The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-03-11
NnpOleOn's "WanderIng Ueir.n

For years it has been universally be.
licved that the direct line of the "Liitle
Corporal" became extinct in the person
Of the unfortunate prince, and although
various rumors relative to a secret mar.
riage were prevalent at the time Of his
deccase, they were generally regarded as
the creations Of an idle brain Events
which have subsequently transpired give
these reports semblance Of truth, and,
to render them still more plausible, it is
a well-known fact that the late Emperor
of the French spared neither expense nor
labor in forming complete collection of
the correspondence and private papers Of
"le fills de i hoDme."
1t appears, however, that these writ
ings were not the only links which united
the present with the past; for, in the
summer of lS7 |, an individual, who bore
an extremely striking likeness to the
Bonaparte family, made his appearance
at Ischl, and was fined by the district
court and expelled from the Austrian
domiuions for having made an objection
able entry in his "wander- book "a sort
Of journeyman's passport. He was a
tailor by trade, and, for several years
previods to this occurrence, had been
living at Wurzen in the kingdom of Sax
ony, and also at Stuttgardt, under the
name of Carl Gustavc Ludwig, and in
both OF these places he had distinguished
himself by his diligence, skill, and nodes
ty. Ills intimate acquaintances affirmed
that i'll spite of his humble occupation,
he had always asserted his claim to the
name and title of Prince Joseph Eugene
Napoleon Bonaparte, and, according to
his own account, it would seem as if he
was an issue Of secret marriage of the
Duke Of Rcichstadt with Hungarian
countess lie stated that, when quite
young, his mother was induced by Prince
Mctternich to apprentice him 20 tailor
in Wurzen named Ludwig, as means Of
getting rid Of him, and in order to facili-
tate her second marriage in Saxony. As
a further proof Of his origin, he declared
that there was an author then living at
Lcipsic, but formerly Hungarian officer,
who had been a witness to the marriage,
and who would, if it ever became neces-
sary for him to make known his rank and
title, supply him with the requisite docu-
mcnts in order to compel the countess to
recognize his birth and parentage. AZ
ter leaving Stuttgardt, he travelled through
Germany, Switzerland, and part of Aus
tria, earning his livelihood as tailor,
and maintaining his claim to princely
rank, but never attempting to obtain
money or credit by it. Ga returning to
Stuttgardt, in November Of the same year,
he found that his conviction and punish
ment had been mentioned in the papers
OF that place, and he accordingly pub
lished an explanation in the Burger lei
ung, in which he affirmed that he was
not punished for claiming his name and
title, his right to which the court at Ischl
had in no wise disputed, but merely for
writing it of his own accord in his pass
port before he had succeeded in establish
ing his identity before court of law.
The reputed prince is still living. and the
CroSS,-one Of the leading newspapers of
Germany,-in an article written at the
time, states that not only does he bear :.
good character for his steadness and
general good conduct, but he also produc-
es very favorable impression by his man
nars