The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-11-04
MISCELLANY.
JOSEPH hONAP1RTE'S RESIDENCE IN
BORDENTOWN.

BORDENTOWN.
Mr.. Charles Gore Shanks contributes an ar
ticle to Appleton's Journal, on "Joseph Bon
aparte in New jersey from which we make
the following extracts Joseph Bonaparte
was not disposed to make his refuge in
America too conspicuous. He was an essen-
TALLY tmid man, and, during his kingly APP
premiership, had more than once importuned
his august brother to relieve him of the royal
robes that brought more glitter than comfort.
He was disposed to keep very quiet, rs long
as ruiet seemed at all necessary to his safety,
and he was yet by no means sure that Ameri-
ca would prove certain protection. He was
possessed with The idea that an English, Span
ish or French fleet might penetrate to New
York harbor, and demand him at the first in-
timation of his presence or that some Eng
iisl Spanish or French sailof actuated by the
immense rewards which the allied monarchs
of Europe could well afford to pa, might
force admission to his slimly guarded home
and carry him bound and gagged to Europe.
These fears were not so unreasonable when
we consider that war preparations, distant
as the cloud no bigger than a mans hand,
were not flashed under the ocean to all the
realms of the earth in those days, and that the
appearance of a hostile fleet in the lower bay
might be the first declaration of war that al
lied Europe would be likely TO give Ameiia.
He therefore accepted only the most modest
reception that the municipality offered, and
announced thereat his intention of retiring
Immediately to some. secluded country place,
where he could forget the storms of Europe,
and end his life in the security and peace that
attend alone upon the private citizen. He
Travelled with his secretary through the coun-
ter his entrance, and finally determined to
make his home in the beautiful village of Bor-
dentown, New Jersey. Here the relicts of his
royalty exist in profusion.
On a heavily wooded hillside overlooking
the Delaware River, and just on the border of
Bordentown, he purchased eighteen acres of
land, ON which he erected his palace. 1t was
magnificent house for those days, built of
brick, and covered with white plaster, with
slanting roof high dormer windows, narrow
sbulls' eyes - under the broad, sloping caves,
heavy oaken window shutters, and broad door
ways, with wooden columns on each SIDE But
inside were grand staircase, and great recep-
ton and dining rooms, and huge fircplaces
will, marble mantles sculptured with marvel
GUS workmanship, and bcd-cbambers hung
with rarest tapestry, and magnificent oil paint
ings, some by the very oldest of the masters
and most of them presented to Joseph in his
regal days by his kingsman, Cardinal Fesch.
The grounds were laid out in the most pictur-
esque style of Joseph's favorite retreats Of his
served at least his princcly tastes when he
threw off his imperial pretensions. Graveled
walks and drives led in bewidering maze
through thickly foliaged arbors and deep
woods over sharp bold hills, whence the silv-
cry Delaware would be seen for miles stretch
ing away to the sea, down into fresh dewy
valleys, with splashing rivulets bursting
through them over rustic bridges by min
iature mill-whcels ; by handsome statuary !;
placed here and there in secluded corners,
where you came upon them unawares and by
! a lake, dotted with islands, with rustic boat
house on its shores and a fleet of small boats
ON its waters.
It took time to accomplish this wonder Of
landscape gardening. The statuary, the paint
ings and the sculptured mantles all came in
half contraband-cargoes across the sea, and
artists came over to lay out the ground, and
time was consumed in the perfecting of the
palace itself, SO that it was three years before
Joseph Bonaparte permanently took up his
court in Bordentown. But in those three
years he had not forgotten the danger that
had assailed him, land the dread of sudden and
informal extradition by some allied man of
war, oppressed him as powerfully as on his
first entrance to New York City. And how
he took measures toprevent that seems in our
clearer light Of to-day, to be exceedingly pre-
posterous. He built a high tower on one OF
the hills of his park, from the top OF which,
hidden himself by the surrounding foliage OF
his highest oaks, he could scan the long
stretch Of the Delaware toward the sea, and
the open roads leading to Bordentown, to
Trenton and the northward toward New
York, for that dreaded messenger of evil that