The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-10

10 the hotel to await with patience the answer O
Pietri. there met the correspondent of the st
petersburg Journal, who was very downcast ii
mind because he was unable to obtain an audi
ence with NJ. fictri. Towards evening I received
the following note:-
Monseur-Veuez Je vous prize, venr domain
matin Q heures me vor. J'aurais vous donneI
une reponse.
Croyez mes sentiments distngues,
+. PETRI.
(SrR-l beg that you will como to see me to-
morrow at nine o'clock, when l shall have an an
swer for you. =,
Yours, &C.. r. pIETRI.
Punctually at the appointed hour called again
at the castle and listened once moro to NJ.
Pietri's polite insinuations to the effect that in
terviews of this description cannot be regarded
by the Emperor as very advisable or very con-
yenient. Nevertheless" continued M. Pietri,
"in your case his Majesty the Emperor Is willing
to make an exception; 80 while beg to remind
you of our conversation yesterday will now go
and announce you.'
THE APPROACHES.
followed M. Petri while he traversed num-
Der Of stately halls and apartme nts which led to
the central portion Of the castle.
Having entered the large hall of State, M. Pietri
disappeared through door ut one end Of II.
He remained absent during a few minutes, then
returned and invited me to enter through the
same door, while he retired.
THE EMPERoR's ROOM.
To my surprise I found myself in very small
apartment, so small, indeed, that writing desk,
which was placed In the centre of the room, op-
poste the fire, appeared to take up almost the
whole floor.
was face to face with the Emperor Napoleon
the Third.
RECEPTION.
His Majesty rose from q chair near TO the
desk and welcomed me with very polite
bow. He motioned to me to be seated in
fauteuil placed close to his own. After had
tahou Vic sCut Nupoicou ouiu - 1 um Bldu W Se6
you, sir, as l am always when meet citizens Of
your great and prosperous country"
The tone of extreme affability in which these
few words were spoken caused me to feel at
home at once, SO much 80 that moved fully in
On the cushions Of the fauteul and commenced
not only conversation CON omore, but at tho
same moment could study out every word and
shade of the appearance Of my illustrious
uis-d-uis.
NAPoLEON'S APPEARANCE.
All that you have already heard and read about
Napoleon's failing health, pallid complexion,
sunken eyes and decrepit condition in general, ]
found to be the veriest idle .'bosh." The En-
peror is stout, porty gentleman. setting forth al
the indications of the enjoyment of robust healtl
in his person. His hair shows very slight ting,
His face has . ruddy color. His eyes, though
small, appear to be smiling with good humor and
benevoence. He has liveliness and grace in
every motion. Indeed, I may say that he presents
an exceedingly handsome, pleasant exterior,
which indicates an age rather of forty-two than
sixty-two years. This is perfectly true Of his ap-
pearance as it impressed me during the interview.
l saw such discrepancy between the picture Of
the Emperor, as l had previously imagined from
spurious reports what 1t might be, that it could
have almost caused me to doubt whether this was
really Napoleon the Third who was sitting oppo-
site and within few yards distance Of me had
not been treasured by the surrounding objects
near the writing desks, such as miniature por
trait Of the Empress in golden frame, painted
and engraved and set in diamonds, the monogram
81. N" on the boxes, and the seals and ring
which were either lying about or worn by hi
Majesty.
NAPoLEoNs DRESS.
Napoleon was dressed in plain suit of cit
zen's clothing, wearing on his breast the ribbo
of the Grand Cross of the Legion Of Honor.
THE CONVERSATION.
First having expressed my Acknowledgements 0
the great kindness displayed by his Majesty il
receiving me at time when he was SO engrosse,
| in other important affairs, ventured to add tina
| his granting an audience to q correspondent o
the great leading American journal, the HERALD
was a tribute to the power and influence Of TIL
| press in the United States.
| EMPEROR NAPoLEoN--Yes; / have we'll know
! and constantly read for years past the New YoRI
HERALD. Certainly, all must admit that the pres
| is powerful institution. In France the press ha
worked much good, but also much injury. Whel
I consented to its being freed entirely from thu
| censorship it was seized by demagogues ant
unscrupuous politicians who openly preached
disobedience to the laws and they were but to,
successful in perverting the mind Of the people.