Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-29
Louis NapOIeon Ia Nav York.

Now that Napoleon has reached the
last act in his drama, there is a peculiar
| interest attaching to his visit TO New
York. This took place in 1887. He had
been held for some time prisoner of war
aboard a French frigate, and by orders of
Louis Philippe he was released at Nor
folk, Va. From that port he hastened to
New York, where he remained two
| months. He boarded at the Washington
hotel, second-rste establishment, which
covered about two-thirds of the plot now
occupied by Stewards downtown ware
| house. He is said to have been very dis
| sipated and iicentious while in Ghe city,
but of this there is no proof. Among
other incidents of this period, he called
on Washington Irving at Sunnyside, in
company with a young French Count,
who, as Irving says, appeared to be the
superior of the two. In fact, Mr.. Irving
was surprised at the quietness of one who
had cut such dash at Strasbourg.
The history of the recent Empress Cwho
Is now nothing more than Madame Bona
partel is very peculiar illustration of
the freaks of fortune. In 1858 Irving
writes thus to lady:
Il knew the grandfather of the En-
press, old Mr.. kirkpatrick, who had bsen
American Consul at Malaga. / passed an
evening 1t his house in 1927. A week or
two afterward l was at the house of his
son-in-lsw, the Count Teba, q gallant and
Intelligent gentleman OF Grenada, much
cut up in the wars, having lost an eve
and been MANNED in a leg and hand. His
wife, the daughter of Mr.. Kirkpatrick,
was absent, but he had family of little
girls about him. Several years after
ward, when / had recently taken up my
abode at Madrid, was invited TO grand
ball at the house of the Countess of Mon
tito, one of the leaders of the ton. On
Al
at being received by her with the warmth
and eagerness of an old friend. She
claimed me as the friend of her late hOs-
band, the Count Teta (subsequently
Marquis Montijo), who she said had often
spoken Of me with the greatest regard.
She subsequently introduced me to the
little girls had known at an early day,
who had become fashionable bellies Of
Madrid. One of these now sits on the
throne Of France"
A short time afterward, Irving writes
thus to another niece, Mrs. Storrow, who
was then residing at Paris:
"Hou give an account of the marriage
procession of Louis Napoleon and his
bride TO the Church of Notre Dame, and
ono ofyour letters speaks Of your having
been presented TO the Empress, Louis
Napoleon and Eugenie Montijo, Emperor
and Empress OF Francel one OF whom L
have had guest at my cottage on the
Hudson. and the other whom, when q
child, ] have had on my knee at Grenada
1t seems to cap the climax of the strange
drama of which Paris has been the thea
ter during my lifetime. The last saw of
Eugsnie Montijo, she was enc of the
reigniDg bellies of Madrid; and she and
her giddy circle had swept my charming
young friend, the beautiful, accomplished
Signorita -, into their career of fash
ionable dissipation. Now Eugsnie is on
the throne while - is voluntary re-
eluse in q convent of one of the most rig
orous orders. Poor ~ Perhaps, how
ever, her fate may ultimately be the hap
pier Of the two. With her the storm is
over and she is at rest; but the other is
launched upon dangerous sea; famous
for its tremendous shipwrecks. Am / to
live to see the catastrophe of her career or
the end OF this Suddenly soDj Djured-up
Empire, which seems to be of such stun
as dreams are made Off
! t''My personal acquaintance with the
Individual who figure in this historical
romance gives me uncommon interest in
it; but consider it stamped with danger
and instability, and IS liable to extrsya-
giant vicissitudes as one of Dumas nov
els. You do we'll 20 witness tha grand
features OF this passing pageant. You
are probably reading one OF the most Pc
culisr and eventful pages OF history, and
may live TO look back upon it as a ro-
mantle tale.u
Irvingas words now sound prophetic,
and 70 give effect TO their force Il may be
added that, although he is dead, the lady
to whom thay were addressed has lived to
witness that catastrophe of which he
spoke. EuRenie's grandfather, Mr.. Kirk
patrick, although American Consul at
Malaga, was q Scotchman by birth and
was Of humble extraction. A schoolmas-
er~ 81
was commonly styled the 'scousinn Of the
Empress. The wheel of fortune by this
turn only brings Eugenie back TO the
laval Of her auceStors