Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-04
nsylmiIian's Heir-The Son OF Madame
Alice tturb
[From the Washington star.I

From the Washington Start
There is no American man or woman
who would not hail with pleasure news
of the enforced departure of Macmillan
from Mexico, to which contamination
events seem slowly but surely tending.
But their qualification would be as moth
ing in comparison with the Joy such in
telligence would convey to one Ameri-
can lady, as she might then hope for a
speedy reunion with loved and only
child, from which sheis now cruely sep
| aTated. We refer to Madame Alice
! Iturbide, formerly Miss Green. of Rose
dale, near Georgetown, in this Dis
trict, now wife of the hneal successor
to the throne of Mexico) whose son was
adopted (?) by Macmillan few months
since, the child being then about two
and a half years old.
As the facts in regard to this matter
have not been generally understood in
this country, and have been the subject
of much ignorant, and more or less in
| territorial, misrepresentation, we pro-
pose to briefly review some of the at
| tending circumstances IN this eXtraor-
binary case.
The child was already great favorite
with some of the oldest and best fami-
lies-the loyalists-of Mexico. Maxi
milan was not. The adoption of this
child. therefore, as his heir, would, he
| conceived, be a powerful element In
STRENGTHENING his waning cause, and
would enable him to form a native
party friendly to his interests. Wheth-
ar the idea originated with Macmillan
or Napoleon is not known, but 1T was
promptly acted upon. Extraordinary
means were used to get the parents
consent to part with the child. The
father steadfastly persisted in his oppo
sition to the scheme throughout. bat the
mother, overcome by the promise of a
brilliant future for her son, urged by
her husbands brother, augustine Itur
bide) aud others of the family, goad-
ed by the lntimation that the child
would he taken with or without her
consent, and never dreaming thai the
adoption OF the infant by the Emperor
would lead 10 her immediate separation
from 1t, reluctantly signed document
giving her consent.
She thought her child would have a
mothers care; at least until it was old
enough to be sent to Europe To be edu-
Gated. Imagine her CONSERVATION and
grief CD receiving, the day after her son
was taken TO the palace, an intimation
from official sources that the air of Mex
leo was unwholesame for the Iturbide
family, aud that a speedy triple Europe
might be beneficial to them, The ban
ished family at once prepared to com
ply with the Imperial mandate, and
hurriedly packing no such necessary
articles as could be conveniently trans
ported, started without delay for the
aea coast. the mother almost frantic
At Puebla her grief became unendur-
able, and, determined to make an effort
to recover her child, she at once return
ed to the City of Mexico, and appealed
to the Emperor TO allow her either to
take her son, or 10 live with him at the |
palace. The only answer she received |
was "A peremptory order to leave the |
country.
Almost heart broken, she came 10 the |
United States and appealed to the au-
thorities here, but, IN consequence OF |
her written consent TO the tmperOr's |
adoption of the child, no action could |
be taken. Resolved to leave no stone |
unturned to accomplish the one object |
she had iii view, she proceeded at once |
to Paris to appeal TO the French En- |
peror She is still in the capital of |
France, and has had from Louis NapO- |
leon partial promises from time to time. |
which have encouraged her to hope for |
"a reunion with her child mt no distant |
period. Hope deferred makes the heart /
sick, 1T is said, and Mrs. Iturbide hav-
ing lost all confidence IN Napoleon and |
IN Macmillan, is now abont to return |
to this country with her object unac-
cOGplished.
The child is we'll cared for by Maxi |
milan, and receives the treatment of a
prince. 1t has n suit of rooms assigned
to it, and numerous attendants, and
takes an airing every fine day In the
royal equipage. Americans writing from
the City OF Mexico describe this little
one rs IA bright, intelligent, handsome
boy, about three years old, with an I'M
misiakable North American-in other
words, Yankee-stamp of features and
expression. No matter what were the
motives for the adoption of the child,
the act was in itself Gnoblectionable;
but the Punishment of the Iturbide
family, and the separation of mother
and infant, we're tyranical and cruel,
and Mrs. Iturbide who is nearly allied
to many old and prominent families
here and in Maryland, has the entire
sympathy of this community in her
trouble.