The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-05-01
2Hiscellaneous.
The Baltimore BOn0parteS

The Baltimore BOn0D0TteS.
From Scribner's Magazine for May.
The story of the Baltimore Bona parties ie one
of the saddest but most interesting chapters in
the romance of modern history. 1t is now
more than seventy years since Jerome, the
youngest, weakest, and most worthless of Ma
poleon's brothers, arrived in New York in com
mand of Il French irigate. Napoleon Bona
parte, the conqaeror OF Egypt and italy and
First Consul of France, was then filling the
world with the eclat of his genius, and Jerome
was received with distinction in the first circles
of New York.
Early in the autumn of 1903 young Bona
parte visited Baltimore. Parties, dinners and
receptions were given in his honor. He was
the lion of the day. The leading citizens of
Baltimore contended for the privilege of enter
tanning the distinguished young stranger.
At the elegant and hosptable home of Sam
uel Chase, enc of the Maryland signers of the
Declaration of Independence, Captain Bona
parte was introduced to Miss Elizabeth Patter-
son. This lady, though not yet eighteen, was
one of the reignng bellies of Baltimore. To
the exquisite beauty of her person were added
sprightly wit, fascinating manners, and many
brilliant accom- plishments. An immediate and
ardent attachment sprang up between the
handsome and dashing young Frenchman and
the beautiful Baltimore girl, an attachment
constantly thrown together either at home or
in sosiety. In spite CT the warnings of friends,
in spite of the remonstrances of her father,
Miss Patterson determined to marry, declaring
that she ''weuld rather be the wife Of Jerome
Bonaparte for an hour than the wife of any
other man for life." Finding her SO firm and
determined in the matter, Mr.. Patterson at last
gave a reluctant consent to the marriage.
The marriage of Jerome Bonaparte and Eliz-
ohafk Daft tv,oc
1903. The ceremony was performed by the
Right Rev. John Carroll, Bishop of Baltimore,
afterward archbishop and primate of the
American Catholic Church. The marriage
contract was drawnup by Alexander j. Dallas,
and the wedding was witnessed by the mayor
and other prominent citizens of Baltimore
Mr.. William Patterson, the father of the bride,
was one of the merchant princes of Baltimore,
ranking in the mercantile world with John
Jacob Astor, of New York, and Stephen Gil
rard, of Philadelphia. During the American
revolution he had freely given large sums of
and had enjoyed the intimate friendship of
Washington, Lafayette, and Charles Carroll OF
Carrollton.
Shortly after their marriage Jerome and his
wife made an extended tour of the Northern
and Eastern States. In Philadelphia, New
York, Boston, Albany, and other cities which
they visited they were received with the dis
tnctiop due to the brother of the First Consul
of France.
But trouble was not long in coming Even
during this bridal tour alarming news arrived
| from France. Napoleon was furious when he
heard of Jerome's marriage; he Immediately
directed that his allowance should be stopped
and that he should return to France by the
| first frigate; otherwise he would be regarded as
| deserter. At the same time he was forbidden
| to bring his wife to France, and all the cap
| tains of French vessels were prohibited from
receiving on board "the young person to whom
he had attached himself" it being the inten-
ton of the First Consul that she should not on
! any pretext whatever, be permitted to enter
| France, and if she succeeded in so doing she
| was to be sent back to the United States with
out delay.
Jerome was frightened. He hestated at first
| to return, fearing to meet Napoleon in his an
| ger. He delayed his departure from America
| week after week and month after month, vain
| ly hoping that time would soften the heart OF
| the tyrant, and reconcile him to his marriage
At last on the morning of the llth OF March,
| 1905, jerome and his wife embarked at Balti.
| moro for Europe, and on the I'd of April arrived
at Lisbon. Here they had at once proof o.
Napoleon's despotic power. French guard
was placed around their vessel, and Madame
Jerome was not allowed to land. An embas
sador from Napoleon waited upon her and ask
ed what he could do for Miss Patterson. IL
whom she replied
"Tell your master that Madame Bonaparte il
ambitious, and demands her rights as mem
Der of the imperia! family"
Soon after arriving at Libson Jerome hasten
ed to Paris, hoping by personal interview tt
win Napoleon over to a recognition OF the mar
riage. On his way through Spain he met Ju
not, who had just been appointed minister tt
Portugal. Junot endeavored to dissuade hin
from resisting the wishes of Napoleon. Je
| hot he abandon
his beautiful young wife. "Strong in the jus
tice of my cause" he said solemnly, 81 am re
solved not to yield the point" He then show
ed Junot a miniature of Madame Jerome
which represented young lady of extraordi
nary beauty. ''To a person so exqulsitel.
beautiful" said Jerome, "are united all tn
qualities that can render woman enchant
ing"
When Jerome reached Paris he requested al
interview with Napoleon, which was refused
He was told to address the Emperor by letter
! which he did, and received an answer that pu
an end to all his hopes concerning his wife,
This was the substance of Napoleon's reply:
"Your marriage is null, beth in a religion
and legal point Of view. will never GcknoW
edqe ii. Write to Miss Patterson to return
the United States, and tell her it is not posi-
BILE to give things another turn. On conditio
of her going to America will allow her per
sion during her life of sixty thousand franc
per year, provided she does not take the nam
of my family, to which she has no right, he
marriage having NO existence"
When Napoleon declared that Jerome's NAL
+. rage was "null, both in religious and legs
point of view," he was expressing his ow
wishes rather than stating the facts. At tn
time of Jerome's marriage to Miss Patterson
Napoleon was only the first consul Of Franc
and could have no control over the members
/. his family. Jerome's mother and eldest bretf
err, Joseph, were the only persons whose cor
Q sent was necessary, and they concurred in al
proving the marriage. The marriage had bee
celebrated according to the prescribed rites {
the Catholic Church, of which Jerome profes
I ed to be member, and the ceremony had bee
performed by the highest dignitary OF th'
church in America
When Jerome was at length admitted to til
presence of his brother, Napoleon thus addres
ed him:
$50, sir, you are The first of the family WI
has shamefully abandoned his post. 1t will n
ouire many splendid actions to wipe off th
t stain from your reputation. AS TO your 10y
Q affair with your little girl do not regard it
e In the meantime what had become of IL
q "beautiful young wife," left by her husband
;. stranger in a foreign land, surrounded oy oPe
= | enemies and false friends Toward the end
April Madame Jerome Bonaparte, finding th
| she would not be allowed to land at Lisbon,
any port from which Napoleon had power
| exclude her, sailed for Amsterdam. Here 81
arrived on the 1stof May. Napoleon, who WI
| now the absolute master of the continent
i Europe in anticipation of her arrival in he
land had ordered Schimmelpenninck, II
4 grand pensionary Of the Batavian republic,
prevent MADAME Jerome Bonaparte, or az
a person assuming that name" from landing