The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-12-14

"REMINISCENCES OF THE Ex-ENPREss EUGENTE
BY WASHINGTON IRvISo.-The history of the re-
cent Empress (who is now nothing more
than Madame Bonaparte) is very curious
illustration Of the freaks of fortune. In 1853
irving wrote thus to lady:
al know the grandfather of the Empress. old
Mr.. kirkpatrick, VINO has been American Consul
at Malaga. passed an evening at his house in
1927. week or two afterward | was at the
house Of his sonin-Iaw, the Count Teba, gallant
and intelligent gentleman of Grenada, much cut
l-up by the wars, having lost an eye and been
MANNED in leg and hand. His wife, the daught-
er of Mr. Kirkpatrick, was absent, but he had a
family of little girls about him. Several years
afterward when / had recently taken up my
abode in Madrid was invited to grand ball at
the house of the Countess of Montijo, one of the
leaders of the ton On making my bow to her. l
was surprised at being received by her with the
warmth and eagerness of an old friend. She
claimed me as the FREUD of her late husband the
Count Teba subsequently, Marquis Moniijo, who,
she said had often spoken of me with the great
est 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"
short time afterward Irving writes thus TO
another niece, Mrs. Sorrow, who had been re-
siding at Paris:
You give an account Of the marriage process
sion of Louis Napoleon and his bride to the
Church Of Notre Dame. and one of your letters
speak of yout having been presented to the Emp
ress. Louis Napoleon and Eugenie Montjo,
Emperor and Empress of France one of whom
have had guest at nv cottage on the HUDSON
and the other, whom. when child. ! have had
on my knee at Grenada. 1t seems to cap the
climax of the strange drama Of which Paris has
been the theatre during my life time. The last
| saw of Eugenie Montijo she was one of the
reigning bellies of Madrid; and she and her giddy
circle had swept my charming young friend, the
beautiful and accomplished Signoritta -, into
their career of fashionable dissipation. Now,
Eugene is on the throne, while - is volun-
tary recluse in a convent of one of the most rig
orous orders. Poor -! Perhaps, however,
hSi iotC may OG buc VI lu0
two. With her the storm is over and she
is at rest, but the other is launched on a
dangerous sea. Infamous for its tremendous ship
wrecks. Am to live to see the catastrophe of
her career, or the end Of this suddenly conjured-
up empire, which seems to be made of such stuff
as dreams are made of?
my personal acquaintance with the indvidu-
ais who figure in this historical romance gives me
uncommon interest in it but | consider it stamp
ed with dangers and instability, and as liable to
extravagant vicisitudes as one of Dumas novels
You do well to witness the grand features of this
passing pageant. You are probably reading one
of the most peculiar and eventfu pages Of history
and may live to look back on it as romantic
tale"
Irvings words now sound prophetic, and to
add to their force it may be added that although
he is dead. the lady to whom they were addressed
has lived to witness that catastrophe Of which
be spoke Eugenies grandfather, Mr.. Kirkpat-
rick, although American Consul at Malaga, was
a Scotchman by birth. and was of plebean ex-
traction. A schoolmaster of the same name,
living in Glasgow, was commonly styled the
cousin of the Empress" The wheel of fortune
by this turn, only brings Eugene back to the
level of her ancestors.