East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1866-04-11
From Bently's Miscellany
MALMAISON.
A "REMINISCENCES OF THE OLD EMPEROR.


In the autumn Of the year ls49 left Paris to
seek In the tranquility of ST. Germsin-en- Laye
repose for my spirits, after the terrible events 10
which had been an unwilling witness had passed
away. had seen the suck of the Tuileries-the
throne carried upside down through the streets
and had listened night after night to the rattle OF
mnsketry and the roar Of cannon employed In
that worst of seourges civil war-7and was glad
TO change the scene. u. e..r
The autumn weather was lovely they were
gathering the vintage from the site Of the Old
gardens Of Henry Nv, close on the Seine, and
from the bank between the river and the cele-
l'brated terrace The whole place is full OF the
memories OF the past dynasties, oi the said Henry
the Bernais, of the Stuart exile kings. OF the
grand monarque, of the great Napoleon, About
three miles from ST Germain, commanding a
view Of the sweet vine-oad hanls of the Seine,
rising up 10 the aqleduct of Marli. stands Mai
maison, on gentle elnnence
| look back with feelings OF mingled melan-
choly and satisfaction 10 the chance which led me,
when l was ut St Gerinain, 10 make the ae-
quaintancc Of General Montholon, the faithful
friend and follower and conipanion ia exile ut st
Helena OF the great Emperor 1 was introduced
by mutual friends TO the General and his lady, at
a moment when the events in which he was con.
cerned were fixing the attention Of all Europe
l was often with them, aud thus became cogni-
znnt of many matters Of importance and excite
ment. which few of my country people had then
an opportunity Of knowing The Bonaparte for
tunes began TO rise in the scale of destiny, and
the successful canyassing of the faithful friend Of
the late emperor gave great hopes that hls
would attain the minor dignity of President of the
French Republic. The evenings spent ut the
Montholen villa were full of absorbing interest
being usually alone with the countess when the
General returned from Paris | heard passing
events OF the day discussed without reserve Ills
mornings were devoted to receiying-in the capi-
tol the addresses and Populations which poured
in from every quarter to Louis Napoleon. Sc
much did hear about 'the Prince" that my
curiosity begpn to be much excited about him
/ never beiore having entertained an idea Of his
being anyth ng above mcdocrity, either in char
acter or talent, If even he came up to that
! Whatever might have been the faults of Gen
eral Moutholcn he emnenty possessed tho re-
! fined and polished manners Of tie French noble
man of the old school, Constant intercourse with
the great world companion TO the Emperor,
had sbarpened naturally acute intellect and en-
| dued IL with singular power of penetrating the
motives and capabilities of his teow-men
! i could not explain TO myself how such a man
could have been far deluded by Louis Napo-
! leon rs 10 embark upon his mad descent upon
/ Boulogne. still less could account for the APP
parent certainty he seemed TO entertain Of the ul-
innate success which would attend the princes
competition for the presdentship, ganst the tried
| and approved Cavaignac One night, as we were
discoursing unreseryedy on the "sgns of the
times" summoned courage To ask, point blank
hat kind Of person Louis Napoleon WIS, bold
| ly adding, that the rash adventures in which he
had been engaged rather led me to the conclusion
Of his being an ambitious but "A very weak man
That he was ambitious the General did not deny
but in regard TO his being weak, he kept repeat
! ing, Ia answer 70 my remark, "Pont du tout
! ~ Il. Il
! then wei.t ON TO explain how lac had cultivated
and developed his talents to a high degree during
his long imprisonment at Ham, Of which he and
madame had both been sharcrs. | could. not re-
frain, however from once more expressing my
doubts as 10 the soundness of his judgment
whatever his talents might be, The Goicr,l
mused for moment, and then said decidedly -
ale ne dis pas qIril s,it un hommie coEme son
oncle, mais eepenlant o'est un homme dc moyeLs
un homme dune granne fermente de voion,e. Ct
dun courage qui uo eonnait pas la peur. How
often since have these words come back 10 my
/ mind
My evident sceptlcism made Madame Montho.
Ion smile, and wishing Ine good night, she sail
/ in alluson TO the decision, "Well, then, you must
come aud judge for yourself As soon as thS
Prince reaches Paris he will probably, como out
here TO pay me a visit you must join our dnnel
party, and meet him en peta e0mite when people
are always seen in the truest light" Accordingly
n few days after Louis Napoleon arrived IN
/ France; received the following note from Mad.
ame Monthoon, written Lurredly, just as she
WAS setting of to Paris
"MY DEAR Miss X ---EDire nous, | am going
20 propose 20 the Prince to 'etun with US to-day
| As you wish 10 him, perhaps you will take
yqu chance of his dAng 50, and dine with han
and ourselves The worst that can happen {,
you viii! be ~ dine alone with us.
"lOurs truly