The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-10-13
The Duo De Montpensier.
BY JAMES PARTON.


king of Spain after all. used to yoai
der, when he was so much spoken OF
for the place, whether the bones of his
cunning old father, Louis Philippe,
ratified in their lead coffin as the naSe
was borne on. every breeze past him
at Claremont. 1t would have 'hesa
such strange fSlfllment of the old
Kings dreamI
Louis Philippe and his excauent
wife, MarieAmelie, had eight childre4
all but two of whom grew to maturl-'
ty. Five of these children were sons
and three we're daughters. Consider
ing the rank of their parents, andthe
moral disadvantages under which per
sons Gf high rank generally labor, this
large family was unusually happy, vir-
tuous, and united. Whatever may
have been the faults of Louis Philippe,
he was a faithful husband and an af-
fectionate father.A He was, indeed,
much too anxious for the advancement
of his children and / think it is hard
ly too much to say that he lost his
throne in consequence. lie succeeded
in making great or lucrative matches
for all his children. The eldest, the
Duc dOrleans, married q German
Princess. His second son, the Due
de Nemours, married the Duchess of
SAKE Coburg Gotha, who Inherited
from her mother an immense fortune.
The Prince de Johnville married
sister of Emperor of Brazil. The
Due d'Aumale married an Italian
Princess, with a good dowry. One OF
the daughters married the King of the
Belgians, and other the reigning Prince
of Sake Coburg. None of these mar
riases, 1 believe, were fruitless, and
at the present time there are IN Eu-
rope, unless some have recently died,
twenty-seven Princesses who call Louis
Philippe their grandfather.
In making these matches for his
children, Louis Philippe was more the
father than the monarch. King as he
was, and tie descendant of long line
of kings, and possessing also an enor-
nous private fortune, he was haunted,
during the years of his reign, by the
apprehension that his children would
come to want. He said one day to
NJ. Guizot, his Prime Minister, at n
time when the throne seemed strong
er than ever:
''It is in vain that you exhaust all
that you have of courage ard public
spirit and / all that I lave of persever-
ance, experience, and knowledge of
men. 1t is in vain, / say. We shall
never found anything in France, and
day will come when my children will
not have bread to eat"
In this remark we have the explana-
ton of much that was weak and un-
worthy in the public conduct of man
who in many respects WIGS the best
ruler that France has had for several
generations. The great defect of his
character was cowardice. He dared
not trust the future. He dared not
trust the better instincts of the French
people. He dared lot do right, and
accept the consequences, whatever
they might be. In the hour of danger
he struck not a blow for what he es-
teemed his right, and fled from his
country, leaving 4 woman, the Ouch
ess d'Orleans, and her infant son, to
face the storm which his own incom-
petence had raised. In public life, as
in private, if a man has all other vir-
tues, gifts, and graces, but lacks cour-
age, he must be content to be secon-
dairy character, and leave the first roles
10 men who. perchance, may possess
little besides nerve and audacity.
OF all the exploits of Louis Philip
ne in the way of settling his children,
none excite so much odium against
him as his marrying his youngest son,
the Due de Montpcnsier, to the Prin,
cess Louisa, sister of Isabel, Queen OF
SPAIN
When the young queen Isabel was
supposed to have reached marriage
age, fifteen years, every court in Eu-
rope which could furnish a prince un'
married and of suitable age, entertain
ed hopes of securing the prize. Most
gladly would Louis Philippe have pro-
posed one of his own sons, but he dar-
ed not. The great object ofhis foreign
diplomacy then, was firm alliance
with Great Britain, and he was well
aware that the mere suggestion OF
marriage which would practically un
ite two powderf1R States as France
and Spain, would terminate at once
that entente cordiale between France
and England which he deemed essenti
al to his safety. France and Spair
had once before been governed by the
same family, and it had led to those
desolating wars which only ended, IL
1853, by France losing almost all hel
American and East Indian possessions
Fearing, therefore, to aim directly a
the union of the two crowns, he en-
deavored to effect his object indirect
| ly, and as some would say, basely.
| A few years after the marriage o
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
they paid visit to the king of th'
French at the chateau d'Eu, pleas
ant country residence in the north o
France, near the sea. Louis Philip
De cherished the hope of returning TIN
visit, and in October, 1845, he a
length accomplished his purpose. Dis
embarking at Portsmouth, he was re
ceived by the Duke of ellington ant
brilliant suite of officers, who escort
ed him to Windsor.
1t soon appeared that the old king
had a private object in coming to Eng
land Just at that time. The marriag
of the Queen of Spain became sub
iect of conversation between himself
the queen, and Prince Albert. Loui
j Philippe began the conversation b,
saying, that with regard to the han'