no good and may DO a
great harm. 2 Do not receive OF return vis-
its, and always keep with you either Mrs. An
derson. the doctor, or william. 3. See all
that there is to see, because people look fool
ish when they leave a countTy without know
ing its curiosities I embrace you as I love
/. you, shd you know that love you always.
81 B."
A second letter was addressed to Madame
Bonaparte, at Amsterdam, under the assumed
name Of Madame Albert. Il was dated April
18th, 1905.
Mr.. BerrTer stated that be would not have
read 70 the court ali the letters that be had
published IN bic memorial. Az these letters,
o. most Of them, are the originals. Mr.. Bona
parties tprudsnee prevented him from sending
them here except one after another. Some OF
Them are still on the way. The result Of them
3 to show that Prince jerome did not cease 60
regard and treat as bis lawful wife her whom
he FIRST consul, and zfterward the emperor,
had qualified a. only a mistress or concubine.
n this view had been the true one, then the
child that vas born to this noble woman in
London, July 7th, 1905, would have been a
bastard New, here is tue certificate Of birth
Of The alleged bastard. Here follows the
certificate, which need not be translated.
Madame Bonsparte Patterson would never
have accepted fhis unworthy position Of mis-
tress and eoncubine, as they wished Der to DO.
n pae accepted, at the time OF her divorce,
the pension Of 10000 francs given her BY the
emperor, she did il only % The formal recon-
msndation Of her husband. He wrste as fol-
lows
an fne, mon annie, you must have patience;
those sfe your husbands orders, or rather
wishes; and above all, do not refuse what the
Emperor has sent you. Il is proof Of regard,
and sovereign must not be irrtated. You
would ruin me, as well sf yourself and your
child II within two months you are not re-
csIlad. return to America, take your house, and
establish yourself well, 40 formerly. viii
ssnd you many things that must be concealed.
Never let any one but Jour mother know that
have written t. you.
q Fix yourself az II was coming, but let
no one suspec, il, you understand; you would
destroy me entirely. Have confidence in your
husband. be persuaded that be bTeatas, thinks,
works only fo- thee yes, Tor thee and yosr
child You are both the objects Of all my care,
| an nv enIieitude; all ny attachments. In fine,
YOU are al love In the world, and for thse
and nv child ! would give my life. Keep
everybody ignorant that you hsvereceiyed news
/ from me. Write to the Emperor and the En-
press The two letters ! send you to copy, sign
/ ing them EiiSa.
q Above al, it must appear that this d Of
vour own moyemeuts for u It was known that
I / tod Fou 70 do il, that would ruin me. Be
! pradent avoid excitement, ana bear in mind
4 tbat every word You say against the Emperor,
/ If YOU say anything, may be reported have
snstniss, and the Emperor Is 80 good father
1 that there iS everything to hope from Bis heart
and bis generosity. lembrsce you thousand
I times. + love you more than eyer, apd take
I not a step. say not a word DO not thlpg
I that IL not for nv wife. ,. b.
There. said NJ. Berger, is what people have
1 not blushed 70 call a compact. She was &c tai
from accepting il, that ali the receipts she gave
/ (apd tie other side have them ell 10 theil
handso are signed f" Elizabeth B0naparte,D ant
ths condition sxacted By the Emperor was ex
/ aetiV thst she should not take his name. Mar
! 80 - the 1aurhtar OF the eieetcr nf WuFtsu,