Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-04-21
DON HENRI OF BOURBON.
,urtous Particulars OF HIS Life.

Curious Particulars OF His Life.
A correspondent in Europe sends us
some curious particulars of the career oi
the late Prince Henri of Bourbon, who
fell in duel with the Duke of Montpen-
sier. He writes:
ny des .juges Berlin is an old
French proverb, applied whenever some
un usually absurd decision is given in a
court of justice Taking the Madrid
Epoca as authority, there must be some
singular varieties of the genus in Spain,
for in the judicial Investigation of the
late duel between Don Henri of Bourbon
and the Duke de Montpensier, the Judge
of Getafe has decided, from competent
testimony, that the Infante was accident
ally killed by the discharge of pistol
which he'was trying.
Anecdotes respecting the personages
connected with this affair are heard in
all the salons, and as the two dukes were
important characters in their way, some
of these may not be uninteresting
Everybody knows that Montpensier is
the Regency candidate for the Spanish
crown, but it only transpired at tie fu-
neral of his adversary that the latter
was to have been the choice of the Re-
publican party for the Office of President
of the Confederation which it hopes to
establish.
Montpensier's seconds wanted to de-
clare that their principals honor was
satisfied after the exchange of the sec
ond shot, but Messrs. Rubio and Ortiz
decided that blood must be shed, " and
so the Frenchman, before firing for the
last time, exclaimed in loud voice;
Since these gentlemen insist upon
bloodshed, they shall be gratiGed." ]"
Except among the violent Spanish
radicals, Don Henri's fate has met with
little sympathy. He was a conspirator
by nature, and could never keep out of
plots of some kind. Although owing
everything to his brother, disreputable
Isabella's husband, his participation in
Carlist movement, in 1867, led to his
degradation from his title of Infante of
Spain and from his rank of Vice Ad
miral of the Spanish fleet, after which he
removed to France, and began to write
political pamphlets The one addressed
to his sister-in-law, a few months before
her dethronement, was small in size, but
large in the way of vituperation. AS
French paper has said: 1t would have
been necessary to translate it into Latin
before it could be put into general circu-
lation.
When Isabella was no longer an enemy
worthy of his plume, the Prince made
overtures to the Republican party, and
turned his attention to the Montpenslers,
whom he abused with such violence that
Notwithstanding the repeated interfer-
ence of the Count of Paris, the Duke
finally lost patience, and, under pretense
of visiting thermal establishment in
the environs of Madrid, returned to
Spain to settle the quarrel.
Don Henri inhabited Rome for some
time. and in ls47 was married there to
one of the Cordova family, who died in
1863. leaving four children, the eldest
of whom, youth of twenty-five, declines
to prosecute his fathers murderer, act
ing under the advice of his uncle, Don
Francis D'Assissi who has adopted the
orphans
The Duke of Sagontum or Seville, for
he assumed both names, was an eccen-
trio person, ordinarily very amiable, but
giving way at times to outbursts of tenn
per only equalled by his extraordinary
Inconsistency. One Of his friends, re-
marking on this, said to him on one oc
casion that the more he converSed with |
him the more he became convinced that
he was never sure of his opinion on |
any subject.
BahW replied the other. gayly; Il
don't know, Count, if | am perfectly sure |
of it myself.
He lived for several years in Toulouse,
quite modestly, going out in grand gala
once every twelve months, fol
lowed by a number of equipages and
powdered footmen hired for the occasion,
and mis- cortege always proceeded to the
church of St Sternin for the baptism Of
one of his children; this over, he retired
again in obscurity.
His great mania was TO abuse the 4.
Bourbon family, and endeavor to account
for his own mental imperfections by as
cribing them to his descent from a race
which by its royal attributes, had been
obliged to live out of the ordinary condi-
lions of humanity. To some one who
asked the cause of his obstinate silence
whenever he was in the society of men
If genius, he answered; Ii would
,e presumptuous for one Of his origin to
hazard an opinion before those who,
hanks to the energy Of their ancestors, |
we're able now to think like men.
When in Paris, as well as in Rome, he ]
vas very fond Of going into the shops, |
md. after the purchase Of some trihing
lrticle, would enter into long converse {
ions with the clerks, always giving his I
lame and titles before leaving. {
at is not IN the least through. conde- 5
he said to some one who ex- q
PRESSED surprise at this peculiarly; it !
5 good policy. People generally believe I
hat ell the BauFhens are idiots, and !
IN trying TO convince them Of the con- }
rary. 1t is the most efficient propa- a
.anda | know, and vet my family will '
ever be grateful for il.
He passed the night preceding the en-
ounter in writing his testamentary q
rishes and letters Of farewell 20 his ?
hildren and friends, among whom was Q
he Duke Of Bssos, TO whom he'had said $